Episode 017: Ruka Johnson

I’m really excited for the episode this week as its completely new territory for me! I interviewed costume designer Ruka Johnson, who has a really varied CV across features, shorts, television and music videos. Her credits include Obey, a film that dramatises the 2011 London Riots, award-winning short film We Love Moses (produced by OG - original guest - Georgia Goggin) and music videos for Blood Orange and Lily Allen! She also worked on Sarah Gavron’s film Rocks, which shrewd listeners will know has popped up on the pod quite a bit!

Hands down my favourite part of this chat is when Ruka says she wants to be really successful and completely owns it. I think its always really refreshing, perhaps sadly so, to hear a young woman claim that as their ambition. Even if you’re thinking it, we’re often told you have to keep your intentions on the down-low, and to be gracious and surprised and grateful when that success does find you. But its always super important to say what you want, to go after it and not feel shame about doing that, or shame about having success and wealth and creative fulfilment as a priority, so yeah that was cool to hear Ruka say and the rest of the chat is just as inspiring tbh. So enjoy!