1.) We’re happy to have some time today with acclaimed Production Designer and Art Director Holly Trotta; greetings and salutations, Holly! Before we dive down the proverbial Q&A rabbit hole, how has the Winter been treating you?

Hey Vents Magazine!  Thanks so much for the kind words and excited to be chatting with you today! My winter has been good, been traveling a lot for work recently. Feels like life is finally getting somewhat back to normal after the prolonged COVID lapse. I am even getting in some personal time and trips in between jobs. I’ve spent some time up in Big Sir this winter and have really fallen in love with the area. The mountains and scenery are so beautiful. Feels like time is flying this year.  It will be spring before we know it.

2.) Congratulations on your work in the upcoming film Rise! For those that may be out of the loop, can you talk with us about what Rise is about?

Rise is a narrative based on true current events in Nigeria, Africa. The story touches upon the  Boko Haram Terrorist organization and corruption within the Nigerian government as they turn a blind eye to the organization’s behavior. There’s been speculation of the government, in fact, funding the organization. The Boko Harem are known for sex trafficking, and weapon/drug distribution within parts of Africa. The story revolves around the kidnapping of a Nigerian Princess Z and Aisa andher older sister’s determination to find and save her younger sister from the same fate of her murdered family.

3.) As a multi-faceted Production Designer and Art Director extraordinaire, what did your collaboration process look like with Rise’s director Maritte Lee Go?

Marty was wonderful to collaborate with. She was so passionate about telling the story behind such grim and violent subject matter. She put her heart and soul into the project, which really made all the difference. That energy radiates onto the crew. Even though we were making a film as opposed to a documentary, it was extremely important for Marty to capture a sense of accuracy to what reality really looked like in Nigeria.  Because of this, she and I did a lot of research to create a realist environment. We had a Nigerian advisor as well, to make sure everything felt authentic from the way the town and compound looked down to small details such as textiles.

4.) What was it about Rise that made you want to be a part of this production?

As a Production Designer, it’s important for me to have a diversified body of work. Although I absolutely love horror, psychological thrillers, and crime mysteries, I don’t want to get pigeonholed into one genre. This was an opportunity to do something completely different than what I’ve done in the past. Marty and I really hit it off when working on the movie Phobias together. So, after finishing that film, she approached me about Rise and I was excited to work on something different with her. Since the story was set in Nigeria, I was really designing sets that looked like they were in Africa and loved the challenge.

5.) How did Rise challenge you as a Production Designer in ways that perhaps some of your other work did not?

My approach to designing Rise was very much treated like a period piece. Some small segments looked like they took place in the states. However, for the most part, my team and I were designing what looked like Africa. We shot at Blue Cloud movie ranch which already felt like some parts of Nigeria. Although it was an empty shell, which is in most cases an amazing foundation to start with, I had to do A LOT of research on the authenticity of what Nigeria really felt and looked like without being able to go in person. There’s nothing like being able to physically be in another country; the smell, the way things taste, the color palette. Nothing beats being able to be there; photos sometimes just don’t do justice. So, I challenged myself to create reality through photo research.

6.) What do you hope audiences walk away with after watching Rise?

I would hope the audience walks away with insight into how other people live in other countries and their struggles within those countries. Americans are very fortunate to live in the United States with access to so many wonderful resources. Not all countries are the same. Rise is a story of hope, determination and perseverance no matter the cost. The movie brings to life a glimpse of the underbelly of a corrupt part of Africa.

7.) How has your past work in the advertising industry informed your work in motion pictures? Was advertising a good training ground for movies?

It’s funny you ask this question. I guess I must go back to the beginning to answer it properly. While I was studying at the School of Visual Arts (SVA) in New York City, I was double majoring in Advertising and what SVA called 3D design. All my advertising work had a three-dimensional aspect to it. A lot of the time I was making things that we would shoot and “photoshop” into the ads. At that point I realized I enjoyed working with physical objects more than concepting advertising ideas.

I studied under the chairman of the 3D design program at SVA . Still unsure, and needing to know myself, I briefly worked as an Art Director in advertising and hated it! So went back to freelancing with the SVA’s Chairman of the 3D design program. My career kind of turned down another path at that moment and I never looked back. However, what I did learn while working in advertising was visually how things should look and what feels right color palette wise.  I believe every bit of knowledge obtained is added to your toolbox, metaphorically, and I’ve used all that knowledge thus far designing sets.

8.) Who in the world of Production Design and Art Direction do you sort of hold up as the Gold Standard?

There are so many talented Production Designers out there. I’m a huge fan of Guillermo Del Toro. His production value is top notch.  I loved Tamara Deverell’s work she did for his films on Nightmare Alley and His Cabinet of Curiosities TV series. I am also a huge fan of Jennifer Spence; the way she designs the world of horror is inspiring in so many ways. I also like Bo Welsh’s work in his collaborations with Tim Burton on Edwards Scissorhands and Beetlejuice. 

9.) Your first credited work as an Art Director came in 2015 with the music video Sippy Cup for artist Melanie Martinez. Any special memories of that freshman production?

There areso many special memories from then. Working with Melanie really launched my career as a Production Designer. I was so focused, at that time, on all the little details during the shoot, when I finally stepped back and looked behind the monitor, I had a “wow” moment. Of course, it wasn’t just me; an entire crew worked to help bring that video to life. However, I was proud of myself and what I had created. I remember Melanie coming up to me, thanking me and asking when we were going to shoot the next of her videos. From that moment forward I knew this was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.

10.) How did you land upon the path of being a respected Art Director and Production Designer?

I’ve always been driven in what I love to do and supported very much by my family who always believed in me and my dreams. I do believe that if you never give up and are determined to succeed, there’s no way to fail. So that groundwork definitely helped guide me forward. Working as an Intern and eventually an Art Director at Atlantic Records gave me the connections to launch a career in this industry. Once you get a taste of it, it’s hard to go back. From there I networked with a lot of people and whomever I was working with knew I would always bring my A game. It kind of spiraled naturally for me.  The jobs got bigger, I traveled more, and met more people who were just as passionate about film and storytelling as I was.

11.) What sort of advice would you give for anyone wanting to break into Art Direction and Production Design?

If you are truly passionate about being a production designer, embracing and enjoying the process is essential. There’s no straight path to getting there. Stay humble at all costs. Never stop striving towards your goals. Find a mentor or a couple of mentors; learn everything from them and absorb all that knowledge like a sponge. Oh, and be patient with yourself. It’s not about how far you need to go; it’s about how far you have gotten so far.

12.) After Rise, what do you have coming up?

I’m actually getting ready to work on my next feature. Something that’s completely different than what I’ve done as a body of work thus far. So, I’m excited. I have a lot of goals for this year coming and am excited to see what’s in store for 2023.

13.) Final – SILLY! – Question: Favorite movie about making movies – Living In Oblivion, The Player or Swimming With Sharks?

The Player!