Synopsis and Brief History

Pressure Cooker follows the story of three high school seniors at Philadelphia's Frankford High School, Erica, Dudley and Fatoumata, and their tough but loving culinary professor, Mrs. Wilma Stephenson. A legend in the school system, Mrs. Stephenson's hilariously blunt method of teaching Culinary Arts is validated by years of scholarship success. Against the economic hardships of inner city Philadelphia, Mrs. Stephenson trains and prepares the three students, each with their own unique struggles but with the shared dream of winning full paid scholarships, for a culinary competition which could change their lives forever.

Director Jennifer Grausman secured the permission and blessing from the Philadelphia Board of Education, Frankford High Principal Richard E. Mantell and Mrs. Stephenson, who allowed the filmmakers generous access to her classes throughout the school year. Shooting of the picture began on September 7 2006, the first day of school and went all the way through graduation day in June. Early on during pre production, director Grausman began to consult with editor Mark Becker, who jumped on board and also became the cinematographer and co-director of the film.

Instead of focusing on the poverty and economic hardships of the neighborhood, the filmmakers decided to focus on the student’s dream of achieving greatness and succeeding in the world of culinary arts. Co-director Mark Becker explains “Erica, Fatoumata, Dudley, and their friends take pride in their artistry in the kitchen: They want to be chefs and own their own businesses. Their lives and their aspirations belie easy presumptions about low-income families.”

Even though the filmmakers had access to the school and classrooms, shooting the film was not always an easy task. Jennifer explains: “Mrs. Stephenson’s first priority was her students and during stressful times in the classroom she would yell at us or threaten to kick us out.” Adds Mark: “It felt like Mrs. Stephenson had a successful method of operating – a blunt and exacting way of working – and she didn’t turn this mode off for anyone. Not for other teachers. Not for us.”

A graduate of the MFA film program at Columbia University, Jennifer Grausman was
honored with the 2005 Best Producer Award at the Columbia University Film Festival
and the Arthur Krim Memorial Award in 2004. Before production began on Pressure Cooker, Grausman had produced six short films, many of which have played in prestigious film festivals, such as the Tribeca Film Festival. Recently, Grausman co-produced Eric Mendelsohn’s narrative feature Three Backyards (2009). Pressure Cooker is Grasuman’s first film as director.

Mark Becker, who earned a Masters Degree from the Documentary Film Program at Stanford University, made the acclaimed Romantico (2006), which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, where it was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize. Becker was also co-editor on Lost Boys of Sudan (2005), winner of an Independent Spirit Award. Becker currently produces, directs, shoots and edits documentaries in New York.