Teachers meet in the gym before the new school year begins to decide who gets which responsibilities for the upcoming school year.
Written and directed by Riley Helm, this workplace comedy takes a few cues from horror and makes its story look like a dark mass held to make a big decision. The writing here is witty and fun, taking a moment in many people’s careers and making it entertaining. The direction works great here with the writing and really brings the fun to the screen in an organic manner. The work here is solid and makes the most of the short runtime. There is humor, some of it really dark, and most of it hits just right. Some of the jokes will work better for those working in education, but a lot of them are universal to anyone working or who has worked with large teams in less-than-ideal conditions.
The cast here is fantastic, lead Tyra G. Morrison has a perfect sense of timing, making the whole comedy aspect work beautifully well and making the film her own while also giving space to the others in the cast. She’s a solid lead and really makes the most of the short runtime. Joining her and doing just about as good of a job are Steve Moulton, Maria Pinsent, and Doug Simpson who all create a great ensemble cast. Stealing a scene right out from everyone else in the film is Sharron Shayne who is delightful here. More of her sass please.
The cinematography by Ali Arminio works great for the film here and the editing by Billy Bjork works great with it. Their work puts together the right pace and the best timing possible for the film’s comedy and its tone. Composer Lewis Meyer rounds out the film’s obvious talent bringing the story to life and accompanying the images just right.
As a whole, Rite of Way is a solid short film that shows that less runtime is not always an issue and can even be an advantage. The story here is a small window on the lives of teachers at back-to-school and one that is funny, timely, and can easily connect with viewers in other fields of work. The film here is well throughout with witty writing, a great sense of comedic timing, really good acting, and some real fun. This is a short film that is worth checking out and enjoying even if not in the back-to-school time of year.