Filmmakers Making A Social Impact: Why & How Che-Na Stephenson and Zoë Neary Are Helping To Change Our World

Always thank everyone around you — we wouldn’t thrive without all the people that make up the grit and guts of our projects. Thank them for everything they do. It goes a long way.

As a part of our series about “Filmmakers Making A Social Impact” I had the pleasure of interviewing Che-Na Stephenson and Zoë Neary.

Che-Na Stephenson is a Group Creative Director at leading independent advertising agency Venables Bell + Partners, where she leads creative efforts for the Girl Scouts of the USA account, new business pitches, and other key projects. She is also a founding member of WTF — Women That Fight, a collective of advertising executives on a mission to create impact on some of the most divisive issues of our time.

Zoë Neary is an award-winning commercial director known for her graphic visual style. Her work on Levi’s, Cupcakes, and Johnnie Walker helped earn her the Young Blood Award and the silver shots award for Best New Director. She is a Producer on several highly acclaimed television series, including being Co-Producer for FX’s hit show “The Old Man” S2 and Associate Producer for the Disney+ adaptation of the popular book series “Percy Jackson and the Olympians.”

Thank you so much for doing this interview with us! Before we dive in, our readers would love to get to know you a bit. Can you share your “backstory” that brought you to this career?

Zoë Neary: Someone told me recently that 50% of people have a voice in their head — like a running dialogue that comments on things around them and helps them process their day. I don’t. (It sounds stressful). I have a running hyper blast of images, sounds, and colors that bleed into rhythms — they pop up and spiral and totally dictate my mood. It’s hard for me to distinguish a moment that drew me into film because, if I’m being honest, it’s always been how I’ve processed my life. I’ve always looked up to film.

When I started editing and shooting in school, it was a relief that I was able to organize my thoughts in a way that made sense to me. Fight Club, Metropolis, and Akira were the behemoths that really sealed the deal- firecracker brain food. When I hit university, I started volunteering on every student film set that would let me crash; as camera operator, AD, boom op, PA, sound mixer, scripty, grip, electric, and costumes — just racking up the hours trying to absorb the chaos. I transitioned into producers’ and writers’ assistant on large TV shows, and into a Producer for Disney, and a Director, shooting commercials and short films that always feel like I’m chipping pieces of myself off and storing those versions of me in my projects.

I’ve always looked to make films that can stir up a dialogue and provoke a quiet change in someone. If you try to make a direct change in a person, they recognize something is trying to shift them from the outside — but to do it from the inside, by planting a noiseless seed… if someone wakes up three weeks after watching something, and quietly confronts themselves or what they believed because of that film… if we can do that with Art, we’ve made it. No one else has to know. Getting that access to a stranger in their most silent moment. That’s always been the golden goal.

Who are some of the most interesting people you have interacted with? What was that like? Do you have any stories?

Zoë Neary: I met the CEO of Apple, Tim Cook, while I was shooting an Apple TV series in Vancouver — he visited the set to discuss accessibility. He had the most calming energy, which made everyone feel at ease opening up to him. Still, I noticed that he was far better at asking questions and listening to the answers of everyone around him than speaking and giving answers himself. I realized how a leader will listen to what everyone in the room is saying and absorb opinions to understand the problems and ideas everyone else is dealing with — his opinions didn’t seem relevant in those moments. I could tell he was a sponge for all of our thoughts, and I was blown away by the fact that someone in such a high position would feel the most like the student in a room. I’ve never forgotten his calmness and openness to learn — I try to bring it into everything I do.

Which people in history inspire you the most? Why?

Zoë Neary: Grace Lee Boggs is incredible — more people should know about her! She was a Chinese-American philosopher and a civil rights activist who fought for Black Power — had she not been born female and Chinese-American, she said she wouldn’t have realized how badly fundamental social changes were necessary. She pushed for non-violent ways of reorganizing society, including growing food, developing Peace Zones in local neighborhoods, creating justice programs, and reinventing education. She wanted to “grow our souls,” which I find really beautiful. She was amazing because she saw ways to revolutionize the daily, mundane areas that could be addressed locally, and listened to her community — where people knew her as “Afro-Chinese” because of her causes. She thought that contradictions drive change, and she became a revolutionary figure alongside a community that didn’t start as her own but became a key part of who she was. There should be a push to include her in more textbooks!

Let’s now shift to the main focus of our interview, how are you using your success to bring goodness to the world? Can you share with us the meaningful or exciting social impact causes you are working on right now?

Che-Na Stephenson: As a leader in advertising, I feel it’s our responsibility to use our platform as a megaphone for meaningful change. We’re in a unique position to be more than just ad makers. We can be change-makers. We can use the power of creativity to amplify voices that have been ignored and challenge traditional ways of thinking.

