Sex, drugs in an ultra-hip Detroit

April 4, 2006

BY JOHN MONAGHAN

FREE PRESS SPECIAL WRITER
'The Passenger'

Premieres at 7 tonight

Main Art Theatre, Royal Oak

Not rated; violence, language, sexual situations, drug use

1 hour, 55 minutes

$10

www.thoughtcollide.com

A series of chance meetings at a Detroit watering hole leads to sex,
drugs and intrigue in "The Passenger," a locally produced feature
premiering tonight at the Main Art Theatre in Royal Oak.

For Jon (Edward Zeimis), a young advertising executive from Ferndale,
fate is linked to what woman he picks up in a bar. Meeting Taylor
(Rachel Bergman) leads to a new account from her father and
additional pressures at work. A one-night-stand with Lydia (Maureen
Biermann) means a series of crazed phone calls and messages. Zin
(Rebecca Strayer) gets him involved in the world of heavy drugs.

By focusing on the underground art and club scene, "The Passenger"
tries to paint a different picture of the city than the one shown in
Hollywood movies like "Narc" or even "8 Mile."

"People say there is nothing to do in downtown Detroit," says
producer and downtown resident Ed Gardiner. "We wanted to show
Detroit as this underground city, with culture, music and people on
the scene."

Shot on digital video by Warren-based director Jamie Sonderman, the
movie includes scenes at several area businesses, including Hastings
Street Ballroom, Tangent Gallery, Agave restaurant, John K. King
Books and Thomas Video.

Gardiner discusses Detroit not in terms of past glories, but through
what is happening now. Other cities, even the great ones of Europe,
are mostly known for artists of the past. "The Passenger" presents
Detroit as the next wave of cutting-edge expression and is packed
with examples of local artwork and music.

The movie is one of several projects from a filmmaking collective
called Mitten Movie Productions, which plans to show locally produced
films monthly at the Main. A sci-fi TV series called "Inzero" is also
in the works.

"We see Detroit as a blank canvas," Gardiner says. "It's a city full
of cool old buildings and creative people that are willing to jump in
and work with you because they're so hungry to create, to make
something happen."

Contact freelance writer JOHN MONAGHAN at madjohn@....