In 2016, Ben Phillips released the e-book of his blog, Diary of an Uber Driver, “a snapshot of our unerring propensity to share, and overshare, from the safe anonymity of the back seat.” The book was a hit, for reasons that must be obvious. Just in case they’re not, here’s the last word of the book’s synopsis: “These are your stories – whether you remember telling them or not.”
Phillips became an agony aunt, was hit on (frequently) and heard things people wouldn’t tell their best friend. “They get into my car and it’s like a confession box where they can ask me anything,” Phillips told the Sydney Morning Herald.
Now RevLover Films, the long form sister company to Revolver/Will O’Rourke, is turning the blog and e-book into a six-part drama series for the ABC. Production is currently underway in Sydney.
“RevLover Films was started by Steve Rogers, Michael Ritchie and myself to make the kind of shows we want to watch and we are thrilled that Diary of an Uber Driver is our first production,” explained Martha Coleman.
The series, written by Thomas Ward [Please Like Me], is being produced by Martha Coleman and Lauren Edwards at RevLover Films and made with the support of All3Media and Create NSW.
l-r: Martha Coleman & Lauren Edwards
It follows Uber driver, Ben, as he tries to work out what he should be doing in his life while helping others to get where they are going. Against the ticking clock of impending fatherhood, Ben has to decipher what being relevant looks like in a relationship that seems to think he’s surplus to requirements.
Sam Cotton [Rosehaven] plays Ben. Zahra Newman [Wentworth, Sisters] plays Beck, the mother of his unborn child. The series will also star John Bell, Caroline Brazier, Ed Oxenbould, Julian Maroun and Emily Barclay.
It will be directed by Matthew Moore [Offspring].
Production Credits:
A RevLover Films production
Presented by The Australian Broadcasting Corporation in association with all3media international Limited and Create NSW
Producers: Martha Coleman & Lauren Edwards
Executive Producers: Michael Ritchie, Steve Rogers, Will Vicars, Nina Stevenson & Greg Sitch
Director: Matthew Moore
Writer: Thomas Ward
ABC Executive Producer: Que Minh Luu
ABC Head of Drama, Comedy and Indigenous: Sally Riley
