The phrase “that’s a wrap” has been used by directors since the 1920s to signal the end of filming. So when the final episode of Netflix’s “Stranger Things” aired on New Year’s Eve, millions of fans around the world felt their own version of a wrap as they said goodbye to the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana — and to one of the hottest television series of the past decade.
For three Florida Gulf Coast University alumni, the moment carried special weight as they called a wrap on their involvement in the cultural phenomenon that premiered in 2016.
An FGCU grad at the heart of a hit show
Jackie DeGraaff (’14, theatre) has spent the last decade building her career in the Atlanta film and television industry, the city where much of “Stranger Things” was filmed. Her work as a freelance associate producer for the past three years, and as an assistant to executive producers and showrunners prior to that, placed her inside one of the most talked-about series of the streaming era. She most recently contributed to the sci-fi hit’s fifth and final season and the behind-the-scenes documentary, with her name appearing on a single title card in the credits — a meaningful acknowledgment in a production of such massive scale.
“It was a crucible of a show,” DeGraaff says. “That being my first real entry into the film industry was interesting — the level of security, the level of story, was so big.”
One moment that brought home the impact of her work on the show occurred in a Tampa mall. A random shopper approached and asked her where she got her “Stranger Things” jacket, which was a season two wrap gift.
“I told them I got it for working on the show, and they freaked out,” she says. “There’s a weight to it.”
The experience gave her a tangible sense of the show’s cultural reach and the significance of her involvement — which positioned her to guide other FGCU alumni seeking opportunities in the industry.
Opening a door in the ‘Upside Down’
As series fans know, the “Upside Down” is the show’s eerie parallel dimension with multiple portals that open on a world of monsters. In the real world, DeGraaff’s own door of opportunity was opened by another Eagle theatre graduate, Jake Scott-Hodes. He encouraged her to move to Atlanta the year after she graduated — the city’s growing film industry and lower living costs compared to other industry hubs made it a smart step. Scott-Hodes, who worked on the first season of “Stranger Things,” helped DeGraaff land a job interview for the second season.
“It’s funny how that works with alumni,” she says.
In turn, DeGraaff has helped other FGCU alums get a start in Atlanta, including Lexi Piper (’23, theatre), who served as a production assistant on the fifth season of “Stranger Things.”
“I had already accepted the idea that working on my dream show just wasn’t going to happen when Jackie texted me saying she had a job,” says Piper. “The scale of ‘Stranger Things’ was beyond my imagination. Being a small cog in the machine only made me appreciate the show more.”
For the Naples native, DeGraaff’s presence was invaluable as she understood Piper’s background and training in a way that eased her transition into the production. Piper also credits the stage management classes she took at FGCU with preparing her for her role.
“My experience at FGCU is the only reason I was able to get to work on ‘Stranger Things.’ My professor, Anne Carncross, connected Jackie and me. Without that connection via the theatre program, I don’t think I would have had the chance to be involved in the production,” she says.
From FGCU to Hawkins High School
Fellow alum Lilah Rose Wilcoxson (’25, integrated studies) moved to the Atlanta area a few months after graduating and began auditioning and taking additional classes at an acting studio. She worked on “Stranger Things” season five as a background actor, appearing as a Hawkins High School student in the first episode and the finale.
“It was my first time stepping onto such a major set,” Wilcoxson says. “I loved being a sponge and just getting to absorb the well-oiled machine that is a production of that scale. It’s a show that has such a large fan base that so many people were really excited for me, even if I was a tiny part of it. I’m just grateful to have had the opportunity to work on it.”
Wilcoxson booked the acting gig in December 2023 and shot her scenes throughout 2024. “It certainly was hard to not tell friends and family for so long, but it was worth it to keep the integrity of the show, and it was a super-fun and special secret to keep to myself.”
She credits foundational acting training at FGCU — including “organization, professional relationships and etiquette, time management and more” — with helping her build her skills.
“It really gave me the chance to push for outside opportunities, which set me up for success post-grad,” Wilcoxson says.
Growing up ‘Stranger’
What was it like working with the cast and crew and watching young actors like breakout star Millie Bobby Brown grow up?
“Wild,” says DeGraaff. “I was so new, too. As much as we saw kids grow up on the show, a lot of people behind the scenes also grew up. I have a fondness for every person who worked on that show.”
As “Stranger Things” fades into television history, the careers of DeGraaff, Wilcoxson and Piper are only gaining momentum. All three point to FGCU as the foundation that prepared them for the leap into professional film work.
“If any current students or alumni are interested in the film industry, I’m more than happy to talk to them. I love collaborating,” says DeGraaff. “I’m very interested in being the person I wish I’d had at that age. If they’re reaching out and searching, I’ll eventually work with them anyway, so selfishly, I want to meet them early.”
Well, stranger things can happen when you’re least expecting them — and launch your career in surprising ways.