'Stagiaire' Cooked To Perfection, With Excellent Presentation
What makes Marina Michelson’s short film Stagiaire stand out in the Narrative Short Film category among other Portland Film Festival submissions is its ability to capsize our conception of what a short film is supposed to be; what issues they’re allowed to contend with, and whether this contention can be taken seriously. Michelson, who is originally from Israel, feels it is important to examine the role that identity and power play in our lives. "It's the fastest thing I ever wrote." said Michelson in an interview with A Hot Set.
The writer directed and starred in the film, as well. "There are a lot of challenges to that" she laughs, "I had to work really hard to create that environment, of who was going to be on the other side of that camera so I didn't have to watch every take." Stagiaire seems like a risk for a young filmmaker. The kind of pressure that a story about sexual harassment can place on a writer/directer like Michelson to tell it well, is tremendous. The sum total of a poor execution is not just a missed opportunity, but a failure to honor the lived experiences of victims like Leila in Stagiare. This story, however, is told exceptionally well, making use of slick camera movement, compelling editing and bulletproof performances from its cast.
For those of you who have never worked in a kitchen, you will learn a thing or two about what it’s like. And for those of you that have - you will be refreshed and disturbed by the truthful pitch that Stagiaire holds with regard to setting. The sound of chopping and whisking, some interesting insert shots and smooth camerawork welcome us into the kitchen of a restaurant with which it is presumably difficult to get a reservation. The kind of place that can breed intensity in the kitchen. What the high-strung atmosphere cannot account for however, is the way that people like Mateo, a co-worker of Leila, behave when this sort of intensity is afoot. Without spoiling much, you can count on a bone-chilling performance from Spenser Granese (Mateo). Additionally, Ramiz Monsef is more than convincing in the role of the head chef.
"They say that about all filmmaking - that editing is another re-write - and in this case, it really was" Michelson says about the post production process of Stagiaire. "We came up with so much of the language, in terms of the flashbacks, and the way that we tried to slow down time." When I asked if she found it difficult to be objective about editing her own performances, she recalls "It's hard to look at yourself and to hear the sound of your own voice, especially in this kind of context." But they got it done, and did so virtually of course, as its post production took place in the looming shadow of Covid-19.
The world of filmmaking is replete with ambitious folks quietly funding their hustle by working in the service industry. Michelson is able to put a spotlight on the unhealthy dynamic that is so often thrust upon women at work. Moreover, she helped somebody like me to understand how terrifying some of these encounters can be for those women. “It was very hard for me to portray how that felt for her.” she noted. The film premiered at the Maryland Film Festival in May of 2021, and played the Brooklyn Film Festival after. Berkshire International Film Festival is next, where Stagiaire will be in fierce competition for the festival's 11th annual "Next Great Filmmaker" award. “People can see the film on the BIFF website from August 1 - September 5th and vote for their favorite film on the site. Winners will be announced at the festival on September 9th at the BIFF. Hopefully there will be some fall festival screening announcements (likely on my instagram / website) in the coming months” says Michelson.
A story in which “coworkers” actually work against you is all too real for many women in the service industry. If this environment is expected to change, we need people like Marina Michelson to at bats. "I can't speak for everyone who has been assaulted... the best I can do is work diligently to be honest. We're trying to tell the truth." Go to a film festival near you, and watch Stagiaire; a bite-sized piece of quality filmmaking. This short film opens a cinematically enduring key-hole into those infamous, saloon-swinging, kitchen double doors.