Niagara College Acting professor Stephanie Jones was in the spotlight at the New York International Film Festival on May 4 where she won Best Supporting Actress for her knock-out performance in the film EFC.
“What a thrilling achievement for Stephanie,” said Charles Kopun, Associate Dean of Media Studies at NC. “And what a great reflection on our Acting program. Industry recognition such as this underscores the commitment, talent and experience that our faculty bring to the classroom. We’re very proud of Stephanie and really glad to have her aboard as full-time faculty.”
Written and directed by Jaze Bordeaux, EFC tells the story of a showdown between a reigning champion and a rising star in the world of women’s mixed martial arts and boxing.
Enter Jones who plays Donna, a tough and dedicated fight promoter intent on elevating women in the male-dominated sport.
“Donna cares deeply about diversity and inclusion in what has been seen as a man’s sporting event,” explains Jones. “Although she wants the world of female sport to prosper and succeed, she doesn’t want to do it at the expense of the athletes she represents. She wants to protect the female athletes. I can relate to this when I create stories for production, or when I teach.”
In 2009, Jones began teaching part-time in NC’s Acting for Film and Digital Media program, and returned full-time in 2023 after five years in New York. Jones is an actor, playwright, Artistic Director and theatre educator and one of the leading experts of the Meisner Technique in Canada – a series ofexercises created by Sanford Meisner to practice concentration and freedom in unison. Jones studied the technique in New York with Richard Pinter and Ron Stetson who were handpicked by Sanford Meisner himself.
When she got the call back that she got the part in 2018, Jones was living in Manhattan and teaching at The Neighborhood Playhouse, commuting to Toronto and back to film.
“I would fly, drive and train back and forth,” said Jones. “One night I shot until 1 a.m. in Toronto, I drove to New York and was at the school teaching by 9 a.m. I’m proud of myself that I made it work and never missed a day of teaching.”
Her part in the film almost didn’t happen.
After a self-tape audition for another role and months of silence, her agent called with the news: The role had been cut from the film, but Bordeaux had rewritten the script to include a female fight promoter.
He wanted Jones to play the part.
Jones’s story is a lesson to her students in perseverance and dedication to the craft.
“If you have a passion for what you do, remember that it is a long game,” said Jones. “Take classes, constantly, and keep putting your best self forward in everything you do. The way you do one thing is the way you should do everything. It is rarely a straight line to success – specifically in the arts, the road winds around, circles back – be sure to enjoy it.”
Jones will soon begin her PhD at the University of Guelph in the practice of acting and the application of the Meisner Technique.
Bordeaux, who spoke to students in NC’s Acting program at a recent Up Close and Personal session, won Best Director for his Directorial Debut of EFC.“Jaze really wanted the students to know that they are a business,” said Jones. “That they must approach the work, not only as an artist, but as a dedicated business professional.”
The film is set to premier in Toronto in Fall 2024.
Niagara College has a full-time enrolment of more than 11,000 students from over 95 countries, who study in 130 diploma, certificate and bachelor degree programs at specialized campuses in Welland and Niagara-on-the-Lake. Niagara College is also involved in educational projects and partnerships around the world and is consistently ranked among Canada’s top 10 colleges for research funding. Learn more at niagaracollege.ca.
