We speak to the writer and star of the new car-bound horror movie.
Writer and actress Casey Dillard pitched her latest script to financiers and distribs as “Hocus Pocus meets Fallen meets Collateral with a dash of odd-couple buddy-cop”. No wonder Driven (on US DVD/Digital in June) got not only made, but picked up!
Emerson Graham's nights as a cab driver are filled with annoyances and inconveniences, but until tonight, never attacks and disappearances. After picking up a mysterious passenger her evening goes from working a job to performing a quest as they must race against the clock to stop demons from invading the world.
Firstly, how are you coping during the pandemic?
Poorly! But for no real reason. I’m in a very easy situation, just going a little stir crazy.
We’re excited to learn more about Driven. Tell us what inspired this very cool script?
Thanks! It was a concept that my production partner (or “artner”, as I call him) Glenn (Payne) pitched: a movie that could take place entirely in a car. I just worked around that. When the car is going to be your set you need to justify it physically and thematically.
How would you classify it?
A two-hander comedy-thriller with heart.
Which films or filmmakers would you say inspired the screenplay?
My elevator pitch was Hocus Pocus meets Fallen meets Collateral with a dash of odd-couple buddy-cop. But it’s less inspired by those and more that those are the reference points I use.
Is anything in it based on real events?
The Turd Spoon may or may not be. Also the person who is so drunk that they are incoherent and you don’t know where to drop them off. And I really did hit Richard (Speight Jr) in the face once.
Did you always intend on starring in the film yourself?
I always hoped to, but was definitely open to holding auditions. I think Glenn was more against that than I was. Then for various reasons our filming schedule was moved up considerably and we basically ran out of time.
Driven is premiering On Demand in June in the US. Do you believe there are more opportunities out there for filmmakers now with all these streaming platforms and video channels?
Absolutely. And they should take them. Your movie won’t be for everybody but it will definitely be for somebody.
"I did a lot of driving in the movie. I got to do some fun stuff on the open roads in that car."— The Movie Waffler (@themoviewaffler) May 23, 2020
Read our interview with FAST AND FIERCE: DEATH RACE star Michael DeVorzonhttps://t.co/PKfDpFy8Mi pic.twitter.com/PPoRiPILb1