Synopsis/Details
All Accolades & Coverage
Producer feedback:
Hi Lance,
I just finished reading the script, and it was such a fun and thrilling experience. Normally, I don't give out notes like I’m about to below, but I really enjoy your writing and your approach to niche and innovative storytelling. Please let me know what you think, and let's definitely keep the dialogue open.
Strengths:
Compelling Protagonist: Lena is a strong, complex character with a deep backstory. Her transformation from frustrated applicant to vengeful antagonist is well-developed, with her dark history and simmering rage making her both relatable and terrifying.
Social Commentary: The script deftly critiques the recruitment industry and the ethical gray areas recruiters operate within. The tension between quick placements and genuine candidate care feels timely and relevant.
Strong Visual and Tone: The script creates a dark, gritty atmosphere in Boston’s urban landscape. The detailed action scenes, especially involving Lena's violent tendencies, are visceral and cinematic.
WeScreenplay coverage excerpt:
DIALOGUE
Along with the prose the dialogue here was consistently superb, with special mention definitely
necessary of the differentiated voices between each of the characters. Even in the supporting players
within the agency like Candace and Tony their voices were well-honed, with their dialogue uniquely
suited to each. Scenes like P.12 played the conflict well through the dialogue, with the earlier
developments of Jacob's character and his need to reject candidates coming in direct conflict with
what we've learned of Candace's character. Tony was especially strong and truly felt like a Tony!
CONCEPT
Conceptually NO HIRE has great strength in its core inciting incident, which well-established not only
on the Lena end with her strong introduction but additionally through Jacob, whose cold decision
making is well developed and makes for a strong launching point from a dramatic angle. We know
Lena and her erratic nature, we know why Jacob will inevitably ghost her, and waiting for the blow-up
to happen really helps drive the first act forward. Barring questions of the structure of Lena’s tactics
they’re not only cruel but well set-up, with the pastries especially being a minor detail early on that are
later capitalized on for her nefarious means.
WeScreenplay coverage excerpt:
OPENING THOUGHTS
NO HIRE is a moody supernatural thriller, journeying through the rippling effects of abuse, trauma and
the concept of karma. The script follows two key perspectives but is mostly lead by the point of view of
Jacob, a young man working to build a career outside of his mother’s shadow, to explore the thematic
idea that ‘you reap what you sow’. The script is visually strong and has some shocking thriller beats,
particularly as Lena’s revenge ramps up.
CONCEPT
The concept is a potentially distinctive take on toxic nepotism and the dehumanisation of labour (with
a brief but clever reference to ‘the impact of AI’ included on pages 8-9), wrapped in a supernatural
thriller to make it accessible. The fact that the writer hasn’t shied away from the reality of power
imbalances in the employment process, as well as incorporating the role of social status/issues in
holding capable workers back from employment, gives the concept real strength.
