Maxine Peake Boards Short Film ‘The Secret Assistants’ Exploring Power Imbalances In The Movie Business

EXCLUSIVE: Maxine Peake has boarded The Secret Assistants, the BAFTA-qualifying short about an ambitious newcomer trying to make it in the movie business.

Katey Lee Carson writes and directs and, along with producing partner Rickie-Lee Roberts, channeled experience in the business into the short. Both have worked on major movies and their professional backgrounds informed The Secret Assistants.

Peake, whose credits include I Swear and The Theory of Everything, will be an exec producer on The Secret Assistants. “I wanted to be involved because, quite frankly, it’s a timely, urgent and brilliant film,” she said.

The Secret Assistants follows Sophie, an ambitious newcomer navigating a high-stakes interview with an industry titan called Henry Mann. What begins as an opportunity to secure her future quickly spirals into a troubling power struggle, forcing Sophie to confront an impossible choice: challenge the ethical line she is being pushed to cross or risk jeopardizing everything she has worked so hard to achieve.

The cast is led by Camille Rutherford (Blue is the Warmest Colour) as Sophie. Richard Hope (Doctor Who) plays Henry. Gina Stiebitz (Dark) and Emily Kusche (Dogs of Berlin) round out the cast.

Given the film’s focus on power imbalances and toxic work environments, its producers emphasized that everyone involved in its production was paid equally. Everyone from producer to runner got the same rate, they said.

The team behind The Secret Assistants said that although it is set in the entertainment business, its power imbalance and toxic workplace themes could apply to any sector or industry. The film is currently on a festival run that has taken in Busan International Short Film Festival, St Kilda Film Festival and HollyShorts.