A ride-sharing driver picks up a customer who is on his way to court to hear a verdict on allegations of corporate theft. Only through discussion of struggle and the pursuit of happiness does the passenger leave a changed man…
Director’s Statement
Confessional is the result of pondering the kind of interactions people can have with complete strangers in intimate environments.
I shot the first iteration in 2008 on a $750 budget during my time in film school. Set in a taxicab, it laid the creative groundwork thematically and tonally, but I felt the story needed revisiting, and 2019 couldn’t be a better time, not only with the invention of ride-sharing apps, but as we find ourselves in an age of corporate exposure and accountability.
My primary focus was on character, the heart and soul of the story. It was critical that we create real people with relatable struggles and desires. Actors Lindsay Owen-Pierre, Peter Nelson and I concentrated on identifying motivators and emotional climaxes and how to bridge between dialogue-dense moments with a lack thereof.
My secondary focus was conveying a convincing passage of time. The inevitability of the final destination – represented by the changing colour of green residential roads to gray concrete – not only needed presence, but needed to represent a sense of urgency for The Passenger. Once his door closes, it was important for the camera to stay inside the car – trapped with the characters – for the rest of the film. We avoided use of cutaways, shot without the any use of green screen and doubled-down on the script and the actors’ performances for them to best connect with the changing environment.
I believe the result is something genuinely engaging.
Thank you to the wonderful cast and crew for the care and support they’ve put into this film. It could not have been made without their enthusiasm and dedication.
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