In a world dominated by Uber drivers, there’s nothing like getting a classic London black taxi with a cabbie who’s mastered The Knowledge.
Now an independent film called CABBIE, focused on London’s black cab trade, is set to start shooting this September.
But first, the film’s producers are seeking to raise £25,000 via crowdfunding within the next 20 days to create an eight-minute sizzle reel pilot for investors at the Cannes Film Festival in May.
An announcement read: “The film is being developed by Foligno and filmmaker Kat Magrowitz, who are pitching it as a British action heist comedy rooted in the culture, heritage and pressures facing London’s taxi trade. The story is set within the capital’s cab community and draws from the world of The Knowledge, the demanding training process required to become a licensed London taxi driver.”
It continued: “Producer Mark Foligno, who has more than 70 film and television credits, said the script stood out because of its London setting and connection to the capital’s cab trade. He said: ‘When Kat brought the Cabbie script to me I was immediately hooked, an action heist comedy set among London’s cab community – commercial and fun and supporting a good cause, what’s not to love? I’m a Londoner – black cabs are part of the fabric. Plus, the current world we live in, we need comedy. Lots of it.’
“The filmmakers say members of the cab trade have helped shape parts of the script, particularly around the portrayal of Knowledge students, often referred to within the trade as Knowledge boys and girls. That involvement may help the production strike a more authentic tone at a time when the image, history and future of the black cab remain part of a wider discussion across the industry.”
CABBIE’s plot synopsis reads: “At the centre of the story is Ed, a working-class London character whose father’s garage collapsed after ride-hailing firms entered the market. Unable to secure the finance needed to rebuild the business, he turns to more unorthodox means to recover what his family lost. That premise places the film within a recognisable debate for many in the trade, where traditional operators and drivers continue to face structural pressure from app-based competition and changing consumer habits.”
To find out more and support CABBIE the movie, click here.
