Proud Stories: Josh Ruben (He/Him)

Q: What kind of performance artist are you?
Officially a filmmaker, unofficially a character comic... if there is such a thing...
Q: When did you first know that you wanted to be a full-time artist?
Five years old. I played Zeus in the kindergarten play and marched through town in costume side by side with my dad. Beginning of the beginning.
Q: How are you keeping yourself inspired to create during this unprecedented time?
Taking walks, reading, and watching good stuff; stuff that fills the soul. Like “Normal People” on Hulu or Love on the Spectrum.
Q: What is the biggest obstacle you’ve had to overcome as an artist and how did you overcome it?
Every job! More specifically, proving I could go it alone, and that my voice was enough, separate of a toxic community I thought I needed was a big one. Overcoming it had to do with putting my foot down and extricating myself from what no longer served me.
Q: What are you most proud of in your career thus far?
Taking too much money out of savings account meant for retirement to make my first movie. Such a reckless risk. To be fair, that reckless decision changed my life.
Q: Is there anything you are working on now that can be shared and supported?
Yes! Check out “SCARE ME” on Shudder — it’s AMC’s horror platform. And you don’t have Shudder, check us out on VOD 12/15!