We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Matt Sternberg. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Matt below.
Matt, appreciate you joining us today. The first dollar you earn is always exciting – it’s like the start of a new chapter and so we’d love to hear about the first time you sold or generated revenue from your creative work?
The first real dollar I earned as a creative (specifically acting) was from getting cast in Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2. It was my first official acting job in NYC. I had under five lines and my on camera time did not make the final cut of the film. I kept and framed the paystub. Actually, technically that’s not the first job I earned money for. As a kid where I grew up in Williamsburg, Virginia, I was a re-enactor for Colonial Williamsburg Historical area. I was in a program called Fife and Drum. I played the Fife and we did military marches on weekends for tourists while cannons went off and we played music. Fife is similar to a flute except its made out of wood. I started in 5th grade and was paid 5.25 an hour for the weekend hours I would put in for rehearsals and performances. So, in theory that was my first paycheck. but the NYC one i made later in my life was more meaningful.
Matt, 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?
So, my name is Matt Sternberg and I’m a Pisces who likes oversized sweater, Manatees, and 90s anime for starters. In all seriousness I’m a Williamsburg, Virginia native and I started my acting career when I was very young. I did my first theater production in a summer program called ‘Stage Lights’ at the age of seven. Acting for me became an instant love affair. I loved everything about it. Through school and beyond I ran with it. I knew it’s what I wanted to do. Many years later I moved to NYC and swam with the sharks. What they don’t teach you in theater school is that it’s hard. VERY. HARD. To become what people consider successful in the industry. Getting your foot in the door is almost like winning the lottery. But I didn’t care. I was going to do it or die trying. So, here I am present day. I did some very cool theater shows through my time in NYC with NYC Fringe Festival, I had my own variety show (which I still do sometimes), I produced two extremely cool and successful off-broadway shows (one in 2018 and another in 2019. The one in 2018 made the top 10 Christmas shows to watch by Time Out NY magazine……not too shabby for a first time production), I acted in a few films, and I started my own production company called ‘This Jew’s For You Productions’. Both my Off-Broadway shows were produced under this banner and so is everything that I’m currently involved with.
I have a web series on YouTube which I created and write and act in with my best friend Yael Fern. It’s called Flushing It. It’s about two siblings in NYC that get into a flood of adventures……in different bathrooms. We have season 2 dropping very soon. The concept for this started with I was thinking about going into writing custom scenes for actors for their reels. I wrote then decided to film a scene as proof of my work. Our super talented DP and editor Michael Epperson said I should continue with the two characters I had in the scene and thus Flushing It was born. We have a blast and we hope you’ll go over and give us a watch. The episodes are very short 2-8 minutes.
I was also a bartender for a very long time so I have another series I’m currently working on about my career and ridiculous experiences behind the bar. There will be a podcast to accompany it. Interviewing people and listening to their horror stories about the service industry is going to be great therapy. LOL on that.
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
We live in a scary times right now. The world needs art. The best thing you can do is watch, donate, and see how you can get involved with struggling performers….because with cuts from art programs and funds being pulled…..its time to step up and help us still have a voice.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
When it’s all said and done and your stage show or film or sketch or video is done and out in the world, nothing is better than standing back and looking at your idea and saying: I f*cking did that.
Contact Info:
Image Credits
Images by Micheal Epperson, CoCo Photography, My Mom: Doodle Sternberg