Stephen DeBro is a multimedia storyteller and filmmaker. He produced and directed the Emmy nominated documentary feature 18th & Grand: The Olympic Auditorium Story which premiered as the closing film for the 2021 Slamdance Film Festival, screened to sold-out houses throughout Southern California, and lauded in Variety, Hyperallergic, Film Threat and more. DeBro co-curated an exhibition based on artifacts and stories of the Olympic Auditorium at La Plaza de Cultura y Artes in downtown Los Angeles (August 2023-May 2024). The landmark exhibition, accompanied by a series of live music and cultural events, has been covered by the New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, KPCC and KCRW among others.

Born and raised in Los Angeles, DeBro has a BA in Political Science from UCLA and a long history in music and media. He served as the Vice President of Division 1 at Atlantic Records in New York under visionary founder Ahmet Ertegun. At Atlantic he worked with and learned from master artists Norah Jones, Kris Kristofferson, Elastica, George Carlin and many artists on the Nonesuch label. Returning to L.A. in the mid 2000s, he continued to do creative work with artists and labels, crafted events and campaigns for fashion and design brands and began producing short films before creating 18th & Grand.

DeBro founded his company Gen Pop to highlight our shared humanity, using modern media to bring people together.

18th & Grand: The Olympic Auditorium Story

See photos of celebrities before they hit the big-time.

Stephen DeBro

Director

Writer

Producer

Additional Crew