Joy House Productions is an entertainment based,
boutique company that founded The Joy House Film Festival
and The Wong Side of Life. It also produces independent films
(The Casting Game & The Script of Life), workshops & events.
*
Joy Hopwood’s background is in children’s television,
education and the arts. Her work has been recognised
by The Australian, SMH, The Daily Telegraph, The Sunday Times
newspapers and Film Ink & IF magazines.
*In 2012 Joy was interviewed by PJ Madam from SBS World News
about the importance of having diversity on Australian screens,
as diversity is an integral part of Joy’s work and is a proud
founding member of MEAA’s Diversity committee & is N.S.W.’s
elected representative.
*
Joy’s background is in children’s television and started out as a
presenter on A.B.C. T.V’s Play School and appeared as a guest on
popular T.V. shows like: Good News Week, Home and Away,
A Country Practice, G.P. Media Watch and many more.
*
*
Having graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree at Edith
Cowan University in Western Australia, Joy then moved to
Sydney permanently after successfully auditioning for
ABC’s Play School.
*In 2010, Joy took part in Belvoir Company B’s sold out show,
“Stories East and West,” (C.A.P.A) and further seasons
in 2011 and 2012.
*
Her autobiographical story has been included in Black Ink book’s,
Growing Up Asian in Australia, edited by Alice Pung, which is
part of the HSC curriculum and tertiary studies for universities
and schools, now in its eighth reprint edition. Pearson Education
then approached Joy to have her story included for the Pearson
9 series Reflecting on Life and so did Jessie St Library & C.H.A.A.
for Chinese Australian’s Women’s Stories (2012).
In 2012, Joy House Productions wrote & co-produced a comedic
short film The Colour of Change about stereotypes and social issues,
highlighting the importance of not judging people in society unless
you’ve walked in their shoes.
*
This short film was selected as a finalist for the BEMAC short film
festival 2013, Cinewest, Women Media Arts and Film Festival 2013
(and won the Audience Choice Award), Kanyahumari International
Film Festival, India 2014, Lambing Flat Festival 2014 and The Shire
International Short Film Festival 2014, Florida’s Rendezvous Short
Film Festival 2015 & 9th CMS Film Festival 2017 held in Lucknow,
India and Geo Film Festival & Expocinema, Belvedere, Padova
in 2017.
*On March 25th, 2013 , The Wong Side of life, theatre play was
successfully performed at The Concourse Theatre with profits going
to The Cancer Council, which Joy’s a proud ambassador for.
The play received positive reviews which led to the Kindness is
For Free campaign, (an anti-racism and anti-bullying initiative)
in schools. This has been part of many annual Harmony Day events.
On September 14th, 2013, The Joy House Film Festival was launched.
This is a short film festival showcasing short films of “joy”
and sub theme of diversity. It’s the only short film festival in Australia,
supported by Actors Equity and the Media Entertainment Alliance
(Diversity Committee) and gives prizes for best film, best Youth film,
best Diversity film and also best Women’s film.
*
In 2009 & 2013, Joy’s philanthropy and community work was
recognised for the prestigious Australian of the Year Awards.
Here Joy was presented with an award by Ita Buttrose and then
Treasurer Joe Hockey M.P for a community award.
Joe Hockey, Joy and Ita Buttrose (Community Awards)
Joy has been emcee for many events including International Women’s
Day at Westfield (2016) and International Women’s Day, organised by
the Worker’s Union in Sydney city where 800+ people attended,
and Walk for Respect (18 C) in 2015 and 2017.
*
In 2017, the feature film The Casting Game was made – written /
produced by Joy Hopwood and directed by Pearl Tan.
The Casting Game has been selected for Hollywood Screenings Film
Festival & Hollywood Verge Film Awards and World Film Fair
(New York), Lift of Film Festival, Lift Off Global, First Time Filmmakers,
and Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival (India) thus far.
It won best Australasian film at World Film Fair (New York) 2018.
In 2019, Joy’s second feature film, The Script of Life was made. A
romantic comedy film about how life doesn’t go according to a script
and the sacrifices the main characters make for love and friendship.
It won an award at Amsterdam International Film Festival 2019.
*Currently in pre- production is, Rhapsody of Love, due for release
in 2020.
*
“Making a difference in people’s lives is an ongoing goal of mine,
by ‘creating’ work with life messages, whether it be in film, literature,
theatre or the visual arts. I would like to continue creating in this way
in hope for social change – for a better, kinder community.”
(Joy Hopwood)
