Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephanie Franco

Hi Stephanie, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?

My journey has been an adventure. After graduating from UC Berkeley, I remember being stuck in non-profit jobs that weren’t fulfilling me nor paying well. I would joke with my friends that I was in a “mid quarter life crisis”, questioning if I studied the wrong thing in school and what I truly wanted to do in my life. Despite these questions, I was always doing some type of storytelling work at my jobs and it brought me a lot of joy.

In 2022, I took the leap and bet on myself. It aligned in my life because I was actually at a job that was depleting my soul. When that chapter came to a close, I began my freelance journey. I had to believe that pursuing my creative dreams was possible and that nothing could stop me. I had no idea how I was going to get there, but I knew I wanted to pursue writing and producing in the film and audio industry. I was scared it wouldn’t work out, and a couple weeks later, I got an opportunity to be an Associate Producer at Stage 13/Warner Brothers.

While working there, I got the opportunity to interview incredible women of color that were directors, writers, and producers in the film industry for a podcast called “Two Sentence Horror Stories”, based off the CW & Netflix show. Hearing their journeys and the amazing work they were doing, opened up a whole new world for me. It inspired me to one day be in their shoes and pursue film. Since we were working on a horror show, it also opened up my eyes to the power of storytelling via horror and it motivated me to write my first psychological thriller/horror film.

After working there, I kept putting my name out there for different gigs and opportunities. Till this day I have received many no’s but sometimes all you need is one yes for that life changing opportunity to come into your life. I’ve had the privilege of working with Apple, Warner Brothers, CW, Netflix, Disney Plus, Marvel Entertainment, and iHeart Radio.

Now that I look back, I was meant to be in these places and experiences because it brought me closer to my true purpose as a storyteller. Some of these earlier jobs led me to burn out and made me build a stronger version of myself, but I wouldn’t change it for anything because it’s my story and unique journey to embrace.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?

The freelance journey has a lot of ups and downs. It feels like I’m on a rollercoaster sometimes! I love the thrill of it though. One thing I wish people would have told me at the beginning of my journey, was to embrace the slow seasons. It’s amazing to be working on multiple projects with fun clients. But what happens when they’re over? Or when things slow down? The stillness of it all can be a struggle and leave a lot of questioning on whether or not the journey is or isn’t for me. In a capitalistic society, where overworking is a means of surviving, resting can feel a bit uneasy.

There’s also that financial worry that may kick in on when the next gig will come. At the beginning, it left me with a lot of room to think and be in my head. But in those seasons, I have learned to lean into rest, work on my own projects, do things I’ve been putting off in my personal life, and spend time with loved ones. I’ve also learned to do memorable adventurous things that will inspire me and give me something to write about one day. For example, earlier this year when I was in between projects I wrote my first horror script and took a solo trip to Mexico City before my birthday. I hadn’t taken a vacation or any time off in about two years. It took a lot for me to book that trip, but it was such a life changing experience.

Another struggle has been discipline with my own schedule. Anytime I share with someone that I am a freelancer, they always assume it’s really fun and I have a lot of down time. But the reality is, I’m sometimes working a bit more. I’ve had to set some boundaries with work and sticking to a schedule. Rather than waking up for a 9-5, I can create that schedule for myself which is fun. I am more productive in the evening times, so that works for me. And depending on how many projects I am on, I may be working on the weekends for a bit. Since I create my own schedule, I have to be disciplined about scheduling regular vacations for myself, taking my lunch breaks, and even just going for a couple walks in between my meetings or day.

The last thing is believing in myself. Doubt can creep in more often than I talk about it, but at the end of the day I have to really ground myself and remember I am doing it! I literally have those words on my white board to remind myself everyday. It is something I have to do daily because I truly manifested the life I am living.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?

I am a writer and producer working at the intersection of film and audio. I work on short films, music videos, and podcasts that highlight pop culture and social change. Outside of producing, I am also a long time writer. In the past I have facilitated and created creative writing workshops for the Google CodeNext program and a variety of organizations in the Bay Area that work with youth. Depending on the season, I might also be writing poetry. One of my poetry pieces was featured in a documentary called “Re-Entrification” highlighting the housing crisis in the Bay Area. Most recently, I was a producer for a short film called “DeVille”. It’s a coming age story based in San Francisco and the early 2000’s. I am excited for future opportunities to deepen my storytelling and producing work. I hope to continue working with brilliant storytellers that are changing the industry.

I am most proud of my collaboration skills and resilience. Collaboration has been a huge part of my storytelling work. Whether that’s ideating together and even co writing a script. Collaboration has allowed for some beautiful ideas to bloom. In terms of resilience, there have been many tough moments in my life that I felt would break me. Regardless of the obstacles in my career or personal life, I have continued to pursue my passions and dreams relentlessly. Even if I keep getting a bunch of no’s, and it brings me down for a bit, I get back up and I keep persisting. I think what sets me apart from others is my relationship building and relentless passion. When I set my mind on something, I am all in. I also love connecting with new people and hearing their stories on how they started their own journeys and building authentic connections that are rooted in creative storytelling, healing, and compassion.

Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?

I love taking risks. Maybe it’s the thrill seeker in me. My biggest risk was when I decided to start freelancing in 2022. As I mentioned earlier, I was fearful. I had no idea how to start or where to even find gigs. When I first told my family what I was doing, they were worried about me and questioned if it was a good idea. But it was the best decision I made. It was and continues to be very freeing for me. Risks have helped me evolve and grow into a better version of myself each time I take them. My biggest advice is to do it scared anyways. There’s so much beauty and growth that may come from taking that risk whether one sees it or not.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://sfranco510.squarespace.com
• Instagram: stephaneezzyy

Image Credits

Headshot by Lara Kaur