THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO
WRITTEN & DIRECTED BY
Oscar Ramos
Gabriel J Medina
Lilith Mo
Alex Ivany
PRODUCERS
TYPE
Feature Film
STATUS
Post-Production
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When a young couple falls hostage to a zealous ride service driver, their relationship is tested against the driver's ambitions to cleanse the city of its sins.
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Budget
Ultra Low Budget
Production Location
Central California, Bay AreaProduction Dates
10/27/23 - 11/05/23
Production Days
8 - 10 days
THE STORY.
Abraham, driven by a divine calling, is a man on a chilling mission. He possesses an eerie gift: the ability to hear a divine voice when nobody else can. As a driver by night, Abraham bears witness to the dark decay of human morality, encountering one passenger after another. Just like the fabled cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, he senses the impending arrival of God’s wrath upon this wicked city.
Convinced that he has been chosen to ignite the inferno of divine justice, Abraham inches closer to fulfilling his twisted purpose with each new passenger. After enduring a relentless night of debauchery and decadence within the confines of his vehicle, Abraham reaches his breaking point. He traps Lucas and Tori, a young couple, in his car, subjecting them to a harrowing ride where their very salvation or damnation lies solely in Abraham’s hands.
Set entirely within the claustrophobic confines of a car, this relentless and nerve-wracking film unfolds over a suspenseful hour and a half. It delves deep into the horrifying realm that emerges when one finds themselves trapped in close quarters with a person willing to kill.
CHARACTERS.
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A pious man, Abraham’s devotion to his faith is what motivates his sadistic journey toward purging the city of its sins. In his eyes, making the unjust atone for their sins by any means necessary is justified when he believes that his actions are dictated by God himself.
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A bit of a hot head, Lucas acts first and thinks second, making him a highly volatile and dangerous individual in the eyes of Abraham. Over the course of the ride, however, Luca’s layers begin to give way to a much more flawed but sympathetic human.
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Tori does not play the damsel in distress, but instead is independent and strong enough to hold her own, in both her relationship, as well as when face to face with a deranged individual like Abraham. Empathetic but strong-willed, Tori serves to be the one who ultimately plays the biggest part in the couple’s survival.
DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT.
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Oscar Ramos, a first-generation Mexican-American film Director, holds an MFA in Film and TV production from USC. Raised as the eldest son of two undocumented immigrants, Oscar is deeply committed to telling empowering stories that uplift and advance underrepresented Latiné communities. With a penchant for the dark aesthetic, Oscar possesses exceptional expertise in the horror and dark fantasy genres.
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Having grown up in a hyper-religious environment, I have had first-hand experiences witnessing people embracing religion to the point of fanaticism. While I’m grateful that I never saw anyone resort to violence in the name of God, I cannot overlook the equally dangerous and prevalent issue of emotional terrorism within such communities. In the religious upbringing I had, it was often a stark division of being either with God or against Him. This black-and-white mentality exposed me to the power of fear-based emotional manipulation, which could effectively hold individuals hostage within these belief systems.
These personal experiences have deeply influenced the creation of this film. I aim to evoke fear through the world’s most terrifying ride, but beyond that, I want to shed light on the peril of being so deeply blinded by one’s beliefs that it becomes harmful not only to oneself but also to those around them.
Through this film, I hope to resonate with audiences who might have faced similar challenges in their lives, to reflect on the complexities of belief systems, and ultimately to foster empathy and understanding. It is my desire to explore the psychological journey of characters who grapple with the weight of their convictions, and in doing so, create a compelling and relatable narrative.
THE CAST.
THE TEAM .
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Gabriel J. Medina is a distinguished Mexican-American writer, director, and producer acclaimed for his compelling documentary “Painter of Dreams,” an Official Selection at NALIP. He has also impressed audiences with his captivating narrative short films “Disposable” and “Eternidad.” A graduate of the prestigious Peter Stark Producing program at USC, Gabriel brings a wealth of talent and expertise to his craft.
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Lilith Mo is a highly accomplished professional with an MFA in Film and TV production from USC. Her impressive portfolio includes notable productions such as the USC thesis film “Odd/Even” and the short film “Seraphim” (2023), directed by Oscar. With her strong background and experience in the industry, Lilith brings valuable expertise and a keen eye for quality filmmaking to our team.
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Alex Ivany is an editor with a diverse portfolio of credits, including Academy Award nominated and Peabody winning Netflix documentary 13th (directed by Ava DuVernay). Ivany has found growth and healing in his work, which has predominantly been focused on topics of racial justice & social issues. He has worked as an editor for the award winning television series Queen Sugar, which centers on the lives of a Black-American family in rural Louisiana. Ivany was featured in Cine Montage magazine (The Editor's Guild official magazine) for his work on the show.
In addition to Queen Sugar, Ivany has worked on several projects produced by award-winning filmmaker Ava DuVernay including the anthology series Cherish the Day, as well as Beyonce's "Family Feud" music video featuring Jay-Z, and a short film for the Smithsonian Museum titled August 28th: A Day in the Life of a People (starring Don Cheadle, Regina King, Angela Bassett). Ivany is a member of the Editor's Guild and the Emmy's Television Academy.
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Devon Johns is a cinematographer whose portfolio encompasses a wide variety of genres, styles and tones, including historical biopic, science fiction, dark comedy, crime thriller, family drama, romance, noir, supernatural horror and literary adaptation. Devon is passionate about pushing his creative boundaries to tackle different visual approaches and is especially looking to work alongside directors with distinct voices and unique points of view. Devon graduated from USC’s School of Cinematic Arts with an MFA degree in film production. He has worked on over 30 short films and just recently finished shooting his first feature.
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