Politeness is often praised as professionalism. But in many workplaces, it is also a form of control. Mintslate Media’s upcoming psychological horror film Job Seekers examines how politeness operates as an unspoken rule within professional systems, especially when power is uneven and opportunity is scarce. Rather than presenting the workplace as neutral, the film reveals how survival can depend on silence, compliance, and emotional restraint.
Founded in February 2025 by filmmaker Seyi Oluwatimilehin, Mintslate Media was created to tell stories rooted in lived experience. Job Seekers, directed by Seyi Oluwatimilehin and Alan Vega, reflects that vision by centering its story on Maya, a young immigrant attending a job interview that could determine her right to stay.
“One of the reasons I founded Mintslate Media was to tell stories that are real, stories that are relatable, honest, and true to our time and existence,” Seyi Oluwatimilehin says. “Every one of these films carries a piece of my story, from feeling unwanted, to living through and understanding racism, to the quiet horrors of job seeking.”
In the film, the interview takes place inside a private research facility. The environment is calm and courteous, yet increasingly unsettling. Questions are framed politely, expectations are implied rather than stated, and boundaries are tested without being openly crossed. Maya must constantly assess how much resistance she can afford without risking everything.
Mauranda Nunes plays Maya with careful restraint, allowing the audience to feel the internal pressure of navigating power without protection. Across from her is Dr Wendi, portrayed by Marcel Albers, whose authority is expressed through detachment rather than aggression.
“Audiences should expect me to portray my character with the psychotic tendencies that he has,” Marcel Albers says. “And to display his lack of caring for other people.”
Through this dynamic, Job Seekers exposes how politeness can disguise predatory systems. Authority does not need to raise its voice to assert control. It simply needs to hold the final decision. The film highlights how workers are often expected to accept discomfort as part of professionalism, especially when they are immigrants, early in their careers, or dependent on approval.
“These films are deeply rooted in real experiences,” Seyi explains. “This, to me, is one of the things I feel is lacking in the Canadian film industry, a genuine human connection and a sense of relatability that allows audiences to truly see themselves on screen.”
Mintslate Media’s approach refuses to normalise this dynamic. By slowing the pace and allowing tension to build through silence and observation, Job Seekers forces audiences to confront how familiar these interactions are. The horror lies not in exaggeration, but in recognition.
As an upcoming release, Job Seekers positions Mintslate Media as a film company willing to interrogate everyday systems of power. It asks viewers to reconsider what professionalism demands, who benefits from politeness, and why survival at work so often requires making oneself smaller.
Through Job Seekers, Mintslate Media reminds audiences that fear does not always announce itself dramatically. Sometimes, it speaks softly, smiles politely, and waits for compliance.
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