Sometimes life doesn’t allow for compromises. At least not in director Wes Andre Goodrich’s Oscar-qualifying short film Meal Ticket. Ambition, honesty, and selfishness clash in a whirlwind story about morality and showbusiness. Young hip hop artist Apollo (Coy Stewart) is on the cusp of a breakthrough in front of a sold-out crowd, but his manager Saint (Siddiq Saunderson) receives troubling news about the star’s mother right before the event. Faced with the prospect of losing money, disappointing fans, and the emotional reaction of his fostered talent, Saint is forced to make a difficult choice. And that is where the film leaves you, contemplating the potential rights and wrongs of his actions.
Meal Ticket’s buildup is an uneasy one. Saint is immediately made aware of the situation surrounding Apollo’s mom, which essentially sets in motion a ticking clock for him to beat. He confides in his colleagues Maddie (Mitzi Akaha), Kim (Grace Duah), and Vic (Khalil Middleton), who remain fiercely loyal to the task at hand, but acknowledge the risk of their star cancelling if supplied the information.
Placed in Saint’s shoes, would you make the same decision? Though this abrupt ending takes a lot of air out of the room, it remains a powerful footnote for the film and a sharp choice of storytelling on Goodrich and screenwriting partner Patrick Nichols’ part. On one hand, you’d want to believe Saint has the best of intentions for Apollo, but on the other, Maddie’s reported ticket sales sound too good for the manager to pass up on. It creates a duality that really forces the viewer to pay attention to every interaction Saint has with Apollo’s team.
Tensions are running high before the performance, and the narrow corridors of the music center are a hotbed for anxiety-inducing setups. From cramped office spaces to packed hallways, Goodrich and Director of Photography Ben Hardwicke get the most out of the location and the actors inside it. Saunderson is enthralling, barely letting Saint’s panicked state of mind seep into his conversations. He keeps his cool for Apollo, who is blissfully unaware and focusing on the night ahead.
Meal Ticket leads its characters to a moral crossroads and forces both them and its audience into contemplating their own values.
