Filmmaker, model, and action actress Stephanie Pham is the co-founder of the film production company Art School Dropouts (no, she isn’t one), in which she performs many roles, both behind and in front of the camera, primarily as a videographer. Due to her extensive background in the Korean martial art Taekwon-Do*, Stephanie performs her own fight scenes with no need for a stunt double. In fact, two of her fight scenes earned awards at the 2024 Urban Action Showcase and Expo, held in New York City.
Stephanie’s martial arts skills have also caught the eye of acclaimed indie film director Chase Dudley, who has cast her in a lead role in his first action feature, entitled Widow’s Web, which will begin production this year. As this will be Chase’s first venture into the action-thriller genre, he values Stephanie’s feedback and input on the project. Stephanie tells me; “He’s shared multiple script drafts with me, which is pretty rare. Usually you’re cast after everything is locked, but here I’ve been able to give input on the character and be part of that development.”
Besides acting on camera and working behind the camera, Stephanie has also built an extensive modeling portfolio over the past 15 years. As she is also is experienced as a photographer, she has often collaborated with the photographers she works with, such as Matt Granger, with whom she has helped produce some of his most acclaimed work that he prominently features at his website. Learn more about this Philadelphia native in the following recent and exclusive interview she did for Idol Features.
* This spelling is specifically used by the International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF).
CHRIS CHARLES: It’s a pleasure to have you gracing the pages of Idol Features, Stephanie. You have actually been “on my radar” for a few years now, but my friend and colleague Lien Mya Nguyen, who will have the pleasure of working with you next year, suggested I contact you for an interview, so finally here we are.STEPHANIE PHAM: Wow, thank you so much for having me. Hearing that I’ve been on someone’s radar for years is honestly kind of surreal. I don’t really think of myself as someone “important.” I just love creating, learning, and trying to do better with each project. So it really means a lot when people notice the work over time.
CHRIS: I know you’ve answered some of these questions before for other publications, including your own, so I apologize in advance if anything I ask you makes you think; “oh no, not this one again.” With that said; were you born and raised in Philadelphia?
STEPHANIE: Yes! I’m Philly through and through, born and raised right there.
CHRIS: I understand you randomly competed in a pageant some years back and that sort of got you started in showbiz. What was the pageant and was that the first time you appeared before an audience?
STEPHANIE: The pageant story is actually tied really closely to Taekwon-Do for me. I was always a Taekwon-Do girl; training, competing, doing demos, traveling for tournaments, so being in front of an audience was normal, just in a completely different way. The turning point was my last World Championship in Argentina in 2009. I competed in nine events and ended up spraining my ankle during a match at Worlds. I was devastated, but that moment really forced me to reflect. I remember telling myself that moving forward, I wouldn’t let fear stop me from taking opportunities. When I later got invited to compete in the National American Miss Pageant, it felt like the exact opposite of everything I was comfortable with, but I said yes anyway. I placed 3rd runner-up, and that experience really opened the door to acting and modeling in a way I never planned for.
CHRIS: What inspired the name of your film production company “Art School Dropouts”? Are you one?
STEPHANIE: The name actually came from my best friend Joey Min. It started as a blog with creatives, and he eventually turned it into a YouTube channel. I joined later and handled more of the business side. Funny enough, none of us actually went to art school. I graduated with a degree in pharmaceutical and healthcare business – totally unrelated.
CHRIS: You work behind and in front of the camera. Which do your prefer?
STEPHANIE: I think people assume I’d say in front of the camera, but honestly I prefer being behind it now. I’ve modeled for so long that being in front of the camera feels second nature, but production is where I feel really challenged.
I love problem-solving, planning, figuring out how to make things run smoothly — and making sure people are treated well. With Art School Dropouts, I’m basically trying to build the production company I always wished existed. I also get excited over weird little things. (laughs) I just bought a slushie and ice cream machine for set next year, and I’m genuinely so excited about it. It’s small, but I want people to feel taken care of when they work with us.
CHRIS: I’ll name a few or the short films you’ve produced and/or appeared in. Please tell me the first thing that comes to mind when you recall working oh each one; Elektra V Psylocke.
STEPHANIE: Oof (laughs). This one hurts to watch now. It was literally our first project ever. Mae Claire and I were brand new and just wanted something – anything – for our reels. Is it good? No. It’s bad. The acting is rough, everything’s rough, but I keep it up because it’s proof that everyone starts somewhere, and you’re not supposed to be amazing right away.
CHRIS: The Legend of Korra: A New Beginning.
STEPHANIE: This was good practice, but it also taught me a lot about what I don’t enjoy producing. When the poster came out, people genuinely thought M. Night was involved and we got so much hate, even though it clearly said “fan film.” That experience really pushed me away from fan films. I realized I’d rather put my energy into original stories instead of navigating expectations tied to existing IP.
