We were lucky to catch up with Stephanie Gerding recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Stephanie, thanks for joining us today. Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?

To put it simply, I am definitely happier as an artist and creative. I grew up performing and partaking in many creative activities, so for me to imagine a career that doesn’t tie into those things is not desirable. I work as a set PA and stunt performer, and it’s definitely a fun time. However, it’s hard to work as a creative because there is very little consistency. Things are constantly changing and every day is completely different. It’s thrilling and I love it, but it’s tiring and hard to schedule life outside of work.

There have been times when we filmed in an office building, and I stared at the people sitting at desks or walking with friends to grab lunch. I thought about how nice it would be to work a set amount of hours and be able to make my desk my own. Or make dinner plans because I would know when I’d get off work. To form relationships with people that are accustomed to a stable lifestyle and are, for the most part, a lot more used to commitment in their lives. I meet a lot of wild people in the entertainment industry and it can get tiring, but when I’m working on set in businesses I imagine myself doing that job. And I quickly come to the conclusion that the grass is always greener on the other side. I would be miserable with a “normal” 9-5 office job. It would be nice at first, but I’d quickly get bored of the same thing every day. The same people. The same desk. I’d miss the thrill of performing stunts, of working on sets, and of constantly meeting new and interesting people. I do what I love, and not everyone can say that, so I’m grateful for the creative world I’m a part of.

Stephanie, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am a set PA (production assistant) in film and tv and a stuntwoman in training. I went to college for film, and after I graduated, I worked on making connections until I found one that got me a job on a tv show. When I worked on the stunt unit for Marvel’s Hawkeye, I became interested in stunts. But it wasn’t until I moved from Atlanta to LA and worked on another heavy stunt show that I decided I wanted to pursue stunts full-time. I’ve been a competitive athlete, a musical theatre performer, an instrument player, and a creative writer my whole life, so performing for entertainment and the telling of stories is very fulfilling for me.

As a set PA, I help a film set run smoothly. PAs handle walkies, cast, background extras, and anything else the production needs on set like locking up an area while filming so no one enters the shot. As a stuntwoman, I train to do all the things that are deemed too unsafe or risky for most actors to undertake while filming. Or things that require a particular skill set like being set on fire or being able to choreograph a realistic fight scene. And what’s better, it’s all acting so I get to bring back that small passion of mine.

I’m most proud of my hard work and hustling. Connections are everything in this industry, and I started out with no skill set or connections. With almost one year of training under my belt and my first stunt reel made, which showcases my skills, I’m happy with how far I’ve come and am looking forward to the future.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Yes! Training to be a stuntwoman is hard, and trying to balance that with making money as a PA is even harder. I PA because I am not yet getting stunt gigs and still need to be making money to pay for life things and training. Although being a PA takes up a lot of time that I could be training, it’s very valuable to be on set where I can meet stunt coordinators. They’re the ones that hire stunt performers.

It’s frustrating to balance making money and having flexibility/time to devote to stunts. It’s even more difficult when I’m getting injured because of lack of sleep/fatigue from work and not yet knowing my body well enough now that I’m training almost every day. I didn’t have a background in martial arts, gymnastics, parkour, or competitive dancing, which are common leads to people becoming stunt performers. Even though I was only 23 when I started, I already felt behind. Then the injuries started. First, a major ankle sprain that took 3 months to heal. Next, a bruised sternum which took a month to heal. Then a badly stubbed big toe. A few months later, I sprained my knee during taekwondo class. I felt like I was spending more time injured than I was being healthy.

It’s hard to sit back and heal when everyone around me is still training like I want to. But I have to remind myself to slow down. Take my own pace and trust my own timing. There will always be someone ahead of you and someone behind you. At this current moment, I’ve only been training for a year. The injuries have been a huge discouragement and setback, but I’m learning more about my body and making smarter decisions moving forward. Even with my injuries, I work and train what I can, exercising healthy muscles around the injury and strengthening them. I also put more effort into maintaining and creating connections since that doesn’t take a toll on my body when I’m healing. This career path is not easy, and it does take a lot of resilience to keep going. I just keep telling myself that my comebacks will be greater every time.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding part of my career as a performer and PA is the thrill I get from loving what I do and the people I meet while doing it. I’m grateful to have found an industry that I thrive in. The people I meet through these creative endeavors make my job extremely rewarding and fun. Everyone has such an interesting story, and I’ve met some of my best friends through work. Exchanging ideas and broadening our perspectives while telling stories is exciting. I’m always learning, growing, and challenging myself. Creativity stems into every aspect of life, and I believe that everyone has it. I’m just lucky I get to do it for a living.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: stephanielauren56