Today we’d like to introduce you to Claire Chubbuck.
Claire, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I like to joke that I’m the least interesting “nepo baby” in Los Angeles. My education in storytelling started young—watching my father, filmmaker Lyndon Chubbuck, direct on sets like Baywatch. A few years later, I got a front-row seat to another kind of storytelling when Halle Berry began training with my mom, Ivana Chubbuck, for Monster’s Ball. I was the kid sitting quietly in the corner until one day I got pulled into the scene to play Halle’s child. I didn’t know it then, but I was witnessing something that would define my life—the moment raw truth turns into art.
I went on to study filmmaking at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts—graduating with honors and the Founders Award—then worked at AMC Networks and later at Participant Media helping launch their socially conscious network Pivot, a path I loved deeply until a personal tragedy shifted everything. I turned back to the foundation I was raised on—the Chubbuck Technique—and used it to rebuild through art.
Started by teaching at the studio, I had some (what I would call) early successes at the beginning of my coaching career, but the truth was – we were making art in class every week.
It felt powerful – even if it wasn’t seen by anyone outside of the room.
So I thought – people outside of the room should see the work we do, and put it on film.
That’s when Cathartic Realism came into play – the cinematic version of the Chubbuck Technique.
Since then, the level of students I worked with has included people that are household names. I have taught Chubbuck Workshops all over the world. And have directed Cathartic Realism films that have been at notable festivals while creating community around the art of healing.
Because pain isn’t what breaks us—it’s what connects us.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I’ve faced a lot of loss in my life—each one carving me a little deeper, but also teaching me more about truth. Losing my father was different. It became a test of whether I could live what I teach: that pain can become purpose. My mother and I grieved in opposite ways—she wanted to tell the story of what felt unfair, while I needed to stay inside the feeling itself. The Chubbuck Technique is about radical honesty, and through that, I learned something simple but profound: there isn’t one right way to tell the truth.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I work with the Chubbuck Technique, created by my mother, Ivana Chubbuck—an approach used by artists around the world to turn pain into purpose. It’s not about pretending; it’s about transforming what’s real into something that moves people.
My work expands on that foundation with a deep focus on The Self — the parts of us we’ve learned to hide, and the ones we struggle to love. Every scene we explore, whether in class or on set, is a chance to bring those parts into the light. It’s not just about making powerful art—it’s about leaving the work stronger, clearer, more whole.
What sets me apart is that every project I touch, from intimate short films to intense scene studies, shares the same mission: to make art that heals. I’m most proud when I see transformation happen—not just on camera, but in the person behind it.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
The most important lesson I’ve learned is that pain isn’t punishment—it’s information. It shows you where to look, what still needs healing, and what story you’re meant to tell next.
But I’ve also learned you can’t heal alone.
Every film, every class, every collaboration reminds me that transformation happens in community. When people come together in honesty—whether it’s in front of a camera or in a rehearsal room—something divine happens. That’s when art stops being performance and becomes connection.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://catharticrealism.com
- Instagram: Claire_chubbuck
- Youtube: @catharticrealism
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/ivana-chubbuck-studio-los-angeles?uid=4n-mHujzCEJ4GHtqdkpaHQ&utm_campaign=www_business_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct)
- Other: https://ivanachubbuck.com
Image Credits
Kelly Krauter
