In her new short, Micro-Short, writer and director Beth Fletcher tackles the terror of work-life balance through a bloodthirsty microwave and a burnt-out young professional (played by Hanna Myers). Clocking in just under six minutes, it’s a surprisingly poignant piece about killer microwaves and the mires of professional life in 2025.

The official synopsis reads, “A woman hypnotized by her microwave finds out how far she’ll go to satiate its hunger.“

Watch the film below:

In her director’s statement, Fletcher shares,

“Depending on who you are, you’ll give ‘the machine’ different things as you strive to learn what it wants from you. In the end, regardless of what we’re trying to attain, ‘the machine’ wants you. It wants your body and your time and will take all that you’ll give it. Through Dani’s small encounter, we see a literal interpretation of this idea told with the touch of dark humor that only a hypnotic microwave can bring.

“I’m using Micro-Short to explore a new way of storytelling. My goal was to ebb away from the classic hero’s journey and try to find my own character’s journey. Within this film, we get to see someone get swept up in a wave of momentum rather than a story building toward a climax. After making so many short films with traditional narratives, I’m moving into a place of discovery in telling stories that align with my distinct voice and style.”

Credits

Dani: Hannah Myers

Voice Note Actor: Katie Allion

Writer/Director/Producer: Beth Fletcher

Cinematographer: Maddy Talias

Editor/Sound Designer/VFX Artist: Chris Dold

Composer: Daniel Padgett

1st AD: Sam Millstein

Gaffer: Mike DiLorenzo

Moco OP: Josh Treadaway

1st AC: Riley Patterson

2nd AC: Nell Geer

Fabricator: Scott Goldstein

Sound OP: Addison Hillman

Colorist: Marcy Robinson

Head of Post-Production at Nice Shoes: Megan Rumph

Finishing Editor: Alex Hartly

Categorized: News