CHRIS: Laundromat on the Corner.
STEPHANIE: This one’s funny because I am such a baby when it comes to horror films, but I always had this weird desire to be the monster in one (laughs). In Laundromat on the Corner, I got to play this spirit haunting a laundromat and luring a human in, which was way outside my comfort zone but also really fun. There was one shot where I had to look like I was floating, so we literally had someone push me around in a laundry cart between the machines. It looked creepy on camera, but behind the scenes it was honestly ridiculous.
CHRIS: Won’t You Be Mine?
CHRIS: I’ll name a few or the short films you’ve produced and/or appeared in. Please tell me the first thing that comes to mind when you recall working oh each one; Elektra V Psylocke.
STEPHANIE: Oof (laughs). This one hurts to watch now. It was literally our first project ever. Mae Claire and I were brand new and just wanted something – anything – for our reels. Is it good? No. It’s bad. The acting is rough, everything’s rough, but I keep it up because it’s proof that everyone starts somewhere, and you’re not supposed to be amazing right away.
CHRIS: The Legend of Korra: A New Beginning.
STEPHANIE: This was good practice, but it also taught me a lot about what I don’t enjoy producing. When the poster came out, people genuinely thought M. Night was involved and we got so much hate, even though it clearly said “fan film.” That experience really pushed me away from fan films. I realized I’d rather put my energy into original stories instead of navigating expectations tied to existing IP.
CHRIS: Laundromat on the Corner.
STEPHANIE: This one’s funny because I am such a baby when it comes to horror films, but I always had this weird desire to be the monster in one (laughs). In Laundromat on the Corner, I got to play this spirit haunting a laundromat and luring a human in, which was way outside my comfort zone but also really fun. There was one shot where I had to look like I was floating, so we literally had someone push me around in a laundry cart between the machines. It looked creepy on camera, but behind the scenes it was honestly ridiculous.
CHRIS: Won’t You Be Mine?
STEPHANIE: This project was really refreshing for me. Leroy Nguyen is very much an acting director, which I love, because he really takes the time to work with performance and character. Even though Art School Dropouts helped with the production, being considered for the role still felt like a huge honor. I see Leroy as such a strong actor himself, so being directed by someone who understands that side of things made the experience really special.
CHRIS: Player Agency.
STEPHANIE: This project was really special. To my knowledge, it’s the first narrative feature film shot entirely in VR, which was wild. Everything lived inside RecRoom, so as DP, I had to rethink how cameras and storytelling would even work.
Beyond the tech, the story itself is really wholesome. It’s about finding meaning and realizing money isn’t everything. It’s also our second feature as Art School Dropouts, so it holds a lot of weight for me personally.
CHRIS: You’re also credited for stunts in the film Trouble Man. What stunts did to perform for that one?
STEPHANIE: For Trouble Man, our company handled the action design for the film. I technically doubled the lead female antagonist, but honestly, it was literally just me as a body on the floor for a split second (laughs). The bigger part of our involvement was choreographing and directing the fight scenes.
CHRIS: I’ve done interviews in the past with a few Hollywood stuntwomen. We’re talking; falling out windows, getting set on fire, hit by cars, etc. Do you have any desire or ambitions to go there with your stunt work or will you mainly stick to fight scenes?
STEPHANIE: I always try to be really clear about this; I’m not a stuntwoman. I’m more of an action actress. I can do fight choreography because of my martial arts background, but when it comes to big falls, fires, or getting hit by cars? Absolutely not. I have so much respect for stunt performers, and I’m very happy staying in my lane.
CHRIS: I’ve read where you said your parents sort of made you take up Taekwon-Do. You’re not Korean, but I do know that most Korean parents make their kids take up either taekwondo, piano, or English. Were you given any other choices for an extracurricular activity or was taekwondo it?
STEPHANIE: My dad always liked martial arts, so when the opportunity arose, he took it. It was really just convenience and timing. Living in North Philly, there weren’t many options, and my parents wanted my brother and me to focus on academics. So that was pretty much it.
CHRIS: When did you earn your black belt?
STEPHANIE: I think it was around 2004? It’s been so long that I actually have to think about it.
CHRIS: How often did you compete and do you still compete in any taekwondo tournaments?
STEPHANIE: I competed a lot before college, at least three tournaments a year, and even more when I was training for Worlds. I competed in two World Cups and two World Championships. I haven’t really competed since around 2010, though.
CHRIS: Player Agency.
STEPHANIE: This project was really special. To my knowledge, it’s the first narrative feature film shot entirely in VR, which was wild. Everything lived inside RecRoom, so as DP, I had to rethink how cameras and storytelling would even work.
Beyond the tech, the story itself is really wholesome. It’s about finding meaning and realizing money isn’t everything. It’s also our second feature as Art School Dropouts, so it holds a lot of weight for me personally.
