Joy House Productions is an entertainment based, boutique company which founded
The Joy House Film Festival and The Wong Side of Life. It produces plays,
films, art projects, workshops, events, children’s animations and theatre productions.
In 2017, Joy House Productions teamed up with Pearly Productions to make a comedy
film called, The Casting Game (written by Joy Hopwood, directed by Pearl Tan).
Joy Hopwood’s background is in children’s television, education and the arts. Her work has been
recognised by “The Australian,” “The Daily Telegraph,” and “The Sunday Times” newspapers.
In 2012 she was interviewed by SBS World News about the importance of having diversity on
Australian television. Joy was not only a regular presenter on A.B.C. T.V’s Play School but
has had guest roles on “Good News Week,” “Home and Away,” “A Country Practice,” “G.P.”
“New Dimensions,” and “English at Work.”
Joy graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree at Edith Cowan University in Western Australia,
and then moved to Sydney permanently after successfully auditioning for ABC’s Play School,
which has been one of many highlights of her life.
In 2010, Joy took part in Belvoir Company B’s sold out show, “Stories East and West,” and was asked
back for another season 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. It’s now in its fifth reprint edition. Due to her popular contribution, Pearson Education
approached Joy to have her story included for the “Pearson 9” series and was then asked to be a
contributing writer for “Chinese Australian’s Women’s Stories” (2012).
In 2012, Joy House Productions worked with Pearly Productions on a comedic short film
“Colour of Change” about stereotypes and social issues, highlighting the importance of not
judging people in society unless you’ve walked in their shoes also The Wong Side of Life.
Their films were selected as a finalist for the BEMAC short film festival 2013, Cinewest, Women Media Arts
and Film Festival 2013 (and won Audience Choice Award), Kanyahumari International Film Festival,
India 2014, Lambing Flat Festival 2014 and The Shire International Short Film Festival 2014 and
Florida’s Rendezvous Short Film Festival 2015 & 9th CMS Film Festival 2017 held in Lucknow, India.
On March 25th, 2013, a play titled, ” The Wong side of life,” was successfully performed at
The Concourse Theatre. Profits went to The Cancer Council, which Joy is a proud ambassador for.
The play received rave reviews and due to the positive response from the audience, Joy
House Productions has launched the “Kindness is for Free” campaign (an anti-racism
and anti-bullying initiative) into schools, which includes children’s workshops. This has
also been included in many Harmony Day events.
On September 14th, 2013, The Joy House Film Festival was launched.
This is a short film festival featuring short films with a main theme of “joy” and sub theme of
diversity, giving a platform for emerging film makers in Australia and overseas. It’s the only
short film festival in Australia which is supported by Actors Equity and the Media Entertainment
Alliance (Diversity Committee) & Women in Theatre & Screen (Social Media Partner). It gives
prizes for not only best film, but also best Youth film, best Diversity film but also best W.I.T.S.
(Women in Theatre & Screen) film.
“Making a difference in people’s lives for the better, is an ongoing goal of mine in all forms of my work,
whether it be for charity or creatively.”
In 2009 & 2013, Joy’s philanthropy and community work was recognised for the prestigious
Australian of the Year Awards where she has been nominated for twice and the local community awards.
Here Joy was presented with an award by Ita Buttrose and Treasurer Joe Hockey M.P.
Joe Hockey, Joy and Ita Buttrose (Community Awards)
She was emcee for International Women’s Day 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) for 2015 and 2017.
