-Written by Kyle Bain.
What do you do when you are tasked with making the toughest decision of your life–and it’s for someone else? Manager Saint (Siddiq Saunderson) finds himself in this predicament–as he’s given some life-altering news regarding his client, Apollo (Coy Stewart). Meal Ticket is an anxiety-riddled short film that takes us through the mere twelve minutes leading up to Apollo’s performance–the opportunity of a lifetime.
In an incredibly succinct, and relatively straightforward dramatic narrative, Meal Ticket aims to take us through a gut-wrenching situation–a dilemma in which there’s no right answer. As we navigate the narrow halls behind the scenes of a raucous crowd and an empty stage, the intensity that Saint would have felt in the moment shines through the darkness that permeates this narrative and repeatedly provides a somber and overwhelming tone that continues from start to finish. The key to Meal Ticket is the setting and the ability of Writer-Director Wes Andre Goodrich to create an all-encompassing set that helps to deliver honest and accessible drama.
Again, it’s those narrow halls in which Saint feels trapped–as he attempts to make an impossible decision, but it’s also the use of light that adds to this sensation. Even before Saint receives the bad news, it’s clear that his job has him on edge, as he’s well aware of the fact that Apollo’s success is his meal ticket, his opportunity to thrive in a world that doesn’t often offer second chances. We know this from the opening seconds as a result of Goodrich and Writer Patrick Nichols setting the scene (and the tone) by throwing Saint out into the cold, stormy night. Meal Ticket is propelled forward in this moment, as Saint is engulfed by his surroundings. While we don’t necessarily know exactly where Saint will end up, or what decision he will come to, Goodrich and Nichols make it abundantly clear the intensity that would exist from that moment forward.
The setting is everything in this film. From the use of light, to the harrowing hallways–everything works to ensure that viewers are able to empathize with Saint and his current predicament. However, with Saunderson remaining front and center throughout nearly every scene, it’s essential that he’s effective in order for Meal Ticket to find success. Saunderson is lights out throughout the entirety of the film–particularly as the film comes to a close. Without giving anything away, as Apollo walks away from Saint just before the film fades to black, a series of emotions wash over Saint’s face, and Saundesron effectively displays a challenging combination of regret, sorrow, passion, and pain as we see him for the final time. Again, as much as everything else (particularly the setting) plays a role in the success of Meal Ticket, Saunderson’s performance is as, if not more important. He is perfect; there’s no questioning that.
What Meal Ticket also does so well is physically navigate the behind the scenes of Apollo’s performance. An older building with tight spaces can create challenges for film filmmakers, but Director of Photography Ben Hardwicke and Editor Camille Hamadé work to create something fluid that continues to work with the tone of the film. Meal Ticket is immersive from the start, and it’d be completely unfair to omit these aforementioned names when expressing just how effective the film is in this regard.
Meal Ticket possesses a relatively straightforward narrative that considers the challenges of a performer’s manager as he attempts to navigate a harrowing situation. The film is bursting with emotion that seeps into each and every crevice of the narrative–and nearly every aspect of this film looks to, and is effective in heightening that emotion. Meal Ticket is a thrilling journey through the final moments before a musical artist’s big break.
Directed by Wes Andre Goodrich.
Written by Wes Andre Goodrich & Patrick Nichols.
Starring Siddiq Saunderson, Coy Stewart, Khalil Middleton, Mitzi Akaha, Grace Duah, etc.
9/10 = DROP EVERYTHING AND WATCH IT NOW
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