Drivers To Provide Soundtracks For Films In Taxis

The Age

Tuesday February 28, 2006

By CRAIG MATHIESON

MELBOURNE'S taxi drivers may act as if they've seen everything, but that's about to be put to the test by a film festival that's turning cabs into mobile cinemas.

Beginning tomorrow, the Flagfall Film Festival introduces passengers to 16 short films over the next five weeks.

The films will be shown on interactive screens in the rear of the passenger seat headrests in 50 Melbourne cabs. TouchTaxi, installed the screens in 2004 but until now has shown only news, sport, weather and ads.

Flagfall festival director Michael Agar said: 'Hopefully we've got films that will appeal to businessmen on their way to the airport or someone going home at 3am."

Mr Agar's company, Popcorn Taxi, was approached by TouchTaxi a year ago with the idea of creating new content and also helping local short filmmakers. With the only stipulations being a PG rating and a running time of less than three minutes, 86 entries were received by the organisers, who narrowed them down to the final 16.

"I think these short films will be great for helping while away the hours as people make their way home," says Damien Pittorino, a Malvern East cab driver whose vehicle has a screen.

The system has proven to be popular with drivers and customers. "It's pretty good on a Saturday night because it can keep the drunks occupied," said Don Pyke, a fellow cab driver, from Hawthorn.

And is there silence during films? "We'll talk to the passengers anyway," he said. "You know what cabbies are like - we can talk under water."