Interview: Stephanie Stern Erects Comedy Series ‘Double Jack’

Stephanie Stern enlivened social media audiences with the recent release of her original short form digital comedy series Double Jack. A native Texan, Stephanie started her college career at A&M University and eventually made her way to the American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA) in New York City.

After graduating from college, she landed a role in ABC’s daytime drama All My Children and in several Off-Off-Broadway shows at Theatre For The New City. She honed her stand-up comedy persona performing on both coasts at Comic Strip Live, The Comedy Store, Flappers, and Garrett Morris’ Downtown Comedy Club. A children’s show also took her traveling across the country and to South East Asia, before she eventually settled in Los Angeles. Stephanie continues forging ahead in her career by booking roles in television, stage, and indie films, most notably in the horror-thriller No Solicitors. 

Currently, Stephanie has captivated attention for Double Jack, a short form comedy series she wrote, produced, directed, and starred. The story centers on countrified female parolee Nickel Jacks who convinces the owner of Double Jack Construction Company, Jack Carter, to give her a job before realizing she is not the sharpest tool in the shed. While Nickel ends up getting the break she needs, whether this ex-con can build a better life for herself in big city Los Angeles is yet to be seen.

Double Jack made its Season One premiere in March on Stephanie’s IGTV channel @DoubleJackSeries and has since won several awards on the festival circuit. These include: Los Angeles Film Awards Best Web/TV Pilot winner; Festigious International Film Festival Best Web/TV Pilot winner; Actor Awards Festival Los Angeles Best Actress in a Web Series winner (Stephanie Stern); and Top Shorts Film Festival Best Web Series winner.

indieactivity : What made you want to create your own projects?
Stephanie Stern : Well, since ya’ll are film people, I’m sure you can understand the moment when you just say, ‘F-this. I’m doin’ it myself.’ I was tired of all the ‘red-tape’ and ‘run around’ I got into trying to go through the ‘proper channels’ and get other people to do them so I took the bull by the horns and said run! Today with our third film festival win it seems like I’m sayin’ ‘girl, hold on to them horns!’

indieactivity : Briefly explain your new web series “Double Jack.”
Stephanie Stern : Love too, Thank you! A Construction Company hires a countrified female parolee who’s not the sharpest tool in the box (Is that too brief? I can expand if you’d like.) Double Jack centers around a countrified female parolee who convinces a construction company to give her a job before realizing she’s not the sharpest tool in the box. After bad luck with an ‘ex’ lands Nickel Jacks in prison, she gets released onto the big streets of Los Angeles. Desperate for a job, this down-on-her luck small town Southern gal stumbles into Jack Carter. A self-made man with a soft spot for second chances, Jack cautiously agrees to give Nickel the break she needs to begin to turn her life around. But, can this ex-con build a better life or will she be demolished once again?

indieactivity : Where did you discover the idea for it?
Stephanie Stern : I was looking at my projects and realized there was no way I could do them on my own so I thought about what I could do and what I had. Ya know, like Rodriguez’s list. (I’ll explain that if I need to: Stu Maschwitz’s book, DV Rebel’s Guide, where he coined: Robert Rodriguez list. Makin’ a list of all the cool stuff you have in your vicinity and writing around that. Makes me wish I had some samurai swords!) My husband’s a Contractor and our life is full of awesome construction with lively characters and verbiage like ‘brass nipples.’ So, it began there.

indieactivity : What were the first steps you took to make it happen?
Stephanie Stern : Immediately pen to paper works for me. I’m not much of a ‘ponderer’. Then it went into research for the characters’ lives and construction terminology. I’m witty/cute but I wanted it to be funnier so when I had the first few Episodes written and Season Outline I called on my friend, the late Emmy Award Winning Lila Garrett, who helped me with seasonal structure and put me in touch with her funny friend: Sandy Krinski also an Emmy Award Winning writer. He helped me punch up the script with more laugh out loud stuff. Then it was the Business stuff like setting up the LLC, business plan and website.

indieactivity : What was your writing process?
Stephanie Stern : For Double Jack it was a lot of outline notes at first. Small things that would come into my head when I was on the plane or out and about that I had to ‘jot down’ before actually ‘writing’. I need quiet to write like I gotta pay respect to where it’s coming from or something. So, when it’s time to sit down and write I got to get it on the page as soon as it comes into my head and I keep going until it stops. I never know. Sometimes that’s a couple minutes, hours or days. Each creation/project is different.

indieactivity : How long did you take to complete pre-production?
Stephanie Stern : Double Jack was fast! Pre-Production took about two weeks.

