We recently connected with Marta Roncada and have shared our conversation below.

Marta, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

Most recently I wrote, produced, and directed the short film DELIBERATE which is the culmination of years of introspection, determination, and personal development. It depicts the confrontation between a young woman, Alice, and her former teacher and lover, Mr. Jacobs. It is a story about the fight for control, the illusion of power, and the desperate need to escape one’s demons. It is my fantasy of a rematch between me and my abuser that will never happen, and one that I wouldn’t win.

DELIBERATE offers an authentic and unflinching perspective on predatory relationships through the eyes of a survivor seeking closure. By showcasing this struggle, the film challenges viewers to reflect on questions like the ones I (and other survivors) have to navigate as a direct result of our experiences with abuse. What can you trust when you can’t trust yourself? Is control an illusion? What is the cost of believing in that illusion?

Ultimately, the film offers no easy answers. Instead, DELIBERATE compels the audience to consider these questions long after the credits roll.

It is my hope that everyone who watches this film considers the differences between having power and the appearance of it. That they reflect on what it means to have a choice, and examine the distinction between wanting something and choosing it. I hope people can find humanity in both Alice and in Mr. Jacobs, and that by doing so they consider how easy it is to mistake our villains for heroes and vice versa. Above all, my goal with this short is for other survivors of abuse to see their stories reflected authentically on the big screen- not as a permanent trauma, but as an experience that is possible to walk away from.

Marta, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

It took a long time for me not only to find my voice as an artist and creator, but to use it. Like many other artists, I fell in love with film and theater at an early age and pursued my passions by working behind the scenes. The experiences I’ve had were invaluable; by working in production, I learned essential skills in time management, teamwork, and communication. But as a first-generation American, bisexual, Brazilian woman, I quickly learned that I could be valued for my services- but never for my point of view. I witnessed first-hand the types of projects being made across the industry, the talent being nurtured, the kinds of people who were being supported, and I didn’t see a place for me. So, I decided to make one.

In 2023, my partner Cooper Harrington-Fei and I founded our production company, Whole Pictures, with the mission to tell stories that reflect on the human experience in its totality: good and bad, painful and beautiful, and always from a place of empathy. We believe that a great film extends beyond the credits and into the community at large; Whole Pictures aims to serve underrepresented communities not only with the subject matter of the stories we tell, but also in our hiring practices from our company leaders to our cast and crew. We believe that everyone is part of the same story, and that everyone has a story to tell. Whole Pictures can help you tell your story by providing production services, script consultations, and creating original work that is visually impactful, emotionally meaningful, and impressively entertaining.

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

There’s a myth in the film industry of the visionary auteur: a director with incredible vision that is so brilliant they could create a perfect film by taking exactly what’s in their head and making it real. But what I’ve learned is that vision is only a starting point. The final version of a project shouldn’t be a recreation of what you imagined- it should be better than what you could ever think up on your own.

On my very first project, I thought I had to plan everything out. I was afraid of not having answers, or missing something crucial, and I was too afraid to place my trust in others since I felt like any mistake would ultimately fall on me. The project turned out alright, but it was missing the magic. It was exactly what I imagined, nothing greater.

For DELIBERATE, I was determined to do things differently. I spoke with my department heads and said I wanted to see what they were inspired to bring to the story. We talked about the script, the vision, and the needs of the piece, and I trusted them with the rest. They rewarded that trust by putting all of themselves into their work.

It turned out better than I could have ever imagined.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The collaboration. Creating a film is the ultimate group project. It is an ultra-collaborative process from start to finish, and the connections you form with others through making art and sharing it are undeniable. There are so many small differences from one person to the next, but underneath it all, we’re the same. Creating, sharing, and telling stories together cements and reinforces that common bond. There’s nothing else like it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.wholepicturesla.com
• Instagram: @wholepicturesla
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marta-roncada-033175174/

Image Credits

Dan Finlayson, Jonathan Manni