We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Tramelle Stroman a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Tramelle, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on is my recent short film What Was / What Is. The inspiration came from observing how deeply relationship trauma can affect our mental well-being, not just during the breakup but long after. I wanted to tell a story that reflects what happens to someone mentally and emotionally after losing the version of life they thought they were building with someone else.

We’ve all either experienced or witnessed a situation where someone gave their all, and it still wasn’t enough. That type of emotional aftermath can shift a person’s entire sense of self. I decided to go deeper, beyond the breakup, and explore the inner unraveling of someone trying to make sense of love lost, identity, and healing.

It’s a story that feels universal because everyone, in some way, knows the feeling of being left with unanswered questions and a shaken sense of worth. By grounding the story in real emotional stakes and raw vulnerability, I wanted the audience to see themselves or someone they love on screen.

This project is the most meaningful to me because it allowed me to merge storytelling with emotional truth. It’s not just about heartbreak it’s about the quiet, often invisible journey of putting yourself back together. That’s something I believe connects with people far beyond the screen.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m a filmmaker, writer, and director deeply passionate about telling authentic stories that need to be heard. I entered the film industry through hard work, independence, and a relentless commitment to my craft. From the start, I’ve been driven to bring meaningful narratives to life that speak to real human experiences.

My work is centered on short films and narrative projects that explore themes like love, trauma, identity, and healing. In pre-production and on set, I’m often the one solving problems, finding creative solutions under pressure, and helping clients refine their vision. I’ve written for others in ways that brought their ideas to life and made them feel truly seen in the final result.

What I’m most proud of is my ability to turn an emotional idea into something visually and emotionally impactful. What sets me apart is my commitment to authenticity, my adaptability in high-pressure situations, and my drive to tell stories that reflect real life and spark meaningful conversations.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

There’s no such thing as a non-creative person. Everyone has creativity within them. The difference is that some people choose to pursue it professionally and build their lives around it. That path comes with sacrifice, pressure, and uncertainty, but it also comes from a place of deep passion that cannot be ignored.

This is not something you can walk away from. Even on the hard days, the broke days, the days filled with rejection, the urge to create never leaves. It is how we process the world, how we heal, how we find peace. It is not just a career, it is our escape, our therapy, and our purpose.

I think people need to understand that you may have a friend, a family member, or a partner who is deeply gifted and sees something in themselves that you may not fully understand. And that is okay. You are not always meant to see the full picture. But what you can do is be patient. Be kind. Be supportive. Because creating is not just a want, it is a need. It is the thing that keeps us grounded in a world that often feels chaotic.

As someone who lives and breathes this path every day, I know firsthand how powerful it can be when someone simply believes in you.

Let creatives create.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

One of the most important lessons I had to unlearn as a creative was worrying about what people think of my work. Early on, I found myself caught up in the opinions and judgments of others, trying to please everyone or fit into what I thought was expected. I noticed something powerful when I started studying successful people who inspired me. They all broke free from the need for approval. They believed in themselves before anyone else did. That realization marked the beginning of my journey to unlearn that behavior.

I realized that half the people judging my work would never even attempt what I’ve already accomplished. They are not qualified to critique my journey or the risks I have taken, and that’s not me being cocky, it’s just the truth. I only listen to those who came before me and have already walked the path I am on. Their experience and wisdom guide me, but if you have not sacrificed the way I have, put in the hours, faced setbacks, and pushed through the doubt, your opinion does not have a place in shaping my art.

Worrying about what others think is the most pointless thing you can do as a creative. It wastes energy and clouds your vision. True growth comes from trusting your voice, staying committed to your story, and having the courage to create even when no one else understands or supports it yet. That mindset has freed me to take bigger risks, tell the stories I believe need to be told, and grow stronger with every step of the journey.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.stromancreative.com
• Instagram: @tramellestroman

Image Credits

Staten Island Summer of Shorts Film Festival