Mums in Film

Ruby Challenger

Ruby Challenger is a film director and mother. Ruby completed her Masters of Screen Arts in Directing at the Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS) in 2021 and wrote her thesis on motherhood and the cinema, looking at mothers in front and behind the screen. Her short MumLife premiered at Cannes Film Festival, 2022. Five weeks earlier she had given birth to her second baby, so she packed up her family of four and took them to the festival! In this podcast, Ruby is further exploring the highs and lows of being a working mother in the film industry. www.rubychallenger.com

  1. 07/26/2023

    Ep 11: Ruby Challenger - Part 2

    Part 2 of Ruby (your host) and Leonie (your editor and producer of this poddy!) in front of the mic! Leonie interviews Ruby, hot off the plane from Cannes about her experience traveling to the huge festival with small children in tow! When Ruby and Mums in Film producer Leonie Marsh first met, Leonie interviewed Ruby as she was fresh off the plane from France after her film MumLife had premiered at Cannes Film Festival. This chat is split into two parts as we couldn't stop talking, and it's a really great listen to Ruby's thoughts post-festival with children.  Ruby's short film, MumLife, screened in official competition in the 2022 La Cinef section at Cannes Film Festival. Five weeks earlier she had given birth to her second baby, so she packed up her family of four and took them to the festival! MumLife is a 15 minute musical about post-natal anxiety and is now enjoying a festival run. This year she released Next - a drama episodic filmed specifically for release on social media. Ruby completed her Masters of Screen Arts in Directing at the Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS) in 2021. She wrote her thesis on motherhood and the cinema, looking at mothers in front and behind the screen, which she released on Instagram. ​ Ruby has been on film sets since she was born - legend has it her first trip after the hospital was a film set to visit her dad (she was born during his film shoot - sorry dad). Following her unofficial education in filmmaking, her career in the film industry began in the Art and Costume departments, which took her all around Australia. Her first short film as Director/Producer/Writer, Daily Bread, played at festivals around Australia and the world and winning awards including the St Kilda Film Festival People’s Choice.   Produced by Ruby Challenger and Leonie Marsh. This episode is sponsored by Screen Vixens. Follow along for all our updates.

  2. 07/25/2023

    Ep 11 : Ruby Challenger - Director - Part 1

    This is a special ep! You are getting both Ruby (your host) and Leonie (your editor and producer of this poddy!) in front of the mic! When Ruby and Mums in Film producer Leonie Marsh first met, Leonie interviewed Ruby as she was fresh off the plane from France after her film MumLife had premiered at Cannes Film Festival. This chat is split into two parts as we couldn't stop talking, and it's a really great listen to Ruby's thoughts post-festival with children.  Ruby's short film, MumLife, screened in official competition in the 2022 La Cinef section at Cannes Film Festival. Five weeks earlier she had given birth to her second baby, so she packed up her family of four and took them to the festival! MumLife is a 15 minute musical about post-natal anxiety and is now enjoying a festival run. This year she released Next - a drama episodic filmed specifically for release on social media. Ruby completed her Masters of Screen Arts in Directing at the Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS) in 2021. She wrote her thesis on motherhood and the cinema, looking at mothers in front and behind the screen, which she released on Instagram. ​ Ruby has been on film sets since she was born - legend has it her first trip after the hospital was a film set to visit her dad (she was born during his film shoot - sorry dad). Following her unofficial education in filmmaking, her career in the film industry began in the Art and Costume departments, which took her all around Australia. Her first short film as Director/Producer/Writer, Daily Bread, played at festivals around Australia and the world and winning awards including the St Kilda Film Festival People’s Choice.   Produced by Ruby Challenger and Leonie Marsh. This episode is sponsored by Screen Vixens. Follow along for all our updates.

  3. 06/02/2023

    Ep 9: Rosie Ricketson - Producer / Artist / Doula

    Rose is a freelance creative producer working across film, podcasts, and festivals and events. She works closely with artists and visionaries to build networks of support around projects, charging each endeavour with the energy derived from her diverse experience in the arts, community engagement, social change and maternal activism. In 2022, Rose attended the Venice International Film Festival with a short film she produced Love Forever, with collaborator Clare Young. She took her 9 month old baby, Miro, along with them - an experience Ruby and her could relate about, with Ruby having attended Cannes in 2022 with her 5 week old. They share the highs and lows of these experiences. In her season of motherhood, Rose is working with professional mothers to balance creative pursuits alongside mothering; to create a life where neither has to suffer. She works with committed creatives who want to charge their work with the wisdom found through mothering, and provides the support, flexibility, and resources to help mother creatives thrive in their projects. Rose is also a mother artist and is forever finding creative solutions, pathways and collaborations that make both jobs pleasurable and guided by joy and wellbeing. She currently lives and works in the rural township of Braidwood, NSW, where she is establishing a creative production house with writer-director Clare Young. Living rurally, Rose works online with clients as a consultant and producer. To work with Rose, email rosiericketson@gmail.com and her Insta is @_rosierick_ Show Notes: Rosie's website Claire Young LOVE FOREVER - short film The Good Enough Mother Podcast with Dr Sophie Brock (produced by Rose) Newborn Mothers Podcast, Ep 27 'Find Your Voice' - the ep Rose mentions re women saying no doesn't mean it's final This episode is sponsored by ⁠⁠Screen Vixens⁠⁠ and produced by ⁠⁠⁠Ruby Challenger ⁠⁠⁠and ⁠⁠⁠Leonie Marsh⁠⁠⁠. Follow along ⁠@⁠⁠_allruby_⁠ and @mumsinfilm for all our updates.

