Jub Clerc on the set of Sweet As.

Welcome to the latest episode of the Cinema Australia Podcast.

In this episode I’m joined by Jub Clerc, the director and co-writer of the uplifting coming-of-age road movie, Sweet As.

I’ve been looking forward to recording an episode with Jub since I first met her while she was in post-production on Sweet As back in 2021. I remember chatting with Jub briefly at the time, and I remember how passionate and enthusiastic she was about Sweet As. There was also a lot of buzz within the industry about the film, with many people very excited for Jub’s debut feature film. 

Carlos Sanson Jr and Shantae Barnes-Cowan in Sweet As.

Sweet As follows troubled 16 year old Indigenous girl, Murra (Shantae Barnes-Cowan), who finds herself abandoned after an explosive incident with her addict mother played by Ngaire Pigram. 

On the cusp of being lost in the child protection system, an unusual lifeline is thrown her way by her uncle Ian (Mark Coles Smith), in the form of a unique photo safari. Before Murra knows it, she is careening down a dusty highway with a minibus full of at-risk teens and two charismatic team leaders. Will this be the lifeline Murra needs or the catalyst for her demise?

Sweet As also stars Carlos Sanson Jr, Pedrea Jackson, Mikayla Levy, Andrew Wallace and Tasma Walton. 

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Jub is from the Kimberley in WA where she currently resides.

Graduating from WAAPA’S three year acting course, Jub spent many years in theatre before moving into film and television, working on award winning productions including The Circuit 1 & 2, Bran Nue Dae, Mad Bastards, Satellite Boy, Jasper Jones and Mystery Road Season 2.

Jub has written and directed short films, documentaries, tv series, and theatre.

In this interview, Jub discusses her upbringing and being surrounded by storytellers including Jimmy Chi and the Pigram Brothers, working on The Turning, the parallels between her real life experiences on her own photo safari and Sweet As, and much more.

Shantae Barnes-Cowan in Sweet As.

Sweet As is in cinemas around Australia from June 1, but for those in the South West of Western Australia, you will be able to catch the film at CinefestOZ Albany when it screens on Thursday, 27 of April. Details for that screening here. 

I can’t even begin to tell you how much fun I had recording this episode with Jub. I hope you enjoy listening to it as much as I enjoyed recording it. 

Anyway… enjoy.