That’s why Women That Fight partnered with Stop AAPI Hate, a national coalition dedicated to confronting racism and other forms of bigotry against AAPI communities. The truth is, there’s still a lot of hate and discrimination happening against the AAPI community. It’s something we can’t ignore. Here’s a shocking fact: An estimated 1 in 5 Asian-American and Pacific Islanders experiences a hate incident. It’s a problem we wanted to tackle head-on. So we created a film for AAPI Heritage Month highlighting this lesser-known fact and empowering Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to be seen, to be heard, and to take up space.

Many of us have ideas, dreams, and passions, but never manifest it. But you did. Was there an “Aha Moment” that made you decide that you were actually going to step up and take action for this cause? What was that final trigger?

Che-Na Stephenson: As an Asian American, I’ve personally experienced the traumatic impact of AAPI hate. There are many instances where I’ve encountered prejudice and discrimination solely based on my ethnicity. But during Covid, the incidents became more frequent and unsettling. On my routine walks home, people started yelling racially derogatory slurs at me. I was shocked and I also felt a mix of anger, fear, and sadness. It’s always disheartening to realize I was being targeted simply because of my Asian features.

AAPI hate is not just an isolated incident but a deep-rooted issue that needs to be addressed. It is a painful reminder that prejudice and ignorance still exist in our society, despite our progress toward inclusivity and acceptance. It is important that our community speak up so that these incidents no longer go ignored.

Can you tell us a story about a particular individual who was impacted or helped by your cause?

Che-Na Stephenson: The resounding feedback has been so positive and encouraging. People have “gotten goosebumps,” have “been moved to tears,” and “just had to watch it again.” And other countries are even starting to pick it up, like this Korean YouTube channel which has translated it and received over 33,000 organic views. We are truly resonating with people, which was the goal.

Are there three things that individuals, society or the government can do to support you in this effort?

Che-Na Stephenson: Please report all hate incidents at StopAAPIHate.org. This supports Stop AAPI Hate’s advocacy efforts on a local, regional, and national level. It also enables them to hold leaders accountable and develop and advocate for policy change that centers on AAPI communities, strengthens civil rights protections, dismantles systemic racism affecting AAPI communities, and supports survivors of violence and other forms of hate.

What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why? Please share a story or example for each.

Zoë Neary:

1. Track your sleep schedule — it feels silly, but what a difference. Until I found out how sporadic my hours were and how little deep sleep I was getting, I had no idea how ineffective my daytime was. Sleep is brain food!
2. Always thank everyone around you — we wouldn’t thrive without all the people that make up the grit and guts of our projects. Thank them for everything they do. It goes a long way.
3. If you have to over-explain an idea, it probably isn’t working — the better you can get a point across, the more it will resonate with people in different ways. They’ll fill it with their own lives, to greater effect. Keep it simple, stupid!
4. Don’t hold people to their mistakes — everyone is trying their best, and the more you hold onto people’s errors, the more you’ll be surrounded by failures instead of being surrounded by people who are taking risks and improving.
5. Let your stories change — once a project is out in the world getting made, it’s in the hands of so many other people that need to take ownership of the story and make it their own. Let it have that life — as long as you carry your story’s core — others will adopt it (like the cast and creative crew), and fill it with details that will make it feel so specific it’ll be universal. The way it shifts and grows will surprise you.

If you could tell other young people one thing about why they should consider making a positive impact on our environment or society, like you, what would you tell them?

Zoë Neary: If you feel like something is wrong in your gut — there is almost a 99% chance that others have felt it too. Vocalize it. It can be lonely when we think we’re the only ones that feel like something is wrong, but every time I’ve spoken up about an issue that’s bothered me, people have stood up all around me in agreement — it’s the only way to uncover larger problems that affect us. It bonds us. And, once it’s out of your mouth, it weighs less on the rest of your body.

We are very blessed that many other Social Impact Heroes read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US, whom you would like to collaborate with, and why? He or she might see this. :-)

Zoë Neary: Malcolm Gladwell — he’s a mad genius. The way he can combine what feels like totally random, opposing thoughts into an explosive new thesis that makes the clearest, strongest arguments for change… he would be a dream to work with.

Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?

Zoë Neary: My Dad has always said that “Luck favors the prepared” — you’ll be able to double down on your opportunities if you’ve already put in the work.

How can our readers follow you online?

Zoë Neary: Website: https://zoeneary.com/ Instagram: the_zoeneary

Che-Na Stephenson: Website: chenastephenson.com

This was great, thank you so much for sharing your story and doing this with us. We wish you continued success!