“Test Drive” by Mitchell Lazar
Beyond the Short Official Premiere
Jack Hayes a car dealership owner takes Montana, a prospective client, on a peculiar test drive, which inadvertently intertwines their fates together.
ARTISTIC STATEMENT
“Test Drive is a proof-of-concept for the TV series Dukes of Kingston, serving as a distilled glimpse into the themes and tone of the larger story. At its core, the story explores the collision of two men from different walks of life-Jack, a reformed criminal trying to live a legitimate life, and Montana, a quick-witted career thief. Their interaction is a tightly-wound battle of wits, reflecting the series' focus on how the past inexorably pulls you back, no matter how far you think you've escaped.
The short's dark, atmospheric style and sharp dialogue highlight the duality of Jack's life-a polished businessman versus the violent underworld he's tethered to. It invites the audience to question morality, loyalty, and survival under pressure. Jack's resourcefulness contrasts with Montana's charm, creating a simmering tension that foreshadows their complex relationship.
In crafting Test Drive, we aimed to explore the cost of change and the complexity of identity, two key elements that will ripple through the series. The short film provides a glimpse into Jack's internal struggle-his determination to protect his family while reckoning with a past that refuses to stay buried. Montana, with his smooth charm and cunning, is both a foil and a mirror to Jack's former self, further drawing Jack back into a life he desperately wants to leave behind.
The film sets the stage for a suspenseful narrative, filled with moral ambiguity and nuanced character dynamics, driving home the deeper exploration of human resilience wrapped in a gripping crime drama.”
-Mitchell Lazar
CREDITS
Directed by Mitchell Lazar
Written by Sam Downey
Produced by Dawn Green p.g.a, Mitchell Lazar, Sam Downey
Executive Producer// Andrea Kalmar
Cinematographer// Petr Cikhart AČK
Production Designer// Rick Butler
Editor// Ben White
Music by Jacob Tardien
Associate Producer// Petr Cikhart
Costume Designer// Sylvia Grieser
Casting by Vanessa Hardy
STARRING
Jack// Stephen Cofield, Jr.
Montana// Ramon Nuńez
Ashley// Caroline Mixon
Detective Mike// Noah Plomgren
Sergeant Allison// Allison Kari
Unit Production Manager// Seth Tallman
1st Assistant Director// Bryan Allen
Stunt Coordinator// Manny Siverio
Script Supervisor// Katri Billard
Set Decorator// Lily Guerin
Prop Master// Christine Morris
Graphic Designer// Leo Holder, Natalia Rozengard
Art Production Assistant// Alex Martone
Steadicam Operator// Keith Greenwood
Steadicam Assistant// Maxwell Greenwood
1st Assistant Camera// Kyle Gorjanc
2nd Assistant Camera// Miguel Zamora
Media Manager// Midnight Piper Forman
Dresser// Adriana Gramly
Wardrobe Assistant// Allison Brudretta
Hair and Makeup Artist// Erica Pearce
Sound Mixer// Robyn Huey
Key Grip// Keith Steinberg
Best Boy Grip// Nuno Oliveira
Grip// Evan Childs
Gaffer// Justin Newhouse
Best Boy Electric// Carolina Acero, Jacob Beil
Electric// Wesley Carrier
Craft Services// Missy Weeks
Production Assistant// Zsolt Haym Konya, Loree Lee
Colourist// Oliver Eid
Re-recording Mixer// Jared Horowitz
Visual Effects Artist// Ben White
Casting Support Services// Breakdown Services
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