“Imposter” Series on the Trials of Artistic Authenticity

Veronica Maccari, the Writer, Creator and Producer of “Imposter,” sat down to discuss the origins and challenges of bringing her vision to life. Set against the backdrop of the art world, “Imposter” follows the journey of Marina Hayes, an artist grappling with success, authenticity, and the fear of being exposed as a fraud.

“Imposter” emerged from Maccari’s personal experiences and anxieties. “There was a time when I was on the festival circuit with another project that I didn’t feel as confident in,” she revealed. “I started to have a daunting feeling creeping up… What if everyone’s just being nice but they actually KNOW this is not very good?”

The series explores themes of identity and belonging. Marina, played by Maccari herself, navigates the complexities of the art world while battling her inner doubts. “As a painter, she is always creating alone, and there’s nothing more cathartic and validating than creating art in community,” Maccari reflected.

Despite the personal resonance of the project, Maccari faced significant challenges during production. “We had some INCREDIBLE talent working on this show,” she noted. “When you have these kinds of professionals working on your indie project, there is always a chance that they might book a huge gig they cannot pass on during your shoot – and that’s exactly what happened.”

One particularly daunting situation arose when an actor unexpectedly landed a lead role in a major TV show, potentially disrupting the filming schedule. Maccari and her team had to swiftly devise a solution to accommodate the actor’s sudden departure. “Everyone rallied, got creative and somehow got it done,” Maccari recounted, describing the experience as a “real indie film miracle.”

Reflecting on the production process, Maccari acknowledged that she would have approached certain aspects differently in hindsight. “I would have told myself to be less concerned with doing everything perfectly and trust that it was all going to come together beautifully somehow,” she admitted. “If I could go back in time I would have told myself that the story, the talents, and the passion were there – so it was always going to be great in the end.”

For aspiring filmmakers, Maccari emphasized the importance of education and community. “Get yourself into a class,” she advised. “Filmmaking is a long, collaborative process that can seem daunting when faced alone and without any prior experience.”

As “Imposter” prepares to make its debut at the Utah International Film Festival, Maccari encouraged audiences to follow the series and its creators on social media for updates on future projects. “You can follow us on Instagram,” she said, @impostertheseries, me at @veronica_maccari, Shayda Frost at @ffrostt, and Yaniv Waisman at @yaniv05 and @crexels .