Actress and producer Salomé Robert-Murphy joins us on Close-Up Culture to tell us about her work on the award-winning short film, I Think She Did It.
Hi Salomé, welcome to Close-Up Culture. You recently starred in the short film, I Think She Did It. It sounds like a great premise, what drew you to this story?
I love stories that delve into the human experience, and loneliness is a big part of that. It’s a feeling everyone can relate to on some level, but it’s often overlooked in society and bandaged with fleeting hits of dopamine. Exploring the life of a lonely woman in the absurd and extreme context of the film shows how far this universal feeling can influence you, particularly in today’s fame obsessed era, and hopefully creates some empathy and understanding. Plus, with the film being set in New York City, I find there’s something compelling about a character who’s struggling to connect and feeling isolated in an environment that’s bustling with people. It’s rich territory for storytelling. The premise of a woman desperate for connection felt like a natural fit for me to be able to explore a real human theme.
Can you tell us about your character, Callie, and what you wanted to bring to this role?
Callie is your ordinary young woman, trying to find her footing in the world. She’s struggling to find meaningful connections and resents the world of trivial celebrity. When given the opportunity of her own five minutes of fame, she jumps at the chance despite the serious consequences. What I really wanted to bring to the character was a sense of authenticity and vulnerability. Callie’s loneliness and disconnection from the world around her grounds the extremities of her decisions. I wanted to convey all those layers of emotion—the longing, the occasional glimmers of hope—all in a way that felt genuine and relatable.
You also helped produce the film. How did you find that experience?
Being a producer on the film was a whole different ball game, but I loved every minute of it. It was a bit like juggling multiple hats—balancing creative decisions with logistical challenges. It was incredibly rewarding to be involved in every stage of the filmmaking process, from developing the initial concept to overseeing production and post-production. Overall, producing was an incredible learning experience, and it made me appreciate even more of all the pieces that go into the art of storytelling.
What was your experience like collaborating with director Zack Travis?
It was so effortless, we’ve worked together a few times now so we’ve become a great team. He trusts me to bring his vision to life and I trust his vision. I’m so grateful to have found collaborators that appreciate each other’s roles and make for a smooth and safe filming experience.
The film is currently on the festival circuit. How has that gone so far?
It’s going really well! It’s been amazing to see how different markets and countries are reacting to the film. We just premiered at Noho CineFest, and have been selected to screen at the Sweden Film Awards. We were also so proud to be named Best International Short Film by Golden Lion International Film Festival and Best Sci-Fi film at Night of Comedy Shorts!
What’s next for you?
I have a few larger scale projects lined up! I’m set to star in a feature horror film with Irving Pictures called ‘Stay Awake’. The film has been a long time coming because it started as a low budget project but was put on hold when the producers realised it had the power to be a bigger movie, so I’m really excited to finally get started with production!