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Ever since the “red pill / blue pill” concept was first introduced with The Matrix, the simple task of decision-making has never been quite the same. While it’s a common belief that everything meant to happen will happen based on a Divine Plan, the road not taken will always leave room for doubt in the mind of anyone making that nail-biting choice.
It’s a theme that plays a key role in Meal Ticket by Wes Andre Goodrich, a short film debuted at the “Rising Voices” competition during this year’s Tribeca Festival that had many in attendance declaring it a fan-favorite of the day. We couldn’t agree more, and it made for a perfect opportunity to catch up with the 27-year-old director during some free time — in-between crafting up fresh scripts, of course! — for a conversation that dives deeper into his inspiring background and makes it clear why Filmmaker Magazine deemed him one of 2023’s New Faces of Film.
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In addition to Meal Ticket offering some familiarity for viewers with Wu-Tang: An American Saga actor Siddiq Saunderson in the lead role, the film also manages to build up enough suspense in its 12-minute runtime to leave you craving for a miniseries in order to tie up its cliffhanger ending. You feel for the decision his character Saint is left with making just as much as your heart aches for the one he has to deliver the news to. The emotional depth of the characters is an applaudable feat for Wes that’s quite common in his work, including other festival gems like SPEAK UP BROTHA! and PALM SUNDAY.
Wes takes us behind the thought process in each of those short films and why certain themes will always show up in some aspect if his name is attached to the project. With the culture always on the back of his mind during storytelling, prepare for greatness from this burgeoning Brooklynite.
Watch below as we chop it up with director Wes Andre Goodrich, and check back soon as we round out our convos with a few “Rising Voices” of Black filmmaking: