Arya Worldwide has wrapped production on what they are calling a “Special Short Feature”, The Driver, inspired by real life events. The film addresses the volatile subject of immigration in the US in a unique story that is both comical and poignant.
The film was announced at The European Film Market by Arya founder and industry veteran Greg H. Sims, and Arya finance and business affairs partner Nick Mayberry. “We have a project we believe will resonate not just in the US, but with audiences all over the world,” said Mayberry.
The Driver focuses on the accidental friendship that develops between 95 year old David, and 30 year old Brazilian immigrant rideshare Julio, when David loses his driver’s license, starts using ridesharing as a necessity, meets Julio on his first ride to Costco. After a crazy mix-up, David finds himself as the driver, not the passenger on a wild ride through a wild ride in LA in his vintage ’57 Chevy Bel Air.
Arthur Roberts (General Hospital) plays David opposite new Brazilian actor Lio River as Julio, in his first lead role. De’Voreaux Sefas White (Die Hard) joins the cast along with Heather Medway (Viper), Eddie Bowz (Eye of the Hurricane), Benjamin David Thomas Shepherd (Fake It Till You Love Me), and Denise Faye (Chicago), also known as a choreographer for films including Burlesque and We’re The Millers.
Sims is known for launching world class talent in his indie projects, going back to his cult classics Red Surf, which featured the first above the title lead role for George Clooney, alongside Gene Simmons and Dedee Pfeiffer, and The Fear, also considered a horror classic, and featuring Wes Craven in his only acting role outside of his own films.
“The Driver has enormous universal appeal as virtually every family understands the stress when a parent or grandparent refuses to voluntarily stop driving, and is forced to lose their license. We plan to break current convention by showing this film ahead of certain features in independent cinemas, where we can control that, along with positioning the film as a high end entrant in the festival circuit,” said Sims.
Sims is Executive Producer, with Zaina Tibi producing, and Ben Holland as co-producer. Trevvor Riley wrote and directed, from a story by Sims and Riley.
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