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 dark corporate satire about ambition, burnout, and the brutal logic of tech leadership.

Synopsis

After delivering record results at 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.

Mara tries to reconcile her values with the rules of a system that keeps moving the goalposts, forcing her to decide how much of herself she’s willing to trade for advancement. When her closest ally ends up on the layoff list, she is forced to decide: stay principled and lose, or play the game and win.

Our Team

Brennan James

Brennan has appeared in numerous short films and her theatrical work has been praised by Broadway World. She also brings voiceover experience as a past Radio Disney host.

She has trained at Heidi Marshall Studio, The Barrow Group, Upright Citizen’s Brigade, and The Walnut Street Theater. She also has a B.A. in Media Production and a Cinema Studies graduate certificate from The University of Pennsylvania.

Writer, Actor, 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

Director of Photography

Alex Palumbo

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.

Clients include Spotify, Google, and Ritz-Carlton. slacktidefilms.com

About the Screenplay

“Let’s Fire People Together began as catharsis.

I was burned out and conflicted about a corporate culture I had never intended to be in, let alone help to sustain — one that treated empathy as a liability.

The story is fictional, but the experience isn’t. Nearly every scene is rooted in real conversations I’ve had or witnessed. I didn’t set out to write a satire. I was trying to make sense of something. And my creative partners have had similar experiences in corporate life.

And this story needed to be told by people who have lived it.”

Brennan James

More Cast

Ben Shaul

as Ivan the CEO
Originally hailing from London UK, Ben has been on sets 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.
IMDB
David A. Gregory

as Colin
David is best known as Robert Ford on "One Life to Live". Credits include: "The Good Fight", "Insatiable", "Constantine", and "Deception".
IMDB
Jennifer Jang

as Britt
Jennifer is a New York-based actor who has appeared in multiple short films. She trained at Atlantic Action School and The Barrow Group.
Actors Access