We recently connected with Robert Rippberger and have shared our conversation below.

Robert, appreciate you joining us today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

I learned by making things before I knew exactly how. I directed my first feature before I had any real idea what I was doing—I just knew the story mattered and that I’d figure out the rest. From there, it was a process of constantly throwing myself into the deep end—writing, producing, editing, leading crews—learning through momentum and always trying to work with those more experienced than me.

In terms of learning faster, perhaps it was all too fast. Films are about life, so when you’re working, studying and reading non-stop the work can get too cerebral and less about the wind in the trees. I’ve gotten better about that over the years, emphasizing the entertainment and that the process is felt by the viewer just as much as the words on the page.

The most essential skills? Believing in oneself, collaboration, and empowering artistry in those around you. The biggest obstacles are often internal—burnout, self-doubt, and, honestly, carrying too much weight alone. But that’s the job sometimes. You learn to stand in the fire, protect the vision, and keep creating no matter what.

Robert, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m a filmmaker and storyteller. At my core, I’m driven by the idea that story can shift culture, humanize the unseen, and inspire people to action. I got into filmmaking because it was the one place where all the chaos, complexity, and beauty of life could be translated into something meaningful—something that moved people. I didn’t come from industry connections or a traditional pipeline. I built my career from the ground up, my own way, often against the advice of many, but ultimately I think it’s what has brought success.

For the formal background – here is my bio:

Robert Rippberger is an award-winning filmmaker with an impressive slate of films spanning almost over two decades. He has established himself as a trailblazer in the film industry, known for his unique storytelling and broad array of creative and executive experience.

Rippberger is set to direct two upcoming films; the new drama-comedy “A Good Fight” and the creature feature “Monstrosity”. He also directed and released theatrically the sci-fi thriller “Renner,” starring Frankie Muniz and Violett Beane.

Rippberger’s projects include producing the documentary “How to Build a Truth Engine” with Executive Producers George Clooney and Grant Heslov, that had its World Premiering at the 2024 SXSW Film Festival. He’s also producing the documentary “The Mouse That Roared” from Academy Award-nominated director Judith Ehrlich.

Rippberger was lead producer on the stop-motion animated film “The Inventor” from “Ratatouille” writer Jim Capobianco, starring Daisy Ridley, Stephen Fry, Marion Cotillard, and Matt Berry. The film was released theatrically in September ‘23, and is now available On Demand. Rippberger also executive produced the drama “Our Son” starring Luke Evans and Billy Porter, which had its World Premiere at the 2023 Tribeca Film Festival, was picked up by Vertical Entertainment and released in theaters December 2023.

Previously, he directed and produced the horror film “Those Who Walk Away” starring BooBoo Stewart and prior to that directed and produced the Harlem drama, “Strive,” starring Danny Glover. Both were released theatrically and received dozens of accolades worldwide.

Rippberger has also directed and produced critically-acclaimed documentaries, including “Public Enemy Number One” from Executive Producer ICE-T, exploring the U.S. war on drugs, along with “7 Days in Syria”, an exploration into the human side of the war in Aleppo, Syria. 7 Days in Syria was personally championed by Angelina Jolie, screened at Britain’s House of Lords, to senior members of the U.N., and was released on Hulu and Amazon.

Rippberger is a member of the Producers Guild of America and is on the PGA’s Social Impact Entertainment Task Force. In addition to heading SIE Films, Rippberger is the founder and co-executive director of SIE Society, a leading global alliance of Social Impact Entertainment filmmakers. His second published book, “The Power of Storytelling: Social Impact Entertainment”, is available through book sellers everywhere.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

Yeah—at the heart of it, the mission has always been to tell stories that matter. Stories that stay with people, that challenge them, that pull something honest to the surface. I’m drawn to characters who are wrestling with something real, who are on the edge of transformation. And I’m just as interested in how we tell the story—the visual language, the rhythm, the emotion beneath the dialogue—as I am in the narrative itself.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The community of artists you meet along the way and the process of creating.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.siefilms.com
• Instagram: @rrippberger
• Facebook: @rrippberger
• Linkedin: @rrippberger
• Twitter: @rrippberger
• Other: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Rippberger

Image Credits

photos by Jordan Stone