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November 2024
Driving Change: Disability Employment Summit
Stephanie has been appointed to the Driving Change Summit's Advisory Board. She will also act as the Sessions Producer for the Summit happening November 17th-19th at Bondi Pavilion and will moderate a Q & A session with the team behind the feature film 'Audrey'.
Recognising her commitment to driving change for people with disability in the screen industry, Stephanie has been appointed to the advisory group for the aptly titled Driving Change: Disability Employment Summit which is comprised of a team of intersectional and diverse industry representatives and advocates whom Bus Stop Films have brought together to shape the 2-day event.
The Summit is a first of its kind event exploring disability employment and inclusion in the film, TV and commercial production industries and will be taking place at Bondi Pavilion from 17th to 19th of November 2024. The Summit will include international speakers, industry leaders and advocates discussing, elevating and celebrating the employment of people with disabilities on either side of the camera across film, TV and advertising.
When asked about the Summit, Stephanie said "What's exciting about the upcoming Driving Change Summit is having two whole days dedicated to disability inclusion across the screen industries with a strong focus on not just why, but how this is going to be achieved on a practical level. Gone are the days of talking about things, now is the time for doing."
Stephanie has also been tapped to serve as Sessions Producer for the Driving Change Summit, giving her an opportunity to work with the incredible lineup of speakers assembled for the jam-packed 2-day program.
Finally, but certainly not least, Stephanie will moderate a Q & A session during the event with Producer, Michael Wrenn and Lead Cast, Hannah Diviney of the dark comedy feature 'Audrey' which will screen specially at the Summit before its theatrical release on November 7th.
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SEPTEMBER 2024
Dower Productions to receive support through Screen Queensland's Business Enterprise fund
Stephanie has been selected as one of the seven recipients of Screen Queensland's Business Enterprise funding. This fund is designed to support and bolster local screen businesses to develop and expand their operations.
Big things are on the horizon for Dower Productions! In an exciting new development, Stephanie has been selected as one of the seven recipients of Screen Queensland's Business Enterprise funding. This fund is designed to support and bolster local screen businesses to develop and expand their operations. The fund will be released over the next 12 months, with potential for expanded funding over the next 3 years.
Stephanie will utilise the funding to scale and grow independent production company, Dower Productions through developing the company's production capabilities to roll out an exciting and original slate of diverse scripted and factual projects. The projects will all be informed by Dower Productions commitment to creating greater accessibility and inclusion practices and visibility across the Queensland industry and beyond.
Dower Productions will also build on Stephanies efforts as a disability advocate and Access Coordinator by offering an array of services in this space to other independent producers, production companies, and industry events.
The first step in this expansion is to employ key personnel for Dower Productions including an Executive Assistant and Development Producer, to oversee the slate strategy and support day-to-day operations, ensuring maximum dedication to development and production. Stephanie is excited for the future developments and can't wait to share what comes next for the company.
Screen Queensland / Media Release
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December 2023
SPA Councillors and appointed Advisors announced for 23/24
Stephanie is excited to continue her work with the Screen Producers’ Australia Council having been announced as an appointed Advisor along with Greg Woods (Fremantle Australia), Kevin Whyte (Guesswork TV), Kurt Royal (The Post Lounge), and Mitchell Stanley (No Coincidence Media). Also a big congratulations to newly elected Councillor Kyle Munnich (Goalpost Pictures).
Inside Film / Read Full Article
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November 2023
Access Coordinators announced for Screen Australia training program
Stephanie, having first learned of this role during the Respectability lab in 2022, was excited to learn of Screen Australia’s intention to facilitate a training program that would create a cohort of Access Coordinators here in Australia.
Even more exciting was Steph learning that she had been selected as a participant for the program and would travel to Sydney to learn from UK-based facilitators Bridge06.
The participants chosen for this program bring a wealth of talent, industry knowledge, and most importantly expertise when it comes to meeting Access Requirements for DDN (D/deaf, disabled, and neurodivergent) cast and crew thanks to their firsthand experience of advocating for their own access requirements.
Screen Australia / Read Full Article
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February 2023
SPA Leadership Diversity Mentorship Announced
Stephanie is proud to join the Screen Producers’ Australia Council as this year’s recipient of their Leadership Diversity Mentorship.
As someone with aspirations of being a force for positive change within this industry that Stephanie is so deeply passionate about, she is grateful for the opportunity to learn more about how SPA works for the industry on a policy level as well as how they work to inform producers and make the industry one that is open and accessible to a wider wealth of talent.
Inside Film / Read Full Article
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august 2022
Virtual Cohort unveiled for RespectAbility Entertainment Lab 2022
In an exciting announcement, Stephanie has been selected as a Fellow for RespectAbility’s Virtual Entertainment Lab. Thanks to the magic of technology, Stephanie will be participating in the virtual edition of the Lab for 2022 which offers entertainment professionals with disabilities an opportunity to connect with other disabled creatives, professionals and major studio executives, essentially introducing them to the wider industry.
As a non-profit organisation that seeks to combat stigmas for people with disabilities through advocacy, RespectAbility developed the Lab with a goal to “ensure that no one can ever say they could not find a disabled writer, director, producer, or creative professional.” The 2022 Virtual Lab Fellows are Aisha Almada, Alys Murray, Angel Williams, Ariel Baska, Cameron Mitchell, Charo Mato, Chris & Charlie Frazier, Cypher, Graham Kent, Heather Taylor, Isabella Vargas, Kimberly Manky, Matt Opatrny, Maureen McEly, Nina Mahesh, Ophira Calof, Samuel Krauss, and Sarah Fischer.
Through the Lab, Stephanie looks forward to expanding her networks across the Pacific ocean and learning more about the Hollywood system.
Hollywood Reporter / Read Full Article
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April 2022
Speakers announced for Screenworks’ Regional to Global Screen Forum
Additional speakers have been announced for the Regional to Global Screen Forum taking place in Lennox Heads in late May 2022.
Included in the lineup is Dower Productions’ Stephanie Dower. Presented by Bus Stop Films CEO Tracey Corbin-Matchett, Stephanie will be speaking on the Authenticity and Positive Inclusion panel alongside Afro-Australian director, writer, and producer Hawanatu Bangura; non-binary filmmaker Claudia Bailey; and Bus Stop Films’ co-founder and director Genevieve Clay-Smith.
Screenworks / Read Full Article
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march 2022
Sunshine to screen at 46th Cleveland International Film Festival
After having it’s world premiere at the Brisbane International Film Festival in 2021 as part of their RIDE Shorts Gala, Sunshine will have it’s North American premiere at the Cleveland International Film Festival in early April 2022.
It was announced on March 7th that Sunshine had been selected to screen at the Oscar-qualifying film festival, in contention for Best Live Action Short Film. Sunshine is a short drama film that was produced by Taste Creative and Bus Stop Films and was funded through Screen Queensland’s RIDE Shorts initiative.
IMDb / Read Full Article
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December 2021
Screen Queensland announces Equity and Diversity Taskforce
Stephanie is honoured to be selected as one of the inaugural members of Screen Queensland’s Equity and Diversity taskforce.
Tasked with devising a comprehensive, three-year Diversity Plan for the organisation, the announcement of the Equity and Diversity Taskforce is a demonstration of Screen Queensland’s ongoing commitment to positive change with the aim of increasing the representation of diverse voices and perspectives, both in the stories we tell on screen and behind the camera in practitioner roles.
Screen Queensland / Read Full Article