Fraser Jones combines comedy, drama, documentary, and narrative to bring a unique perspective from the most unlikely of subjects — Uber drivers. Set in the beautiful city of Nashville, Tennessee, Your Ride is Here, showcases the myriad of experiences that bleed together on a daily basis and join together to form the rich tapestry of life. You can read more about the Atlanta filmmaker below.
What is your connection to the South?
I was born and raised in Atlanta, where a big ole’ chunk of my heart will always remain. I also decided to return to the South, specifically Nashville, to shoot the entirety of this film.
Where did you get your inspiration for this work?
This film is loosely based on the life events of my close friend and collaborator Michael Harris. As he told me his hilarious and heartbreaking experiences as an Uber driver in Nashville, I knew I desperately wanted to make a film that could re-tell these scenarios and create new ones with a docu-narrative, fully-improvised approach.
How did you start making films?
As a kid, I was always playing with my family’s VHS camcorder and tried my best to make a “short film” with it when I was five, an unwatchable comedic thriller entitled “Kill Phil.” This passion for strange visual storytelling naturally led to theater and screenwriting and eventually a life dedicated to filmmaking.
Did anything interesting or funny happen on set during the shooting?
We got pulled over by the police for a busted taillight in our picture vehicle. Three times, in fact. But the cops were nice enough to let us go and allowed us to keep filming even as they questioned us, which ended up becoming a scene in the film.
What do you look forward to the most during Indie Grits?
I’m super excited to meet and relate to a large group of independent artists with a connection to the south. Let’s hang, folks!
Why should someone see your film?
Chances are you’ve probably ridden in an Uber, or at least a taxi, and have some strange story to tell about your experience in one. So why not see a relatable film about the lives of the drivers and passengers and have a laugh along the way?