Independent Women: Stefanie Sparks

By Victoria Elena Nones

Women In Comedy: Tell us a little about your background and how you came to pursue comedy as a career?

Stefanie Sparks: I identify as more of a writer/director. I have come to comedy backwards in that I never thought I was funny or had any sort of gift for comedy until maybe seven or eight years ago when I created my first web series “Screwed” and people told me how funny I was. After that, I just kept writing and directing things and they kept coming out funny. Not until someone said “There’s money in funny” to me a few years ago did I think it was smart to embrace comedy. lol. But it’s true. I think there’s something about being a women in film that makes you feel like you need to take yourself very seriously. For me, I know I’m better when I’m being funny and now I understand that that’s really a gift to be embraced so I embrace it.

Women In Comedy: What’s one of the biggest obstacles you’ve faced on your road to success as a comedian?

Stefanie Sparks: I think trusting your gut is always an issue for me. You can’t worry about people not liking your stuff because there are so many people out there that will like your stuff. No matter what, you have to be true to yourself and find that truth in your voice and your comedy. That’s been tricky for me to really embrace from time to time because, again, I want to be taken seriously as a film director and there’s this stigma attached to comedy films that if you make comedies you’re not a serious director. That’s not true but it’s a struggle.

Women In Comedy: When did you first decide to start your own project what was the inspiration behind starting it?

Stefanie Sparks: How did you come up with the name for it?I had just broken up with my long-term boyfriend and had my first adult health crisis. When I got out of the hospital, I felt like I had a new lease on life and I didn’t want to waste it. I wrote the first episode for my web series “Screwed” and decided to cast myself in the lead role for the first time ever. I called it “Screwed” because it was about a dancer from Nebraska moving to New York and wanting to make it in the very prestigious dance world of ballet. For me, the title embodied how I felt about being taken seriously by the NY film community, which I have never understood or fit in with yet it hasn’t stopped my from doing my thing.

Women In Comedy: For someone who has never seen your film — how would you describe the experience?

Stefanie Sparks: My current film, In Case of Emergency, is a no-budget gross-out comedy for women. I think it’s “fun ride” of a movie which I made at a time when I was feeling particularly angry about the idea of perfection that I was struggling with as a woman in NYC. I think it’s relatable, a little bit gross but it also has a LOT of heart. And the cast is pretty amazing (Phoebe Robinson, Cathy Curtin, Jenni Ruiza, Lisa Haas). It has so many different types of women that I am really proud we got to showcase.

Women In Comedy: Why do you think it is important for women to create their own work in comedy?

Stefanie Sparks: I really think that women are just funnier. I am so tired of trying to watch a film made by a guy that falls into all the same old tropes and patterns of a male point of view. When I see comedy and sketches by women, I feel like I’m getting something fresh and new with a point of view that’s original. We are JUST starting to see how amazing this can be and I think it’s exciting for the future of comedy and media in all forms.

Women In Comedy: Who has been one of your mentors/someone you look up to that has encouraged you to be an independent woman/create your own opportunities?

Stefanie Sparks: So many women I have found to look up to. A big one is Madeleine Olnek (Foxy Merkins, Untitled Emily Dickenson Project). Madeleine is one of the most exciting directors working right now and when I saw her second feature Foxy Merkins in Brooklyn a few years ago, I knew I could make another no-budget feature. Issa Rae also but I don’t know her personally. When I saw her web series Misadventures of an Awkward Black Girl in 2011, it inspired me to do my own web series. She’s just a bad ass in every way.

Also check out Stefanie Sparks’ awesome Youtube channel, where you can check out her work prior to the upcoming film of In Case Of Emergency.