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Your new movie Terminally
Unique - in a few words, what is it about?
Co-dependency, love and alcohol abuse.
What were your sources of inspiration when writing Terminally
Unique, and is any of the movie based on personal experience?
I’ve always put other people before myself. Prioritized their needs
before mine. Not only I wasn’t standing up for myself in all areas of my
life, but I would blame myself for things that were not my responsibility
and feel responsible to help people find happiness and growth even at the
cost of my own.
At one point, I started realizing I became like a doormat. So one day, after
some hardships, I started going to therapy and my therapist told me,
“Talita I want you to read about co-dependency.”
At first, I didn’t quite understand. I’m a very independent person. I
came to the USA by myself, I travel by myself, and I love my alone time.
How is that possible? Then, she began to explain aspects of co-dependency
that blew my mind at the time and finally, things started making sense for
me, of patterns in my life.
So, I wanted to make a movie about co-dependency which is a subject that not
everyone would relate to. But toxic relationships? Most people have been
there at some point in their lives.
Do talk about your directorial approach to your story at hand!
I wanted to make a film using a voyeuristic approach like the audience is
there with Marianne. Watching them from close as they go through this
toxic cycle of co-dependency.
I wanted to keep the angles pretty much on an eye-line view so you can see
in her eyes what she's going through, and not only her but also him.
You also play the lead in Terminally
Unique - so what can you tell us about your character, what did
you draw upon to bring her to life, and have you written Marianne with
yourself in mind from the get-go?
I had to make the movie with the little resources I had and a no-budget
approach since I didn't get any grants for the film. So being her just
made sense. I knew exactly what I wanted visually, acting and musically,
and time and money were a major factor in this choice.
What can you tell us
about the rest of Terminally
Unique's cast, and why exactly these people?
I love them all. I reached out to people that I highly admire and that I
know are teamwork people. Evan Williams has been a friend of mine for many years
and we have worked together. He is a big supporter of my career and I have
so much admiration for him as an actor and as a human. A
few words about the shoot as such, and the on-set atmosphere?
I have a rule on my set: No space or time for complainers. If they work as
a team and are not pulled towards drama or gossip and are not ego-driven,
I love to work with them. But if their personality loves to complain, I
can't have that around set because it's a very contagious bad habit. I'm a
very chill and warm person off set but when we're in it I get
super-focused and hands-on. It's not hard for me to make decisions and
delegate because I'm very specific with my vision, and because I pre-plan
like crazy so the heads of department are super in tuned with me and there
is a lot of trust that goes on when we're in production.
The $64-question of course, where can Terminally
Unique be seen?
We are having our premiere at LA Shorts Fest. We are presently touring the
festival circuit. Anything you can tell us about
audience and critical reception of Terminally
Unique? LA Shorts Fest will be my first time watching it around people so I'll
find that out soon. Any future projects you'd like to share?
I have a feature for which I'm looking for producers and rep at the
moment, and two TV shows. What
got you into acting in the first place, and did you receive any formal
training on the subject?
I never wanted to do anything else. I've been studying acting since I was
16. I always loved being on plays even before that. I would always be a
part of the plays in my school and in church. What made you decide to try
your hand on producing, writing and directing eventually, and honestly,
which side of the camera do you enjoy more, and why?
I wanted to be able to have more control over my career. As an actor, I
just felt like I wasn't working enough to be able to express my creative
side and tell stories. I love acting and directing in different ways. Hard
to pick one. They explore different facets of myself.
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Do talk about your filmwork prior to Terminally
Unique, in whatever position?
I mostly worked as an actress and then went on to direct my first short
film Tempest Desert. I also worked as a 1st AD and assistant editor
prior to this film. How would you
describe yourself as an actress, and how as a director?
As an actor it is like my playground. It makes me really connect with my
inner child. As a director is my outlet to express my vision and tell
stories in my unique way. Actresses,
writers, filmmakers, whoever else who inspire you?
Tim Burton, Mary Kaufman, Lynne Ramsay, Michel Gondry, Wong Kar-Wai,
Gaspar Noe, Drake Doremus, Charlie Kaufman, Kate Winslet, Daniel Day-Lewis,
Richard Donner, David Bowie, and the list goes on and on. Your favourite
movies?
I have too many. I think different films marked different stages of my
life. ... and of course, films you really deplore? I rather not. Your/your
movie's website, social media, whatever else?
www.TalitaMaia.com Instagram: @TerminallyUnique_TheFilm &
@TalitaMaia Anything
else you're dying to mention and I have merely forgotten to ask?
Thank you so much for this interview. It was fun to think about all these
questions. Thanks for the
interview!
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