Interview: 'Rite Of Way' Director Riley Helm On The Education System, Cults, And More

When people get old, they love to reminisce about school life, their favorite subjects, and the type of dynamic they had with their teachers. In my case, I just remember the lunch breaks because that’s when we’d get to play football, cricket, badminton, or table tennis. Since I was an atrocious student, I dreaded every single subject and every single teacher. That fear only worsened during exam time. And when it was time for the annual events like sports, fete, and stage performances, I’d get physically ill due to anxiety. Eventually, I started imagining my teachers as cultists with supernatural powers who were casting some kind of a spell on me to make my time at the school as nightmarish as possible. Spoiler alert: that wasn’t the case at all. Now, as far as I know, the only director who understood that school life could feel like being in the clutches of a cult was Dario Argento, which is why Suspiria is one of my favorite movies of all time; I love Luca Guadagnino’s remake as well. This small list has now gotten a little bigger with the entry of Rite of Way.

Rite of Way is a 10-minute-long short film where Cherie has to partake in a spooky meeting that’s being hosted by Principal Dan. Also present there are Kyle, Trish, and Ingrid. After some back and forth, the responsibility of performing a certain task (which I’m not mentioning for the sake of spoilers) falls on Cherie’s shoulders. Instead of silently accepting the job, Cherie stages a protest, which leads to a much-needed discussion on what it means to be a teacher, especially in this socio-political climate. Everyone is overworked and underpaid, not just in the United States of America but all around the world. And the concerted effort to spend the taxpayers’ money on the defense budget instead of something as basic and crucial to the progress of mankind as education is worsening this situation. Will things ever change for the better? Nobody really knows. So, I sat down for a virtual chat with writer, director, and producer Riley Helm (who supposedly once joined a cult just for fun) about the subtext of his short film, the amazing performances that he has extracted from his cast, the state of the education system, and more.

Film Fugitives: What inspired the idea for Rite of Way and what was the process of evolving it into a script?

Riley Helm: I was thrilled when a friend from college achieved a dream she had spent years chasing: teaching high school English. But after just three years teaching, the stress and demands caught up to her, and she quit to pursue an “easier” career… as a lawyer. I wanted to examine just how crazy it is to be a teacher today. I wrote the first version of the script 7 years ago, but it didn’t work. It sat in my desk until 2023, when a shower epiphany convinced me to try again, this time using a cult ritual to illustrate the madness of our public school system.  

FF: What’s the underlying meaning behind the title of the film?

Riley: Well, “rite” refers to the cult ritual framing of the film. And without giving away the big reveal, it relates to something every driver has to learn: who has the right of way. Seemed like a perfect fit. 

FF: The back and forth between all the actors is so beautifully done. Did it take a long time to establish the chemistry between them or was it instant?

Riley: We had one day of rehearsal, so I took some advice from a mentor – forget the script, work on chemistry and character. I wrote a few scenes set before the film’s events to work through during rehearsal to help the actors find where their characters were mentally, and flesh out their relationships. I wouldn’t pass on the advice to “forget the script” during rehearsal (whoops), but building out the characters beyond the story really helped build chemistry and contextualize their interactions. 

FF: The dialogue is so organic. Was it all on the script or was any of it improvised by the actors?

Riley: You’re going to make me blush. 95% is the scripted dialogue. Sharron Shayne, who shines on camera, had some variations of her lines that I loved. While shooting her coverage, I learned to wait and see what she’d do on her own before calling “cut.” 

FF: Although most of the focus is on the preposterousness of the selection ceremony, the movie is subtly commenting on the state of the education system and how little it cares about what teachers are going through. Do you think comedy is one of the best ways to comment on important topics?

Riley: Absolutely. Comedy disarms us. When you’re laughing, you’re relating to characters. You’re not thinking about whatever statistics or policy you read about yesterday. Humor opens us up to uncomfortable truths without feeling preached to. And hopefully, once the laughter fades, the message sticks. 

FF: Some interesting choices have been made in terms of the props, set design, and costumes. What was the process of fine-tuning the look and feel of the film?

Riley: There was a lot of back and forth with my production designer. I knew I wanted cult robes, and flickering candles, and goofy/mundane “back to school” set dressing. The PD helped nail those specifics down – good collaborators are huge. The set itself changed based on logistics, too. I’d originally written it to take place in a teachers’ lounge. But a gymnasium communicates “school” so much more effectively. 

FF: Do you have any favorite movies about the education system that you want to share with us?

Riley: Election, The Holdovers, Rushmore, Whiplash. Whiplash is actually a huge influence on a feature I’m currently working on. 

FF: What are some of the films that have influenced your tone and storytelling style the most?

Riley: I laugh a ton watching Yorgos Lanthimos films. He has such an absurd, clever sense of humor that I aspire to. Love the pacing of Armando Iannucci’s work, especially The Death of Stalin. And I have to credit Dan Harmon’s story circle for any successful script I write.