CHRIS: You’re also credited for stunts in the film Trouble Man. What stunts did to perform for that one?
STEPHANIE: For Trouble Man, our company handled the action design for the film. I technically doubled the lead female antagonist, but honestly, it was literally just me as a body on the floor for a split second (laughs). The bigger part of our involvement was choreographing and directing the fight scenes.
CHRIS: I’ve done interviews in the past with a few Hollywood stuntwomen. We’re talking; falling out windows, getting set on fire, hit by cars, etc. Do you have any desire or ambitions to go there with your stunt work or will you mainly stick to fight scenes?
STEPHANIE: I always try to be really clear about this; I’m not a stuntwoman. I’m more of an action actress. I can do fight choreography because of my martial arts background, but when it comes to big falls, fires, or getting hit by cars? Absolutely not. I have so much respect for stunt performers, and I’m very happy staying in my lane.
CHRIS: I’ve read where you said your parents sort of made you take up Taekwon-Do. You’re not Korean, but I do know that most Korean parents make their kids take up either taekwondo, piano, or English. Were you given any other choices for an extracurricular activity or was taekwondo it?
STEPHANIE: My dad always liked martial arts, so when the opportunity arose, he took it. It was really just convenience and timing. Living in North Philly, there weren’t many options, and my parents wanted my brother and me to focus on academics. So that was pretty much it.
CHRIS: When did you earn your black belt?
STEPHANIE: I think it was around 2004? It’s been so long that I actually have to think about it.
CHRIS: How often did you compete and do you still compete in any taekwondo tournaments?
STEPHANIE: I competed a lot before college, at least three tournaments a year, and even more when I was training for Worlds. I competed in two World Cups and two World Championships. I haven’t really competed since around 2010, though.
CHRIS: So, regarding the film Mya Nguyen told me about; you are slated to star in Chase Dudley’s Widow’s Web, which will begin production in 2026 and Chase said is his debut into the action-thriller genre. What can you tell me about this film and your character?
STEPHANIE: I can’t say too much yet, but I’m really excited about it. What I love about this project is how collaborative Chase has been. He’s shared multiple script drafts with me, which is pretty rare. Usually you’re cast after everything is locked, but here I’ve been able to give input on the character and be part of that development.
CHRIS: Who are some actresses in martial arts films you admire, and I’m going to guess one is Michelle Yeoh?
STEPHANIE: Michelle Yeoh is definitely an obvious one. I also really admire Maggie Q, Cynthia Rothrock, Maggie Cheung, Yukari Oshima, and Moon Lee.
CHRIS: Is there anyone in independent films, on either side of the camera, you particularly want to work with, but haven’t yet?
STEPHANIE: I don’t really put specific people on a pedestal. I’m honestly just happy to work with people who are passionate and collaborative.
CHRIS: Besides being an actress, filmmaker, and martial artist, You’re also an experience model. What was your very first venture into modeling?
STEPHANIE: My first modeling experience was actually through a modeling class back in 2010, when I was just starting out and trying to figure out what direction I wanted to go in.
CHRIS: Did you do nude modeling from the start of your modeling career or did you progress to that?
STEPHANIE: I definitely progressed into it. It wasn’t something I jumped into right away – it came later as I became more comfortable and confident in my work and wanted to challenge myself.
CHRIS: I see you’ve done quite a few outstanding shoots with Matt Granger, so he must be one of your favorite photographers. Would you say he considers you as sort of his muse?
STEPHANIE: I don’t think he’d call me his muse (laughs). We’re just really good friends and we work well together. I think because of my experience on both sides of the camera, I’m able to offer more than just being the model – I can give feedback and perspective too.
CHRIS: What would you say has been the most most awkward location where you have done a nude photo shoot?
STEPHANIE: I wouldn’t shoot anywhere that truly made me uncomfortable, but there was this one Airbnb that was aggressively pink. Like… everything. After a full day of shooting, it actually started hurting my eyes.
CHRIS: Have you ever worked with any female photographers?
STEPHANIE: Yes, I have! Most of the photographers I’ve worked with are male, but I’ve also worked with women as well.
CHRIS: What has been your favorite location for a shoot?
STEPHANIE: I can’t say too much yet, but I’m really excited about it. What I love about this project is how collaborative Chase has been. He’s shared multiple script drafts with me, which is pretty rare. Usually you’re cast after everything is locked, but here I’ve been able to give input on the character and be part of that development.
CHRIS: Who are some actresses in martial arts films you admire, and I’m going to guess one is Michelle Yeoh?
STEPHANIE: Michelle Yeoh is definitely an obvious one. I also really admire Maggie Q, Cynthia Rothrock, Maggie Cheung, Yukari Oshima, and Moon Lee.
CHRIS: Is there anyone in independent films, on either side of the camera, you particularly want to work with, but haven’t yet?
