What does it take to spend years working beside some of Hollywood’s top directors—and finally decide it’s time to tell your own story? In this episode of Best in Fest, host Leslie LaPage sits down with writer-director Brenda Wachtl and Romanian-born actress Maria Bata to discuss their new short film, In the Deep, as well as directing, acting, career reinvention, film festivals, and the persistence required to build a career in Hollywood. Before stepping into the director’s chair, Brenda built an extensive career as a script supervisor, working on major films including I Am Sam, October Sky, and Collateral. She describes those years beside accomplished directors as an ongoing filmmaking “masterclass”—one that taught her the importance of preparation while still leaving room for the unexpected magic that can happen on set. Maria’s path was equally unconventional. Born and raised in Transylvania, Romania, she initially earned a business degree before pursuing acting. After working in modeling and commercials, she attended performing arts school and eventually landed a lead role in a Romanian film that premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2015. But Maria reveals an important reality aspiring actors and filmmakers rarely hear: even a Sundance premiere didn’t magically transform her career. She still had to return to auditioning, networking, and doing the work. Together, Brenda and Maria take us behind the scenes of In the Deep, a deeply personal story about a woman whose seemingly perfect life is shattered when her fiancé suddenly disappears. Brenda explains why she wanted to tell a subtle, emotionally complex story centered on an adult woman—and why she deliberately resisted the heightened emotional reactions audiences often expect from stories about betrayal. In This Episode: How Brenda went from script supervisor to film director Lessons learned working alongside major Hollywood directors Why great directors prepare meticulously—but remain open to unexpected moments How to build trust between an actor and director Maria’s journey from Romania to Hollywood What really happened after Maria’s film premiered at Sundance Why film festival success doesn’t automatically create a Hollywood career The casting process behind In the Deep How method acting helped Maria access the film’s emotional complexity Directing subtle performances instead of relying on melodrama Shooting an independent short film during the limited “magic hour” Why filmmakers should consider shorts as proof-of-concept films Reinventing yourself and pursuing a second career in entertainment Why rejection is simply part of building a filmmaking career Brenda also reveals that In the Deep was conceived as more than a short film. Her original intention was to create something “smart and cinematic and engaging” that could demonstrate what she could do as a director while allowing audiences and potential collaborators to imagine a larger story. She is now developing the project into a feature film. And when it comes to surviving the inevitable rejection of Hollywood, Brenda leaves emerging filmmakers with a message worth remembering: Keep going—because eventually, 900 no’s can turn into one yes. Whether you’re an actor, director, screenwriter, film student, independent filmmaker, or someone considering a creative career change, this episode is a candid look at what it really takes to keep creating, keep auditioning, and keep moving forward. Subscribe to Best in Fest for more conversations with filmmakers, actors, writers, producers, festival creators, and entertainment professionals from around the world.
