How Mintslate Media’s Job Seekers Uses Film To Expose The Silent Power Dynamics Of Job Seeking
Job seeking is rarely just about skills or qualifications. It is about power. Mintslate Media’s upcoming psychological horror film Job Seekers takes a close look at how power operates quietly within professional spaces, particularly in environments where opportunity is scarce and approval determines survival. Rather than exaggerating workplace culture, the film exposes dynamics many people already know too well.
Founded in February 2025 by filmmaker Seyi Oluwatimilehin, Mintslate Media was created to tell stories grounded in lived experience. Job Seekers, directed by Seyi Oluwatimilehin and Alan Vega, reflects that mission by transforming a job interview into a tense psychological encounter where politeness masks something far more predatory.
The film follows Maya, a young immigrant played by Mauranda Nunes, who arrives at a private research facility for an interview that could determine her right to stay. From the moment she enters the space, the rules are clear but unspoken. She must be agreeable. She must be grateful. She must not question authority.
“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.”
What makes Job Seekers unsettling is how familiar its tension feels.
The interview process becomes a test of endurance rather than competence. The imbalance of power grows with each polite exchange, revealing how systems can demand emotional submission under the guise of opportunity.
Marcel Albers, who plays Dr Wendi, embodies that authority with disturbing calm.
“Audiences should expect me to portray my character with the psychotic tendencies that he has. And to display his lack of caring for other people,” he says.
Dr Wendi’s character is not loud or overtly threatening. Instead, his control lies in his composure and detachment. He represents a system that holds power without accountability, where decisions are made quietly and consequences fall entirely on those seeking approval.
Through Maya’s experience, Job Seekers highlights how job interviews often require more than professional readiness. They require emotional labour. Candidates are expected to suppress fear, hide discomfort, and present gratitude even when boundaries are crossed.
“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 distance viewers from these realities. The camera remains close. Silence is allowed to stretch. Moments of unease are not softened. In doing so, Job Seekers asks audiences to reflect on the invisible rules many people follow in professional environments simply to survive.
As an upcoming release, Job Seekers positions Mintslate Media as a film company unafraid to interrogate everyday systems of control. By framing job seeking as psychological horror, the film reveals a truth many recognise but rarely name. That opportunity often comes with conditions. And politeness can be one of the most powerful tools of control.