Ruthie Lee is a writer, director, and producer based in Massachusetts. Growing up in the Berkshires, she was fascinated by open spaces and unique individuals. She interned with The Great Barrington Public theater in partnership with Berkshire Film and Media Collaborative making short films that showcased the natural Berkshires. She previously worked as a producer for Clickon Studios where she produced digital content for clients such as Special Olympics, Microsoft, and Under Armour. She has recently accepted a full-time position with an advertising firm in Boston as a Creative Producer. She has a BFA in Dramatic Arts from the New School and looks forward to her growing career in screenwriting and directing. In her films, she explores finding light in dark places.
Her film, How to Disappear, is part of BIFF 2022.
What was your first experience on a film set?
My first experience on a film set was in 2021 working on my lead actress Julia D’angelo’s short film ‘Worn.’ We shot our films within a few weeks of each other and I was the lucky one who got to shoot second. I learned a lot of tips and tricks from that experience that I brought with me on my own set.
What was the first film you directed/wrote?
How to Disappear was the first film I wrote/directed. I studied playwriting throughout my college education but my senior year of college, when covid forced us to stay locked up at home, I was determined not to put on another zoom play. I challenged myself to take some classes on screenwriting and ended up writing How to Disappear.
Who is your favorite filmmaker?
My favorite filmmaker is Wes Anderson. His films are always colorful, full of twists and turns, and filled with incredibly well-developed characters.
What are you working on that no one knows about?
I’m working on a screenplay about what it’s like to grow up in the Berkshires. (Before it was completely bought out by second homeowners.) It’s pulled from my personal experiences of love, death, and betrayal.