By Katherine Morrison

Marin Coletta ’23 walked across the stage at Colby’s 202nd Commencement and stepped off to start her filmmaking career.

The first film she worked on, Through, screened at the Portland Museum of Art a year after graduation. Coletta was initially brought on as the writer but found herself drawn to many roles, including researcher, camera operator, and off-screen interviewer. By jumping headfirst into each role, she earned the title of producer.

Five years prior, Coletta arrived at Mayflower Hill as a first-year student pursuing a major in biochemistry. She focused on the link between nutrition and physiology, which stemmed from her interest in competitive Nordic skiing.

Coletta changed her major to English with a concentration in creative writing, inspired by Colby’s encouragement for students to pursue their creativity. She found her true calling in the world of words and artistry. “I came to Colby with this grand plan, and within my first semester, I realized how much I loved writing, and it was something I wanted to formally pursue,” she recalled.

Throughout her time at Colby, Coletta took advantage of a range of classes and community programming. During one of her first poetry classes, she was encouraged to find her voice and experiment with language. Faculty members Adrian Blevins, professor of English and director of the Creative Writing Program, and Arisa White, associate professor of English (creative writing), encouraged Coletta to try various mediums, build on her skills, and explore her unconscious mind.

Despite feeling uncertain about her initial path, she is grateful she trusted herself and what she was drawn to do. “There’s a natural hesitation toward the arts when it comes to choosing careers,” she stated. “I think we live in a world that tends to value predictability and concrete tasks.”

Through tells the true story of Margo Walsh, founder of MaineWorks and United Recovery Fund, a nonprofit organization dedicated to being the bridge for sustainable employment and individuals affected by substance use disorder and incarceration. The organization provides meaningful employment through support, dignity, and purpose to make a difference in countless communities.

Walsh persevered through her substance abuse and found her purpose in volunteering for the local county jail, where she heard the aspirations of individuals struggling to re-enter society. Knowing the barriers these individuals faced, she was determined to find them sustainable employment options. The film features several stories of individuals who are succeeding against the odds.

Coletta spent three months following the lives of those impacted by the United Recovery Fund. While filming, she built relationships with individuals working to sustain their sobriety, reconnect with loved ones, pay off debts, obtain government IDs, and purchase a vehicle for the first time since incarceration. Coletta noted she and the crew were inspired by their subjects’ insight into the human condition and their willingness to be vulnerable about their hopes and hardships.

Before arriving on site, Coletta and the crew conducted research about substance use disorder and incarceration. The groundwork was used to inform them on how to approach production and the interview process through a trauma-informed lens. After several weeks of building trust and familiarity, the community embraced and welcomed the crew to take part in their lives throughout production.

“I don’t think research can substitute building real relationships,” she said. Without establishing genuine relationships, the crew might not have learned about the complexity and nuances surrounding recovery and reentry.

The crew leaned on Walsh’s core tenet, which is the backbone of the film’s message: the opposite of addiction is connection. Additionally, Coletta pulled from Colby’s creative and exploratory experiences to help guide her work on the film. After conscious and extensive editing, the film was completed seven months later, with the first showing in June 2024.

The film’s premiere at the Portland Museum of Art celebrated the crew’s collective work to showcase the United Recovery Fund and the organization’s impact on individuals rebuilding their lives after incarcerations and substance use disorder. Reflecting on the event, Coletta said she was gratified to observe audience members resonating with the authentic portrayal of recovery in real-time.

“Watching people emotionally respond to your art is really beautiful,” she said. “The premiere was one of the most visceral experiences of this. We had folks coming up to us afterward expressing that the film hit the nail on the head, which is hard to do with recovery narratives without perpetuating stigmas, including shame narratives, or glorifying the recovery process.”

The United Recovery Fund, formally known as Maine Recovery Fund, will continue hosting private screenings of Through around the Northeast.

Throughout the project, Coletta uncovered how much she truly enjoys and appreciates the art of filmmaking. This opportunity was a catalyst for her to work on projects that align with her values of exploring the intersections of environment, culture, and identity.

“I’m in a period of life where I’m hungry to learn and grow,” Coletta said. “I want to tell stories that educate, inspire, and offer healthy ways of being in relationship to one’s body and with the Earth.”