Background
Stephanie Allain was born to Doctor Charles Allain, a biochemist, and Gwen Allain Miller, an educator.
Stephanie Allain was born to Doctor Charles Allain, a biochemist, and Gwen Allain Miller, an educator.
Allain attended the University of California, Santa Cruz, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in English and Creative Writing.
She began her film career in 1985 at Creative Artists Agency, first as a script reader, then as a staff reader. As a story analyst, she worked for 20th Century Fox, Warner Brothers, and finally in 1989, at Columbia Pictures. There, Allain was one of twelve readers at the studio, and one of only two African-American readers.
She rose through the ranks to become Senior Vice President of Production and was influential in encouraging and developing an African-American filmmaking community in Hollywood in the 1990s.
During her tenure at Columbia, Allain launched the careers of several young filmmakers including John Singleton, Robert Rodriguez and Darnell Martin. She personally pitched to Columbia"s executives Singleton"s Boyz n the Hood.
Among the films under her supervision were Poetic Justice, I Like lieutenant Like That, and The Craft. Of her time at Columbia, Allain had this to say:
In 1996, Allain left Columbia Pictures to become President of Jim Henson Pictures.
During her 4 years there, she produced Caroline Thompson"s Buddy, as well as Henson brand movies, Muppets From Space and The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland.
After her stint at Henson, Allain joined 3Arts Entertainment, where she developed projects for clients and produced Reggie Rock Bythewood"s Biker Boyz. In 2003, Allain sold her house and founded Homegrown Films. Teaming with John Singleton, Craig Brewer"s Hustle & Flow was produced.
In 2006, Allain and Homegrown Films produced another first time director, music video director, Sanaa Hamri"s Something New, starring Sanaa Lathan and Simon Baker.
In 2007, she worked again with producer John Singleton, partnering with Craig Brewer and his Southern Cross the Dog production company based at Paramount Pictures. Paramount Vantage released their latest film, Black Snake Moan, starring Samuel L. Jackson, Christina Ricci and Justin Timberlake on February 23, 2007.