Private Project

He Asked for It

Young Eleonora moves to the city of dreams, where she meets the boy of her dreams. But she didn't know there was a fine line between dreams and nightmares.

  • Mariana Tavolaro Salek
    Director
  • Mariana Tavolaro Salek
    Writer
  • Amin Hossain
    Writer
  • Amin Hossain
    Producer
  • Isabelle Bernardo
    Key Cast
    "Eleonora"
  • Will Cross
    Key Cast
    "Damien"
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Drama, Thriller, Short
  • Runtime:
    14 minutes 54 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    February 29, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    15,000 GBP
  • Country of Origin:
    United Kingdom
  • Country of Filming:
    United Kingdom
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Mariana Tavolaro Salek

Mariana is a writer and director with a master's degree in Film and TV Production from the University of Hertfordshire, where she graduated with distinction in 2022. She has a passion for filmmaking and social media content creation, which she developed through her previous education and work experience in advertising and marketing in Brazil.

Since moving to England, Mariana has worked on a range of projects, including short films, music videos, documentaries, high-features, Apple TV+ and BBC productions. She has received multiple awards for her talent as a first-time filmmaker, such as the "Diversity in Cannes" Festival award for her short film "PAN", which she wrote and directed as her final project for her master's degree. Mariana aims to create impactful and meaningful stories that challenge stereotypes and spark discussions about social issues.

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Director Statement

“He Asked for It” is based on true events. Not only for those who wrote it. Estimates published by WHO (World Health Organisation) indicate that globally about 1 in 3 (30%) of women worldwide have been subjected to either physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence in their lifetime. Most of this violence is intimate partner violence. Worldwide, almost one-third (27%) of women aged 15-49 years who have been in a relationship report that they have been subjected to some form of physical and/or sexual violence by their intimate partner.

This project was named in response to the damaging belief that victims of abuse, particularly women, are to blame for their situation. The inspiration for the script came from personal experiences with trauma and unhealthy relationships. We believe that creating a short film will spark discussions about domestic abuse, addiction, and the significance of speaking up. It is vital to recognise the scars we carry and the struggles we face each day just to survive, particularly when it concerns something as seemingly positive as love.​