Today we’d like to introduce you to Steven St. Pierre.
Steven, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I wasn’t one of those kids who knew I always wanted to be an actor/creator or do comedy, I never formally performed theater growing up because where I’m from that just wasn’t what we did. Being born in Brooklyn and raised in Queens NY, playing basketball was the focus. My early dreams were to play in the NBA but unfortunately, I stopped growing. Don’t feel bad, I’m the perfect height for an actor!
For years I worked with people with disabilities and the special needs population. Seeing these wonderful people strive to achieve goals that neurotypical people or people without disabilities did with ease and took for granted was very inspiring. They just went for there’s with no filter or inhibitions. It opened my eyes.
Acting, being on TV, starring in movies never entered my mind while roaming the streets of Flatbush and Rosedale. But as my mental palate increased, I started to see the possibilities. I went to college with Antoinette Robertson who plays Coco on Dear White People. I saw her grind and hustle through the years and reached out to simply ask what is acting, how do I start. She graciously explained to me what auditing was, where I can take classes, and meet casting directors. I took it from there and literally Googled “acting for beginners”. That first day I went to audit (watching but not participating) a class I was at that theatre school all day. I fell in love. I hit the ground running.
I got to where I am today by saying yes and taking opportunities as they came so I could learn and grow. I was so new so everything was exciting. I should say that it still is exciting because you can never stop learning. This started five years ago. As of today, I’ve been in 25+ TV and Film productions according to IMDb (some indie projects just never materialize after you shoot, you know how that is) in both drama and comedy. But I learned quickly that acting was a catalyst and the center of what I love to do and that led to realizing I’m an overall creative. A storyteller. I’ve written, directed, produced stories in all forms. Corey is my award-winning short film available on Amazon, Room For Rent is a comedic web series I created on YouTube and I’ve performed and directed sketch comedy shows for stage.
Looking back, growing up in the hood there were stories always being told and I was unknowingly working those muscles ever since then. Basketball for me was poetry and improvisation, the court was my stage. Days with my family, I was reciting jokes from joke books I’d beg my dad to buy me. And of course, there was drama out in these streets. Although I got started just a few years ago formally, I’d like to think life has prepared me for this moment and what’s to come.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I think many people can agree that it’s almost never a smooth road. As much as I enjoy telling stories and socializing with people, I was a very guarded person emotionally before acting. Vulnerability is an important ability to possess when you want to be a great actor which I strive to be. That was a challenge for me personally and I am becoming more open every day.
As for the business of acting, there’s no blueprint so inherently it’s going to be a bumpy road. It’s a lot of trial and error, there’s no success without failure but the key is to always get up one more time then you’ve fallen.
Auditioning is a beast of a process. There’s a cache 22 because it’s difficult to get quality auditions without representation but agents/managers want to see that you have experience before repping you. I say difficult because it’s not impossible. It takes hustle, ingenuity and fearlessness to overcome obstacles. Obstacles are just goals you weren’t aware you needed until you’ve met them. I will continue to have struggled on my journey but I welcome them because it will make me better and success will be that much more gratifying.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Saint Pierre Media Group – what should we know?
I’m in the midst of launching my media and production company so you’re hearing it first!
Saint Pierre Media Group will be a company specializing in producing and telling original grounded stories in various mediums. We also will be providing consultations and other services for the creative. Services include scene production, demo reel editing, writing original content and under the Self-Tape with St. Pierre umbrella, I currently provide taping for auditions, audition coaching and more.
As an actor, I also wanted to create a company so that I can have more stake in my work and contribute to the collaborative process a bit more.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Confidence.
I’m cheating when I say that because it encompasses many qualities for me. When you’re confident, it’s easier for you to be humble since you already have belief in self and humility doesn’t diminish that, it’s easier for you to be fearless because you have conviction that it will work out eventually and you are willing to continue to learn and grow in areas that you may not be as strong.
Confidence allows you to be secure in what you know and don’t know so that you’re always sharpening your strengths and recognize your weaknesses to build them up.
Contact Info:
- Website: istevenstpierre.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/istevenstpierre
- Facebook: http://facebook.com/officialstevenstpierre
- Twitter: http://twitter.com/istevenstpierre
- Other: imdb.me/stevenstpierre
Image Credit:
Derrick St. Pierre, Melissa Hamburg, Chris Serralta, Reme Andre, Jackson Eagan, Ting Pan
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