STEPHANIE: I don’t really put specific people on a pedestal. I’m honestly just happy to work with people who are passionate and collaborative.
CHRIS: Besides being an actress, filmmaker, and martial artist, You’re also an experience model. What was your very first venture into modeling?
STEPHANIE: My first modeling experience was actually through a modeling class back in 2010, when I was just starting out and trying to figure out what direction I wanted to go in.
CHRIS: Did you do nude modeling from the start of your modeling career or did you progress to that?
STEPHANIE: I definitely progressed into it. It wasn’t something I jumped into right away – it came later as I became more comfortable and confident in my work and wanted to challenge myself.
CHRIS: I see you’ve done quite a few outstanding shoots with Matt Granger, so he must be one of your favorite photographers. Would you say he considers you as sort of his muse?
STEPHANIE: I don’t think he’d call me his muse (laughs). We’re just really good friends and we work well together. I think because of my experience on both sides of the camera, I’m able to offer more than just being the model – I can give feedback and perspective too.
CHRIS: What would you say has been the most most awkward location where you have done a nude photo shoot?
STEPHANIE: I wouldn’t shoot anywhere that truly made me uncomfortable, but there was this one Airbnb that was aggressively pink. Like… everything. After a full day of shooting, it actually started hurting my eyes.
CHRIS: Have you ever worked with any female photographers?
STEPHANIE: Yes, I have! Most of the photographers I’ve worked with are male, but I’ve also worked with women as well.
CHRIS: What has been your favorite location for a shoot?
STEPHANIE: Anywhere indoors with working air-conditioning or heat and a bathroom.
CHRIS: Do you have any skills, hobbies or interests only those close to you would know about?
STEPHANIE: People close to me know that I’m very work-driven and super business-minded. I genuinely love talking about production, logistics, and long-term goals. Modeling is what most people see first, which is totally fine, but I really appreciate when people see past that and notice the work ethic behind everything. My dream is for Art School Dropouts to sustainably produce one feature film every year – that’s always been the goal. And honestly, after long days on set, it’s really grounding for me to come home to my husband. I spend so much time being independent and in work mode that it’s nice to just turn that off and be myself for a bit.
CHRIS: With that, I’ll thank you again for taking the time to do this for our readers, Stephanie. In closing, any shout-outs to anyone?
STEPHANIE: I just want to thank everyone who’s ever given me an opportunity, the people who quietly support what we’re doing with Art School Dropouts, and everyone who’s been following my journey. I really hope my story encourages people who are scared to try something new to take that jump and make something they’re proud of.
CHRIS: Oh, just one last question: Please tell me who or what inspired the character “Stabbanie” and will we see any more of her?
STEPHANIE: (Laughs) Stabbanie actually came from our Patrons. She’s based on our short film series Lady, where my character is a vigilante and… yeah, she stabs bad guys. One of our Patrons, MelonLordCosplay, coined the name and even commissioned a chibi version that we now use for stickers and merch sometimes. And honestly, if people keep loving her, you’ll probably see more.
CHRIS: Do you have any skills, hobbies or interests only those close to you would know about?
STEPHANIE: People close to me know that I’m very work-driven and super business-minded. I genuinely love talking about production, logistics, and long-term goals. Modeling is what most people see first, which is totally fine, but I really appreciate when people see past that and notice the work ethic behind everything. My dream is for Art School Dropouts to sustainably produce one feature film every year – that’s always been the goal. And honestly, after long days on set, it’s really grounding for me to come home to my husband. I spend so much time being independent and in work mode that it’s nice to just turn that off and be myself for a bit.
CHRIS: With that, I’ll thank you again for taking the time to do this for our readers, Stephanie. In closing, any shout-outs to anyone?
STEPHANIE: I just want to thank everyone who’s ever given me an opportunity, the people who quietly support what we’re doing with Art School Dropouts, and everyone who’s been following my journey. I really hope my story encourages people who are scared to try something new to take that jump and make something they’re proud of.
CHRIS: Oh, just one last question: Please tell me who or what inspired the character “Stabbanie” and will we see any more of her?
STEPHANIE: (Laughs) Stabbanie actually came from our Patrons. She’s based on our short film series Lady, where my character is a vigilante and… yeah, she stabs bad guys. One of our Patrons, MelonLordCosplay, coined the name and even commissioned a chibi version that we now use for stickers and merch sometimes. And honestly, if people keep loving her, you’ll probably see more.
See and find out more on Stephanie at:
Art School Dropouts
Patreon
Instagram
About the author
Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, Chris flirted with the music business there and in Nashville before joining the U.S. Army and serving in South Korea. He remained in Asia for several years afterwards, teaching English, traveling, and covering the regional entertainment scenes. Currently in a mindset between Seoul and San Francisco, besides Idol Features, you can also catch his writings in the print edition of the monthly magazine, Effective.
Be the first to comment