MAKING FILMS DIFFERENTLY
Big Screen Symposium is excited to welcome our colleagues Tracey Corbin Mattchet OAM (CEO) and Dianna La Grassa (COO/ Head of Screen) from Bus Stop Films in Australia to Aotearoa.
Bus Stop makes films with, for and about people from diverse backgrounds and abilities. They have a wide range of programmes that are taught by passionate filmmakers and industry experts to give participants a holistic filmmaking learning experience and offer participants increased social, literacy and work-ready skills.
Come learn more about this unique independent production company, which is dedicated to making daring, provocative films that examine human relationships and address important social issues seen in our world today.
SPEAKERS
DIANNA LA GRASSA
With over 10+ years of experience in the education sector, an MBA graduate and a NIDA trained actress, Dianna is Bus Stop Films Chief Operating Officer, Head of Screen and resident Producer. Her background in adult education underpins the delivery of our Accessible Filmmaking Program.
As the COO it has given her great pleasure to watch the organisation pave ground-breaking pathways for the inclusion of people with disabilities in the film industry and watch the participants blossom in these interactive and unique environments, seeing them develop real life skills and opportunities for their passion. Dianna has produced more than 55 film projects with Bus Stop Films including the multi award winning Groundhog Night and What Was it Like? and acclaimed films Filters, Visible and This Is News Radio.
TRACEY CORBIN MATTCHET
Tracey is a proud hard of hearing woman with a passion for advocacy and inclusion. Her 30-year career has crossed social housing, women’s domestic violence services and the film and television industry. She received her Order of Australia in 2023 for services to people with disability and the arts.
Her advocacy work in the Australian screen industry has seen her lead on strategies driving greater representation and employment of people with disability across film, TV and advertising, including hosting the Driving Change: Disability Employment Summit and leading the work of Bus Stop Films on a global scale, enacting human rights outcomes for people with disability through filmmaking, skills development, employment and advocacy.
Tracey previously worked with Legal Aid NSW as the State Manager of the Women’s Domestic Violence Court Assistance (now Advocacy) Program and with both Screen NSW and Housing NSW in roles leading on policy, programs and stakeholder engagement. Tracey is a member of the Disability Council of NSW, Screen Australia Gender Matters Taskforce, an advisor to the Screen Producers Australia Council and an Equality at Work ambassador to the Australian Human Rights Commission. Tracey was previously a Director Northcott (Disability Services), Northcott Innovation and Deaf Sports Australia
Tracey holds a Bachelor of Arts – Welfare Studies from University of Western Sydney and a Diploma of Business Frontline Management from University of Technology, Sydney.
