Rearview Mirror
A Middle Eastern rideshare driver learns about the 'American Way' from his passengers.
-
Ruowei WangDirector/Writer
-
Shan ZhouProducer
-
Troy ChiuDirector of Cinematography
-
Dennis LarkinCasting Director
-
Ruowei WangEditor
-
Faran ShakerKey Cast"Ibraham"
-
Ben CableSupporting CastWills
-
Brad BanackaSupporting CastJefferson
-
Edward SchaackSupporting CastSmith
-
Elisa LaurentSupporting CastSilvia
-
Jennifer HeeckerenSupporting CastCookie
-
Joe O'DellSupporting CastSteven
-
Mark ValerianoSupporting CastMichael
-
Marta MorillaSupporting CastCherry
-
Melody PengSupporting CastHannah
-
Michael AlmaguerSupporting CastAndric
-
Ryan LeftonSupporting CastJoseph
-
Project Title (Original Language):后视镜
-
Project Type:Short
-
Runtime:8 minutes 38 seconds
-
Completion Date:June 27, 2018
-
Production Budget:35,000 USD
-
Country of Origin:United States
-
Country of Filming:United States
-
Language:English
-
Shooting Format:Alexa Mini
-
Aspect Ratio:2.35:1
-
Film Color:Color
-
First-time Filmmaker:No
-
Student Project:No
-
IndieFEST Film AwardsSan Diego
United States
August 8, 2018
Winner Award of Recognition -
New York Los Angeles International Film FestivalHollywood
United States
October 21, 2018
Official Selection -
CITYFLIX International Film FestivalToronto
Canada
November 30, 2018
Official Selection -
Hollywood Reel Independent Film FestivalLos Angeles
United States
February 12, 2019
Official Selection
Ruowei Wang is the member of “the Global Outstanding Chinese Artist Association” (GOCAA). He was born in China, Urumqi. He is a Chinese independent filmmaker based in Los Angeles. He made his first short film ”A Story of Xiamen” and short documentory ”Street Dance Storm”
in China. Since he had great interest and passion in film, in 2013, he came to Los Angeles to begin his filmmaking journey. During these years, he has honor to meet with some experienced Hollywood filmmakers and studies with them. With the help and the impact of his instructors, David A. Armstrong, Saga Elmotaseb, Sharri Helfner, Kimberly Ogletree and Jeff Lengyel, he has the comprehensive knowledge about the Independent filmmaking systems and the Hollywood commercial film production systems. Meanwhile, he had the great opportunities to practice indifferent film locations, film studios, sound stages and the Universal Studio backlot. He’s also completed his three short films, “A Journey”, “The Destiny” and “Silent Cello”, and worked with Bai Ling in the reality show “BaiLing Show” as the executive producer and the photographer. At the meantime, he wrote screenplays in feature films, short films, and web shows. He also completed his independent short film “Rearview Mirror” in 2018, and worked in the theatrical feature film “Goodbye To the Class Flower” as 1st Assistant of Director in this year. Recently, he’s really to make preparations for the feature films, which will be the Sino-American co-production theatrical films.
Have you ever sat in your car while driving or sitting in traffic & found yourself in the midst of a daydream? Your mind starts to wander and the view on your rearview mirror transforms into a movie screen.
Sorry, I'm a little bit distracted.
This is the inspiration for our movie. The creators use the view of a RIDE-SHARING driver's rearview mirror to tell some stories that he encountered during his nightshift. Perhaps, as a protagonist, the background of our RIDE-SHARING driver is a little bit unusual, but most of the stories of the passengers he encounters are pretty standard to the experiences of most Ride-sharing drivers. Our intention is to use the scenes from the rearview mirror to show a microcosm of our society and its challenges. The actor portraying the protagonist of our film, Faran is definitely a very good actor. We are very happy with the range of emotions that he is able to express with his facial reactions in the film. His performance emits the love he has for his family and that compassion shows us a real RIDE-SHARING driver who everyone can relate to regardless of their profession. Through the entire film, his interactions with the other actors and actress who portrays the passengers is definitely a realistic view into the world of drivers and passengers in our society today.
In the film, the creator’s sole purpose was not to simply focus on the daily work interactions of an RIDE-SHARING driver. They also wanted to touch upon the social issues of our day such as the relationship and interactions between people in various sectors of society. Furthermore, social issues are addressed including immigration, abortion and gun control. While the film refrains from explicitly supporting a particular point of view, these social issues serve as the theme and cohesive structure of the entire film. The creators want to stir debate
and conversation on these topics in an effort to find a solution through discussion and education rather than violence and divisiveness. The end goal is to provide a safe and stable atmosphere for everyone living in United States as envisioned by the signers of the Declaration of Independence and provide us all with the right to pursue happiness.
This is a story written for the RIDE-SHARING drivers and passengers, and we hope more and more RIDE-SHARING drivers and passengers try to understand each other through our stories. Our hope is that the drivers and passengers view each other as people instead of faceless transactions to get to their daily destinations. Every character possesses different
stories and has their own familial issues. Furthermore, they also represent the people who live in this country who all have the right to pursue happiness regardless if they are American citizens or immigrants. This is what the founder of this country intended as written in the Declaration of Independence.
The main character, an ordinary RIDE-SHARING driver, is about to complete his American dream and is about to become a naturalized citizen. He is studying for his citizenship test as he embarks on a routine night as an Ride-sharing driver. This story takes place on the day of the U.S. presidential election and he is about to have an unforgettable day. We follow the driver through a series of encounters during his shift until which ultimately ends with confrontation with a gun-totting criminal passenger. The driver will be forced to do whatever it takes in order to see his family and son again. In the end, we want to leave you with a sense of hope for the future as we all have a common desire that everything will be better.