indieactivity : Did you already have the cast set or did you have a traditional casting process?
Stephanie Stern : Good question!! No one’s asked me that yet! Well, ok, it was both and then some. Yes, I had a ‘Jack’ in mind when I wrote the Pilot. Same with the Homeowner in Ep 2. Jack didn’t get back to me and the homeowner thought it was racist. (Which almost put me in therapy! During filming I would ask all the cast and they would laugh at me. It became a running joke of sorts.) Ooopsy, I digress! Getting back to your question: So, then I was forced to do the lovely casting process. I posted on Breakdown services and on Craiglist. Which was a whole ‘other world! Some of the pics I got from Craigslist were…well exactly what you think they’d be! I got a lot of flakes and people wanting to negotiate things from Breakdown so then I reached out to anyone I knew in the industry for casting.

indieactivity : During production, what scene (that made the cut) was the hardest to shoot?
Stephanie Stern : The finale scene of the Season. The ending of Cement Doughnuts which was Episode 6 was so hard even when we gathered another day for the pickup shots, I still didn’t get exactly what I wanted. Thinkin’ back on it now it was a great moment to pay homage to one of my old-time favorites: Citizen Cane but I was so caught up in the shot list I missed it. Dang it!

indieactivity : How do you balance both acting and creating?
Stephanie Stern : I think they’re the same…just very different forms of creativity. But I get what you’re asking! The writing part is just the beginning (obviously) the other parts: directing and acting on the day of filming were a whole learning curve for me. I’ve always wanted to be behind the camera and we had to do a lot of pick up shots after I saw the footage! It taught me to trust myself in the moment and take my time. We weren’t filming on film so with digital (as we all know) I could take my time when moments/transitions were necessary.

indieactivity : Where does your strength as a producer lie?
Stephanie Stern : Budgeting, relationships and efficiency. With Double Jack I came in right on budget. Sure, there were things I had to move around as we moved through Pre to Post to Premiere but all-in-all we were right on target. I’m a huge fan of ‘now’ and ‘next’ so I don’t like to waste mine or other people’s time especially when I can do or figure things out myself which makes me very efficient. I’m also a ‘long term relationship’ girl so I treat people like the precious gifts they are.

indieactivity : Let’s talk finance, how did you fund the project?
Stephanie Stern : Love the way you’ve phrased this question! Hell yea, let’s talk money! Well, there was a combination of funding: equity investors, family and I had some ‘skin in the game’ as well..

indieactivity : How did you balance creativity and financial restrictions?
Stephanie Stern : You’ve got a lot of great questions! Thank you! I did creative first then when that was set I could ‘re frame’ and get into the money part by prioritizing and shifting areas around within the budget as we moved through the process. I like to think around it and usually my ‘gut’ has a way of coming up with answers. And that’s also helpful with my creative side. Creativity for me is limitless, shapeless and where there’s a will there’s a way…even with boundaries, perimeters or restrictions.

indieactivity : Anything you wish you could “do-over” on the project?
Stephanie Stern : Yes! Lighting on some of the episodes drives me crazy when I see it and ADR. Gotta get it right during filming and not rely ‘fix it in post.’

indieactivity : What tips can you give other actors looking to create their own projects?
Stephanie Stern : Do it! And when you do think of the other people and characters more than your own. Remember ‘everything comes from the top down’ — attitude, culture, and project vibe.

indieactivity : If you could, what would you change about the business?
Stephanie Stern : Oh goodness! We ain’t got the time to answer that one. It’s not a perfect industry by far but it can be so fulfilling and magical with such social impact. #MeToo and #TimesUp shifted things and diversity has as well. Hallelujah! For me, I guess I’d narrow it down to the popular kids list. Meaning if a project is not connected with one of the popular kids/agencies/studios/networks then you’re not as good or valuable (which I get from a business stand point).

Ya know change is inevitable. All industries in the world have changed and definitely right now with COVID-19 it’s dramatically changing, so formulas will too. What worked two years ago may not work next year. So, always stickin’ with the ‘it list formula’ for business security on a ‘bankable ROI’ and not investing in good solid talent allowing them to rise…well, my hope is that changes as well..

indieactivity : What do you hope audiences get from watching your series?
Stephanie Stern : A smile, chuckle and a caring thought for the underdogs, under privileged and blue collars of the world. As well as the understanding that we as humans have the power to change our circumstances no matter what or where. Like Henry Ford’s line: ’Whether you think you can or not you’re right.’

indieactivity : Do you have anything else currently in the works?
Stephanie Stern : Yes, I do! I’m developing two other series: a comedy and drama and am in Pre-Production on a crime/family drama. Thank you for askin’. Truly appreciate your interest in me and my projects.

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