When my friend Dominique Purdy said he was working on a movie, I was curious; but, as it turns out, not as curious as I should have been…
Driving While Black is a dark comedy based on Dominique’s own experiences. You’re probably already familiar with him through his several Boiler Room performances, whether as Koreatown Oddity or as one half of 5 Chuckles alongside Ras G.
This time, his musical endeavors take a side seat while his acting and writing skills – skills I greatly underestimated – take center stage. Beautifully written and filmed, with a score that I wish every movie had, it could just be the most important movie you’ll see this year. Here is an exclusive first viewing of the trailer:
It tackles crucial topics you unfortunately won’t find addressed in any mainstream cinema, but all the while funny enough to crack me up more than anything I’ve watched in a long time.
The character Dimitri, like Dominique in real life, delivers pizzas for a living, but as a young black man he is faced with “extra” challenges while navigating the city. The film explores the reasons why so many black men have concerns of unfair treatment, especially when driving, with a very true and real Los Angeles – not the one you generally see in movies – as its backdrop.
The film stars Dominique himself, and was written by him together with director Paul Sapiano. It screens for the first time on June 30th in Los Angeles at the El Rey theater, and will hopefully be coming to a cinema near you in the future. You can find more information at dwbmovie.com
