Quiet on Set

Cailan, a production assistant, experiences a traumatic event while at basecamp.

  • Mykel Salazar
    Director
    Jane, Kaya, The Last Manhunt
  • Mykel Salazar
    Writer
    Jane, Kaya, The Last Manhunt
  • Mykel Salazar
    Producer
    Jane, Kaya, The Last Manhunt
  • Catherine Fordham
    Producer
    Kaya, The Best Thing You’ll Ever Do, Consummé
  • Alexandra Renzo
    Producer
    The Maid, Meow Wolf: Origin Story, Seeds
  • Brian Green
    Producer
    Breaking Bad, Dreamland, When You Finish Saving the World
  • Rebeca Durán
    Director of Photography
    She’s Missing, Walking with Herb, Pan American
  • Sierra Rose Standing Cloud Tyrrell
    Key Cast
    "Cailan"
  • Robert Henkel
    Key Cast
    "Hunter"
    Short History of the Long Road, From Dusk Till Dawn, Graves
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    8 minutes 25 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    July 1, 2021
  • Production Budget:
    0 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Abbey Film Festival
    London
    United Kingdom
    Official Selection
  • LA Femme Short Film Festival
    Paris
    France
    Official Selection
  • Berlin Indie Film Festival
    Berlin
    Germany
    Honorable Mention
  • Do It Zero - A Zero Budget Production Film Festival
    Gloucester
    United Kingdom
    Nominee
  • Lonely Wolf International Film Festival
    London
    United Kingdom
    Nominee
  • Spokane International Film Festival
    Spokane
    United States
    Official Selection
  • AFERLIFE
    Johannesburg
    South Africa
    Official Selection
  • Cannes World Film Festival
    Cannes
    France
    Best Female Director
  • Cannes World Film Festival
    Cannes
    France
    Best Cause-Driven Film
  • Women X Film Festival
    Darlington
    United Kingdom
    Honorable Mention
  • First Nations Film and Video Festival
    Skokie
    United States
    Official Selection
Director Biography - Mykel Salazar

Mykel, a queer Indigenous filmmaker from the Pueblo of Laguna in New Mexico, graduated from Haskell Indian Nations University in 2012 and later attended Washington University School of Law. When her father was diagnosed with terminal leukemia, she returned home to care for her family. Following his suggestion, she explored acting but discovered her true passion lay behind the camera. In 2016, she began her career as a production assistant and joined the Directors Guild of America as a 1st assistant director in 2020.

In February 2020, Mykel was recognized as a “Rising Star” by the New Mexico Film and Television Hall of Fame. She has directed five short films and has won 15 awards at international festivals, including Best Female Director and Best Cause-Driven Film.

Among her notable projects, "Notch" (2024) is a thriller about a woman’s dark journey after accepting a ride from a stranger, while the “Untitled MMIW doc” (2024), created in collaboration with AMC’s Dark Winds, addresses the issue of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. "The Woods are Lovely, Dark and Deep" (2023) is a psychological thriller currently making waves on the festival circuit, and "Dear Judith" (2023) is an award-winning short about love, loyalty and betrayal between two women. "Quiet on Set" (2021) is another powerful, award-winning short inspired by Mykel’s traumatic experience.

Mykel has worked on over 50 productions as a 1st Assistant Director, including 15 as a DGA 1st AD and work on high-profile advertising campaigns. Noteworthy among these 50 productions are “Ralph Lauren Artist in Residency/Naiomi Glasses” (2023), a documentary shot on Navajo Nation in Arizona, "Mary Margaret Road Grader" (2022), a short film produced by George R.R. Martin, and "The Last Manhunt" (2019), a western feature produced by Jason Momoa.

A passionate advocate for social change, Mykel supports the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women movement, Native American sovereignty, human rights, and equality. As a lesbian woman of color, she strives to be a voice for marginalized communities and filmmakers.

Living in New Mexico with her wife, Lena, Mykel enjoys woodworking, experimenting with antique film cameras, and caring for their five goats.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

"Quiet on Set" is a deeply personal film for me, rooted in a traumatic event from the beginning of my film career when I was a production assistant. This project is not just a recounting of my own experience with an attempted sexual assault but a call to provide a safe space for others to share their stories of survival and abuse.

In creating this film, I metaphorically cut myself open, exposing my pain and emotions for the cast and crew to see and feel. It was a vulnerable process, but I believe in the power of storytelling to heal and connect us. I wanted to highlight how something profoundly evil can occur in the most beautiful and ordinary settings, a stark contrast that emphasizes the unpredictable nature of trauma.

My goal with "Quiet on Set" is to encourage viewers to find their voices and feel supported in telling their own stories. By sharing my journey, I hope to foster a sense of solidarity and understanding among those who have faced similar experiences. This film is a testament to resilience and the strength found in vulnerability.