🎬 VIDEO ESSAY: “Set It Up” — A Reflection on Job
Satisfaction and Attitude in the Workplace
[Intro Scene: Opening Montage]
Clip: Show fast-paced montage of Harper and Charlie running errands, late-night office scenes,
food deliveries — just 10–15 seconds.
Voiceover / On-Cam:
"In the world of Set It Up, assistants do everything — schedule meetings, pick up food, calm
down angry bosses. But behind the comedy is a deeper look at how our attitude towards work
and job satisfaction affect our performance, our well-being, and our relationships. This video
essay explores those realities through Harper and Charlie’s journey, the main leads of Set It Up "
🟦 Part 1: Purpose Fuels Performance
Clip: Scene of Harper geeking out over sports in the office OR when she passionately explains
why she wants to write.
You Say (on-cam):
"Harper genuinely loves her work — not the assistant part, but the field she’s in. She dreams of
writing about sports, and her current job is a step in that direction. Charlie, on the other hand,
says something many might relate to: 'Nobody likes the actual work… just do the best one where
you make the most money.' Different reasons, same grind. But both are driven — Harper by
passion, Charlie by ambition."
Add Text Overlay: “Purpose fuels persistence — but it doesn’t erase dissatisfaction.”
🟦 Part 2: When the Workplace Drains You
Clip: Scene where Harper and Charlie are overwhelmed — like when Harper is called in late at
night, or when Charlie cancels plans.
You Say:
"Even with strong reasons to work, both characters start to break. They’re overworked,
undervalued, and always on call. It reflects how job dissatisfaction slowly creeps in — even if
you’re doing something you once believed in."
Pop-Up Theory Reference: “Work-Life Balance | Herzberg’s Hygiene Factors”
🟦 Part 3: Leadership Shapes Morale
Clip: Show Rick being rude or Kirsten being commanding.
You Say:
"Leadership plays a huge role. Kirsten and Rick are brilliant — but not kind. They create an
environment where assistants feel disposable. That’s a key takeaway in business management:
leadership that lacks empathy can push even talented employees away."
Add Text on Screen: “Poor leadership = low morale + low commitment”
🟦 Part 4: The Breaking Point
Clip: Scene where Charlie or Harper expresses their frustration. (E.g., Charlie’s confrontation or
Harper saying she’s tired of excuses.)
You Say:
"There’s only so much passion or money can fix. When your job becomes your whole life, when
it leaves no room for rest — you burn out. Harper and Charlie realized that their dissatisfaction
wasn’t just temporary. It was systemic."
Theory Reference (optional pop-up): “Organizational Commitment — Affective vs
Continuance”
🟦 Part 5: Quitting to Reclaim Yourself
Clip: Harper quitting or Charlie walking out and finally smiling
You Say:
"Harper gets fired — but it feels like freedom. Charlie walks away by choice. They stop making
excuses and finally put themselves first. The lesson is clear: when a job starts costing your peace,
your identity, even your joy — it’s okay to leave."
🟦 Part 6: A Glimpse of Growth
Clip: Harper submitting her article to Kirsten and Kirsten saying, “Tell me something I don’t
know.”
You Say:
"But growth is possible. Kirsten may have been tough, but at the end, she accepts Harper — not
as an assistant, but as a writer. It’s not perfect, but it’s progress. And that’s what real workplaces
should aim for — recognizing growth and giving people space to thrive."
🟩 Conclusion: What the Film Teaches Us
You On-Cam (Final Talk):
"Set It Up may be a romantic comedy, but it reflects real truths about work. Leadership,
recognition, purpose, and balance — they all shape how we feel at work. As future employees or
leaders, we have to remember: productivity doesn't come from pressure alone. It comes from
feeling valued. And we all deserve to feel that."
Final Text Overlay:
“Don’t just survive your job. Grow in it.”
Optional Outro Clip: Harper writing at a cafe / smiling alone.
Technical Tips:
Add soft instrumental music during your on-cam parts.
Use subtitles if possible (clean and simple).
Keep each segment around 1 minute — entire video can be 5–6 mins total.
You can dress semi-casual on-cam to still match the tone of a business reflection.
