Stephanie Ard
Art Department Coordinator
Rooster Teeth Productions
Milestones
My road in life took a while to figure out.
Father passing away - had to choose whether or not to continue on in the school play the week before his passing
Desperately wanted to attend NYU for acting, but we couldn't afford it.
Audition for Baylor's theatre school and got in!
Quit theatre after the first semester b / c I thought it wasn't practical and I was scared.
Pursued a degree and a career in Music Business. Realized when I got a second interview for WME in Beverly Hills that I no longer wanted that career.
Moved to Austin to pursue acting - knowing almost no one, started my acting class two day into my residency.
After working at grocery stores and restaurants and bars, I booked a commercial that financially allowed me to quit my job and start working as a PA in the film industry.
Have built a great network here in Austin over the 7 years of living here, made a film that was successful in the festival circuit and have a great job at a growing company!
Keep following my journey
Education
High School
Plano Senior High School
Plano Senior High School
Career
Art Department Coordinator
I manage the schedules, budgets, personnel and all requests and projects for the Art Department at a production company
Career Roadmap
My work combines:
My work combines:
Film
Business
Building Things
Day to Day
It's different every day! If we are working on a film or a short, things are hectic and I am managing the crew (making sure they know the schedule and where they are supposed to be), tracking the budget and making sure we are spending correctly, reporting to Producers and Directors, etc. It's a lot, but it's super fun!
Advice for Getting Started
Here's the first step for everyone
I started working for free on graduate student film projects - and meeting the professors. When those people went to work on bigger, non-student productions, they remembered me! And I went to networking events! And I just always was nice and talked to people. If you show a genuine interest in learning and wanting to do good work, it will usually lead to a job.
Recommended Education
My career is not related to what I studied. I'd recommend this path instead:
Hurdles
The Noise I Shed
From Parents:
"That working in the film industry is unstable and I will not be able to provide for myself or establish a long term career"
Challenges I Overcame
Financial
