Let’s Fire People Together
After delivering record results at a cutthroat tech startup, a high-performing manager is pushed by the CEO to prove her boldness — but at what cost?
A satirical short film about ambition, AI, and the brutal logic of corporate leadership.
Synopsis
After delivering record results at Dingo, a cutthroat tech startup, Mara expects a long-promised promotion will finally earn her a seat at the table. Instead, she’s challenged to prove she has “fire” in a culture that treats fear as leadership and empathy as a liability amid AI-driven layoffs.
Mara tries to reconcile her values with the rules of a system that keeps moving the goalposts. When her closest ally ends up on the chopping block, it forces her to decide how much she’s willing to trade for advancement, with unexpected consequences.
Key Cast/Crew
Brennan James
Brennan has appeared in numerous short films and her theatrical work has been praised by Broadway World. She trained at The Barrow Group, Heidi Marshall Studio, UCB, and The Walnut Street Theater. She also has an M.A. in Media & Cinema Studies from The University of Pennsylvania.
Actor (Mara), Writer, and Producer
Drew Vaughan
Drew is a director whose work is offbeat, subversive, and dramatic. He’s been featured in Shoot's new director showcase. A standup special he directed is on Hulu. Werner Herzog said he should grow a mustache. Awards: Emmy, One Show, Cannes Shortlist drewvaughan.com
Director and Producer
Alex is a cinematographer whose work spans commercial campaigns and international festival cinema. His films have screened at the Tokyo International Film Festival and Seoul International Film Festival, among others. slacktidefilms.com
Director of Photography
Alex Palumbo
-
Ben Shaul
as Ivan the CEO
Originally hailing from London UK, Ben has been on sets for almost 40 years. He has worked with many print and commercial clients, and secured lead and support roles in a series of shorts destined for film festivals.
-
David A. Gregory
as Colin
Born and raised in Fairbanks, Alaska, David is best known as Robert Ford on ABC sudser "One Life to Live". He's played recurring characters on "The Good Fight" (CBS), "Insatiable" (Netflix), "Constantine" (NBC), and "Deception" (NBC).
-
Jennifer Jang
as Britt
Jennifer Jang is a New York based actor, born and raised in California. Having trained at the Atlantic Acting School’s Evening Conservatory and the Barrow Group’s 1 year training program, she has acted in various short films in the last two years. She has also done improv at BCC, and continues on camera work at the Brownstone Class.
