5 Questions with Joy Hopwood
The first Asian Australian Play School presenter and founder of Joy House productions, Joy Hopwood brings us The Gift that Gives, an Asian Australian romantic comedy that begins in a bookshop.
No.1
What compelled you to you make The Gift that Gives?
I wanted to share what I have learned as a filmmaker about life in the last year or so; I also love to champion diversity in front of the camera. I enjoy giving opportunities for actors from diverse backgrounds and giving opportunities for women especially in the film business.
No.2
Tell us a little bit about The Gift that Gives.
The Gift That Gives follows the story of Callum Mori (Takaya Honda), the author of a book called The Gift That Gives. He makes his first television appearance as a guest of The Arts Corner television show, presented by Kate Sedgeman (Lily Brown-Griffiths), who falls for him. Callum, however falls for her best friend, Linda (HaiHa Le), who owns a bookshop where Callum launches his book. Luckily for Kate, fate brings her and Callum's brother, Austin (Damien Sato), together as they discover hidden love letters, signed by aliases. Jointly, they all try to find out who penned them.
No.3
As one of the first Asian Australians on Playschool, we’d love to know how you’ve moved from actor to director throughout your career.
When I started in the late nineties, there were very few roles for actors from Asian backgrounds. So, after my three-year run, from 1997 to 1999, I decided it was time to create my own work. I created the annual Joy House Film Festival, a short film festival which selects short films that celebrate joy and diversity.
I started to make my own short films around that time; then I started making feature films, writing, directing and producing. I'm very fortunate that my first film, The Script of Life (2019) was picked up by Leomark and distributed internationally online. It was the first film I directed, and I was surprised that it won Best Romance at Amsterdam International Film Festival. After this, I made Rhapsody of Love (2021), co-produced by Ana Tiwary, what I believe is the first Asian Australian romcom. And then Get a Life, alright! (2022), which was my first film picked up by Channel Nine, and my cast, crew and myself were surprised by this! It achieved far more than we all expected. My latest film, The Gift That Gives, is an award winner at the New York International Women's Festival. And, as of last week, I finished my fifth feature, It's Our Time, co-produced with Erica Long.
No.4
Do any films or filmmakers inspire your work?
Growing up, I loved watching films by Nora Ephron (You’ve Got Mail and Sleepless in Seattle) and Nancy Meyers (The Holiday and Something’s Got to Give)—American mainstream female filmmakers who make films that are both comedic, yet and well-directed and produced. I love their films, and I hope to be like them, making romantic comedies, but which are diverse. Of course I also love Joy Luck Club and Crazy Rich Asians—films which propel me to write more diverse roles.
No.5
Where do you see yourself, and your practice, in the next few years?
I hope to continue to create opportunities for artists from diverse backgrounds, and to make films that move my audiences as a filmmaker (writer / director/producer). I also hope to write a children's book; I love writing for kids and reading to them. I think being creative is a calling—to inspire, to employ, to give opportunities for more people from diverse backgrounds.