# Maxine Peake Boards Short Film ‘The Secret Assistants’ Exploring Power Imbalances In The Movie Business

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/maxine-peake-boards-short-film-the-secret-assistants-exploring-power-imbalances-in-the-movie-business/
- Published: 2026-10-27T16:39:10+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-07T04:52:26+00:00
- Original publisher: Deadline
- Original article: https://deadline.com/2026/10/maxine-peake-the-secret-assistants-short-film-1237206187/
- Topics: Americas, Art, Culture, Entertainment, Film, World

## Key points

- Maxine Peake joins the short film as executive producer.
- The story centres on a newcomer facing an ethical dilemma.
- The production says all crew members received equal pay.

## Summary

Maxine Peake has joined the BAFTA-qualifying short film *The Secret Assistants* as an executive producer. The film follows an aspiring newcomer caught in a high-stakes interview and examines power imbalances and toxic working environments in the movie business.

Camille Rutherford plays Sophie, who must choose whether to challenge an ethical line or risk her career; Richard Hope plays industry figure Henry Mann. Writer-director Katey Lee Carson and producer Rickie-Lee Roberts drew on their own film-industry experience, and say everyone on the production, from producer to runner, received the same pay rate. The film is screening at festivals including Busan, St Kilda and HollyShorts.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.