Bus Stop: Beautiful & Inclusive Filmmaking

Bus Stop Films "is a pioneering organisation which has a focus on creating inclusion within the film industry" (via), dedicated to "helping members of diverse and marginalised communities". The Australian not-for-profit organisation focuses on training and developing people with a disability, giving students a chance to gain work experience and employment opportunities (via). Mentors support people with a disability who fulfill both cast and crew roles ... creating an inclusive environment (via).



Mr Howell, a charismatic lawyer has a job interview with Mr Dexter, a partner's son with Down's syndrome. But "Thomas Howell gets more than the bargained for in his interview at a prestigious law firm; an insult about his tie, a rendition of Harry Potter and the chance to change the lives of a father and son." (via) "The Interviewer" is a twelve-minutes film directed by Genevieve Clay-Smith and Robin Bryan where twelve '"people living with an intellectual disability were mentored by industry professionals to make a short film." Bus Stop Films' most recent and largest short film project has won more than thirty international awards (via). The film that "shows that inclusion and the rights of people with diasbilities are topics that can be addressed by challenging, rather than affirming, stereotypes" was an instant success (via).

::: The film "The Interviewer" (12 min.) can be watched here: watch
::: The trailer and the making of can be watched here: watch
::: And here an early Bus Stop film (winner of Best Film and Best Actor, Tropfest 2009, 8 min.): Be My Brother



"You don't understand someone's potential until you give them an opportunity to rise to the occasion."
Genevieve Clay-Smith

all photographs via
Danke, Christian.