Meet Ted Sterner

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ted Sterner. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ted below.

Ted, thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts with us today. We’re excited to dive into your story and your work, but first let’s start with a broader topic that might be stopping many of our readers from pursuing their dreams – haters, nay-sayers, etc. How have you managed to persist despite haters and nay-sayers that inevitably follow folks who are doing something unique, special or off the beaten path?

There was a time in my life when I was a “Yes” man. I was a company man who did my best to accomplish the tasks during the day, of course this is necessary for running a business, but for me I needed to live my dream as being a creator in the behavioral arts. I wanted to act and work in the industry in Hollywood and NOT be in the communications field any longer. From the beginning of expressing my interests in the entertainment industry I received the negatively biased prepositions people had been given about the industry, how difficult it is to “make it”, how it’s only for “special people” or how I wasn’t “talented enough”. Surely it has t been easy but I am now working in the industry with time to act whenever the opportunity
arises. I began fighting the nay-sayers by arming myself with the truth about the industry, hard facts, that I received from professional teachers and working actors. Irrefutable facts in all arenas of the industry. This not only fought them off but I could use these facts to lift myself up. I spent no small amount of money for proper training in all aspects of the production that an actor should know so as to become a fully functional part of a production when contracted to perform duties as an actor on set. I simultaneously began getting an befriending professional people in the industry who were active and working full time in it. It wasn’t easy and there were plenty of times that the haters said “I told you so” but I could hear the voices of my friends and coaches in my head about such lean times and times of trouble. For instance,Amy Jo Berman was instrumental in my growth with personal exercises and the technical aspects of self tape auditions, her help brought me to a place where I was technically recognized as being trained and not a potential for loss. There were others of course but it all started with Amy and my first coach Rod Rowland. Without good practices and foundations the haters would have had more of an influence in my decisions. So the long story shortened is I fight them off with knowledge and it always wins over their opinion. Staying focused on the goal, exercising my skills and craft, revamping my social media and website, as I’m doing right now, are all part of the equation for gradual success and fending off the may-sayers. I’m now getting offers from productions, many I refuse since I’ve upped my game, I work at a great new film studio in Burbank, that is the California sister studio to her east coast predecessor. JCC Studios is just the right place for me to be now. I am active in the industry as a whole, get to experience the process/s of the production company and it’s various departments, which I do read and study about as I grow. My proficiency in all aspects of the industry is growing so I am more useful everyday doing what I love in this dynamic and fast paced industry. I’m living the dream that my haters said couldn’t happen while they are still in the same situation in their lives and living to make someone else’s dream come true. Knowledge, grateful ess and the network of great people are the keys. The short of it? I win!

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

What is most exciting for me is my brand. That would be my acting brand. While I was being coached by Rod Rowland coaching, Rod mentioned that I had a very stern look. Of course in my heart my mind I’m not stirring at all, this is just what life has done to me! So I took on the brand name of Ted Sterner and just simply changed my last name for the industry. As time went on I started acting more in Atlanta before covid and was actually booking in Atlanta out of New York through various agents for work that people in the Atlanta region would not take. I started booking for a couple Christian networks as principal actor and started National commercials sprinkled with a few music videos, which is always fun. Covid put the lid on that! I moved out to California and started pursuing my brand here but it was more difficult since everything was still partially closed. I started dating a celebrity whom I will not mention due to our agreement and my brand took a little downfall for a bit. I’m currently working on resurrecting all of this now. This includes a cologne and a men’s accessory line for the Stern type of man. The brand is about resolute and settled strength. I’d like to interject here that personally I like to practice what I call dignified virtuous masculinity and not the hard or aggressively proud character traits of the Sterner character that was the foundation of it all. The Sterner Brands LLC was off to a rocky start but I have to say it seems as though it was meant to be by virtue of the fact that successful people are now looking into investing in my plans. What do I enjoy, all of it really but my favorite two things of it all are creating interesting characters and teaching what I’ve learned to new actors. When theu see the intangibles of behavioral artistry come to life well while training or on screen, that is very rewarding to me. Even if it is only a quick on set coaching, I enjoy working for a. Veterans non-profit with their mission of housing Veterans. The Uscension nonprofit is very good and trustworthy to the enth degree. I love creating events with these folks! Working at a film studio can be challenging but is well worth it, I love it all. Besides working in the industry, I love dancing with friends at a Hollywood private party I attend, writing screenplays, reading, my personal devotion and meditation times, and I spend no small amount of time at the gym. I am proud of the condition of my body and strive to maintain it. I have some accolades that keep me going in this area of my life of health and nutrition such as ranking number six in the nation for Muscle and Fitness Magazine for my age bracket. I’m happy with that. Just to wrap this up, I always look forward to speaking with my adult children who live on the east coast and catching up on the latest news. Oh, my daughter called me about a week before this interview and told me I’m going to be a grandfather for the first time. So there is a new favorite thing to do that is developing! I look forward to the expansion of my roles in this amazing industry and continuing the forward positive momentum.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Without being educated with practices skills one will have trouble making anything industry lucrative for them. It’s a package deal. I now have a couple of resumes that are merited and seek to continue my self education unto profitability for myself and those I work for or along side of. The first is “quality” itself. The quality of your education and your free time will dictate to you the quality of people that you are surrounding yourself with, your network, and the quality of the opportunities that will be opened up to you. So whatever you are doing always seek high quality in AIM for a dignity and discipline that will maintain that high quality. After you determine that high quality is necessary in all things, I would say educating your mind and bringing the Mind Body Connection together so our skill level can become proficient and profitable for everyone involved in the industry you choose. Always seek to become very proficient in your knowledge and capabilities in the industry you choose and learn at least the first level of initial responsibilities of those that surround you in your network so you can communicate effectively. One must reach a place in their life where they manifest education, a professionalism that is recognized and trusted, and be seen as a very strong person who is focused and trustworthy. Though I went to a life-shattering series of events practicing these things has proven to begin the real establishment of my life and has given me a positive foothold and a new Direction that I’m taking in my new career. If I were to give anyone advice it would be just that which I have now said but even more clearly I would say get mentors coaches and teachers who are of a high quality and not just going to please your ears for a smaller amount of money, time or effort. You get what you pay for and that includes paying with your time in your energy not just your money. People are free to call on me to get their journeys begun I will put them in the right direction with quality people. You’re beginnings determine your ending more than people realize.

What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?

I think feeling overwhelmed is something shared by everybody who desires to grow and progress in any industry. I have found useful tools in acting that aid the actor to transfer their energy in an authentic manner in through the camera so that the viewers can empathize, identify and attach themselves to the character. These tools are very useful in our daily lives. I definitely suggest while you’re having your coffee, or shortly after, have a time of meditation and quiet time and refocus one’s mind on not the things they have to do that day, but on how they will deal with them. How they will respond to obstacles and frustrating events that may arise. Character development in the change of behavior necessary to succeed is not that hard, one must be resolved and settled in their heart to pursue it though. I read specific books meditate upon character strengthening that is necessary and step into my day as a stronger, focused and emotionally settled man. I think finding a way of practicing emotional regulation is very important so we can answer problems logically with solutions and not just answers that don’t really solve problems. Some quiet time and the strengthening of heart and mind to progress forward in our objectives, towards our goals being accomplished is essential. In the midst of a hateful and slanderous environment are very important. A self strengthening regimen or a faith based regimen is foundational.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Tedsterner1001
• Facebook: Ted Siok
• Youtube: Ted Sterner

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