By MICHAEL GINGOLD
Working in a gig economy can be a nightmare in this maverick Canadian production.
Filmmaker Michael Pierro gave us the first look at the trailer for his debut feature SELF DRIVER, a mix of psychological suspense and pitch-black comedy that has its world premiere Thursday, April 18 at Brazil’s Fantaspoa festival. Written, directed, shot and edited by Pierro, it was made with a skeleton crew of just four people on a budget under $10,000 Canadian, filmed guerrilla-style on the late-hour streets of Toronto over 14 nights. Nathanael Chadwick, Lauren Welchner, Christian Aldo, Reece Presley (IN A VIOLENT NATURE) and Catt Filippov star; the synopsis: “A down-on-his-luck cab driver is lured onto a mysterious new app that promises fast, easy money. As his first night on the job unfolds, he is pulled ever deeper into the dark underbelly of society, embarking on a journey that will test his moral code and shake his understanding of what it means to have free will. The question becomes not how much money he can make, but what he’ll be compelled to do to make it. If you’ve got nothing to lose, how far would you go?”
Mongrel Media has SELF DRIVER for Canadian release later in 2024, and the filmmakers are currently seeking international partners for further distribution.
