We are so proud to support the launch of a new series of online fireside chats with inspiring parents and carers working in the screen industries, hosted by Elinor Coleman of Ask Mother Productions. The first chat, on July 16th at 8pm will be with writer and director Naomi Waring.
Please register for the event here.
What do you do?
I work full time as assistant professor of screen and audio at LAMDA while I beaver away at my debut feature, which I’ve written and plan to direct, I also mother, and am making plans for a small curated cinema space.
Who do you look after?
Sonny, he’s almost 18! He started school the same day I started my masters at the London film School so feel like we’ve been growing alongside each other.
What’s been the biggest challenge you’ve faced as a parent/caregiver in the screen industries?
Time and money! I made a decision as much as it was made for me to prioritise parenting, as a single mum there was no way I could get a job in the industry on set or take time to develop longer form work, so I’ve taken my time, made lots of short films found my voice and style and enjoyed a great career teaching, it’s been hard to see my peers move forward in ways I wasn’t able to as a care giver, but I look at it all as a marathon not a sprint- I’m in it for the long haul.
What does a bad day look like?
Overwhelming guilt and frustration. I’m always balancing these two things, trying to keep it all together and create stability when inside is chaos!
What about the best day?
A sense of time and freedom to just daydream plot, plan, explore ideas and feel like it’s all possible.
What one thing would make your working life better?
I honestly have no idea, maybe that I didn’t have to do it all myself! Sounds very dramatic but not having a safety net, and paying all the bills alone in London as a mother has been just a big a barrier to the industry as being a single parent.
What is your favourite piece of advice from our Creating Inclusive Productions Resource –
One thing that really stuck with me is the idea that inclusive production isn’t just about one solution, it’s about the culture of the whole production. I love the emphasis on planning ahead, avoiding last-minute demands, and recognising that people have lives and responsibilities outside of work. It feels like such a simple thing, but it can make a huge difference to people’s wellbeing and the quality of the work they produce.
I’d be interested to see more on how these ideas can be applied to independent and lower-budget productions. A lot of emerging filmmakers want to create inclusive working environments but are often working with limited resources. More practical examples of how to embed these principles at that level would be really valuable.
Tell us about someone who is doing excellent work.
Karni Areili, is a filmmaker mother and Photographer who created the project EYE MAMMA an incredible visual resource of images from across the globe on motherhood, the project was a huge inspiration when developing the visual language for MILK. She also made an amazing animation with her partner Wilm Summon which is beautiful. I also love Aleksandra Bilic – her work as a producer is always so exciting and she is constantly supporting the film industry in brilliant ways as well as being a great mother to two children. Big fan of Stella Coradi a brilliant BAFTA winning Director working across TV and film who’s managed to raise two brilliant children alongside a great career.
Naomi Waring is a screenwriter and directorwhose workexplores class, identity, belonging and contemporary social issues through intimate, character-driven storytelling. She is based between London and Belfast.
Most recently, she directed Privileged for BBC Three and BBC iPlayer, produced by Out of Orbit and Northern Ireland Screen as part of BBC Writersroom’s Long Story Short initiative. The film is currently nominated for a Broadcast Award.
Her short film Milk – a tender, wild and uplifting short film which explores infant food poverty through the journey of a young single mother’s mission to secure milk formula for her baby- was executive produced by Sienna Miller and supported by Uncertain Kingdom’s Belief Fund. It was nominated for a London Critics’ Circle Film Award 2026 and was the winner of the 225 Film Club Audience Award.
Naomi is currently developing her debut feature film, Drifters, which was selected for the prestigious Less is More (LIM) development programme in 2025 and Stowe Story Labs’ Facing In, Facing Out programme at Galway Film Fleadh in 2026.