  4. 05/17/2023

    Ep 8: Danielle Boesenberg - Editor

    Danielle Boesenberg is an award-winning editor with films screened at Berlin, Toronto, Clermont-Ferrand, Tribeca, Palm Springs, Sydney, Melbourne, and Heartland. Nominated for the Australian Screen Editors award for her work on Kiss in 2011, Danielle was nominated again in 2014 for her work on the Guineafowl music clip Little Death (Make It Rain) and again in 2017 for web series Attack! Attack! Art?. She won the 2015 ASE award for Best Editing in a Short Film for The Aquarium. In 2019, she was nominated for Best Editing in a Short Film and awarded a Special Mention at Flickerfest 2019 for Birdie, which was acquired by Searchlight Pictures after screening at the Toronto IFF 2018.  Danielle’s recent work includes independent feature Lonesome, written and directed by Craig Boreham; Colin From Accounts for Binge/Easy Tiger, and Stan’s Totally Completely Fine. In 2021, Danielle was elected President of the Australian Screen Editors’ Guild. Show Notes: Danielle's website Danielle's Instagram @what_dan_cut Motherhood and Creativity: The Divided Heart by Rachel Power HOWL Magazine Australian Editors Guild - 'Cutting it as Working Parents' Round Table Discussion - 3pm Sunday 21 May 2023 - Shark Island Institute (1 Dorhauer Lane, Woollahra, Sydney, Gadigal) RSVP to office@screeneditors.com.au This episode is sponsored by ⁠⁠Screen Vixens⁠⁠ and produced by ⁠⁠⁠Ruby Challenger ⁠⁠⁠and ⁠⁠⁠Leonie Marsh⁠⁠⁠. Follow along ⁠@⁠⁠_allruby_⁠ and @mumsinfilm for all our updates.

  5. 05/02/2023

    Ep 7: Tsu Shan Chambers - Actor / Writer / Producer

    Tsu Shan Chambers is an Actor/Writer/Producer, who is passionate about bringing awareness to issues that matter through telling provoking stories.  She was recently elected to the SPA Council, picked as one of the Producers on IF Magazine's Rising Talent List 2023 and was included in the inaugural AA122 list - recognising Asian Australians who have had the most impact on Australian culture, society and institutions over the past year.  Tsu Shan was previously one of SPA’s “Ones to Watch” in 2018.  She was also awarded the Charlies Grant Residency with Australians in Film in 2021. In 2022, Tsu Shan was selected in the AWG/Create NSW's "First Break" , and her latest feature, MY EYES, that she co-wrote and is producing , obtained development support from VICScreen.  She has also been selected to be on numerous industry committees, including the inaugural Diversity Justice Lens group for screen equity and inclusion and the AFTRS Alumni Advisory Group.  Tsu Shan produced the romance drama feature, UNSOUND, about deaf culture and pride.  It won and was nominated for a raft of key industry awards including 'Best Indie Film' at the AACTA awards in 2020 and has obtained distribution in multiple international territories, including Netflx in ANZ and Fuse TV in the US.  She has recently completed her latest feature length project, SUKA, a multi-cultural action drama, supported by Screen NSW. Tsu Shan's website is here. And her handle for Twitter/Insta/LinkedIn: @tsushanchambers This episode is sponsored by ⁠⁠Screen Vixens⁠⁠ and produced by ⁠⁠⁠Ruby Challenger ⁠⁠⁠and ⁠⁠⁠Leonie Marsh⁠⁠⁠. Follow along ⁠@⁠⁠_allruby_⁠ and @mumsinfilm for all our updates.

About

Ruby Challenger is a film director and mother. Ruby completed her Masters of Screen Arts in Directing at the Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS) in 2021 and wrote her thesis on motherhood and the cinema, looking at mothers in front and behind the screen. Her short MumLife premiered at Cannes Film Festival, 2022. Five weeks earlier she had given birth to her second baby, so she packed up her family of four and took them to the festival! In this podcast, Ruby is further exploring the highs and lows of being a working mother in the film industry. www.rubychallenger.com