UBER, 4min., USA
Directed by Emmett William Whitaker
An Uber driver gets lost in the industrial haze of his job, where he picks people up, drops people off, and does it all over again...like a machine.

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

College!! In lieu of submitting a film application, I wanted something fresh that I felt encapsulated my interests as a filmmaker and would add to my portfolio. That's when Uber was born.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?

From start to finish, Uber took around two months. I spent a lot of time on the script, as I really wanted complexity to shown in the driver. I wanted him to be shy but emotive, pitied but respected, and passionate yet lost. After the script, I went in depth on the shortlist. Without dialogue, Uber is the definition of visual media, I knew how much of a battle that would be, and wanted to have every frame kept in mind.

3. How would you describe your film in two words!?

Reflectively optimistic

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?

The biggest obstacle in Uber without a doubt was simulating a moving car on a $40 budget. With the crew I had, we spent a lot of time trying to fabricate mobility that was obviously impossible for us to achieve. We taped flashlights to a book and had a person move them behind a car to simulate a car driving behind, and we had a soft box lighting his profile with a person moving a light reflector over it as if he was passing streetlights. This made editing challenging too, as shots often had changing light and consistency was tricky.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?

I felt like they got it — that made me proud. I spent my eighteenth birthday shooting this movie and poured a lot of time into it. I'm super happy they understood the complexities of Uber.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?

When I was seven. When I took my Playmobils and my mom's iPhone and made stop motion films in iMovie hehe.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?

Airplane, god I love Airplane. I do not intend to go into that field of filmmaking at all, but man is it funny.

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?

You guys killed it, I feel like I'm a royal with the treatment I'm getting for $55, seriously thank you.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?

It's so easy, love it.

10. What is your favorite meal?

A very good sandwich.

11. What is next for you? A new film?

Right now, I'm working on a fan-made version of the television show Survivor and having a lot of fun with it!