Chicago artist Tony Fitzpatrick’s memory lives on in final film role, directed by his children
Tony Fitzpatrick only appears in “Driven” for a brief time, but he approached his kids’ short film as if it were a big-budget production.
He was serious and focused, running his lines until the last minute. And he took the time to shake hands with everyone on set, praising their efforts.
It would be the final role for the beloved Chicago visual artist, actor, writer and gallerist, who died at 66 from a heart attack last October – just several months after filming. Though Fitzpatrick was mostly known for his whimsical mixed-media collages, drawings and paintings, he also appeared in high-profile films, including “Philadelphia,” “Chi-Raq” and “Primal Fear.”
“He couldn’t stop telling us how proud he was of us,” said his daughter, Gabrielle Fitzpatrick, 31, who wrote and directed “Driven” with her brother, Max Fitzpatrick, 34. Both appear in the film.
“We would have loved to continue directing him [in other films], but it’s really beautiful in the sense that it felt like him passing his gifts on to us.”
Tony Fitzpatrick’s children, Gabrielle and Max Fitzpatrick, said they have loved film since they were kids attempting to remake “Reservoir Dogs” and “The Godfather” on a camcorder.
Candace Dane Chambers/Sun-Times
The 12-minute film will premiere at the Chicago Underground Film Festival in three sold-out showings at Harper Theater in Hyde Park on Sept. 24 and Sept. 26-27. It follows a Chicago rideshare driver, portrayed by Max, as he picks up customers, grapples with heartbreak and rejection, and listens to increasingly harmful rhetoric from a self-help podcaster.
It is the first film that the siblings and up-and-coming filmmakers have directed together. They shot in Chicago with a mostly local cast and crew, including executive producer Paolo Lopez, producer and co-writer Caleb Sanabria, assistant director Louie Morco and director of photography Nick Emmanuele.
Inspired by some of Max’s experiences, the film demonstrates how influencers can take advantage of people who already feel isolated, pushing them further away from others.
“Driven” has moments that may remind viewers of the male loneliness epidemic or the “manosphere,” an online community of influencers promoting misogynistic views. But Max and Gabrielle said the film’s message applies to everyone.
Max Fitzpatrick co-directs and stars in “Driven,” which he describes as a “love letter” to his father, Tony Fitzpatrick.
“It’s not just young males,” said Max, of Bucktown, who has a film degree from Columbia College Chicago.
“There’s a lot of toxic stuff on the internet for everybody. When you’re alone, you turn to these things on social media, and you’re getting exploited by voices telling you how to live. And in the end, it’s kind of a grand scheme for you to buy products.”
Max’s character’s social interaction is limited to brief conversations with unhelpful friends, women on dating apps and his passengers, two of whom are played by his sister and his father.
“Some of the best movies that he got to do in his career were bit parts, but very memorable,” Max said. “He showed that you can put your thumbprint on a project no matter how big or small the role.”
Before his death, Fitzpatrick was able to see a rough cut of the film, which also includes shots of Chicago landmarks. Locals will recognize the Diversity Rock ‘N’ Bowl sign, Jefferson Park murals by Ed Paschke, one of Fitzpatrick’s mentors, and the Heart O’ Chicago Motel sign, which is featured in Fitzpatrick’s work.
“This is a love letter to my dad,” Max said. “If you look at his artwork, there’s the solid subject that’s in the middle, but then there’s a whole universe surrounding the piece. That’s essentially what we were doing with this movie, just filling in the universe, so to speak.”
Gabrielle Fitzpatrick (right) appears in “Driven,” which she co-directed with her brother, Max Fitzpatrick. “Being a working artist means waking up every day and betting on yourself,” she said.
Max and Gabrielle said they have loved film since they were kids attempting to remake “Reservoir Dogs” and “The Godfather” on a camcorder. Following the film festival, they hope to land “Driven” on a streaming platform and film both a narrative feature and documentary based on their father. They also want to create a retrospective exhibition featuring his art.
“For some time, Max and I were trying to get jobs in film with mixed success,” said Gabrielle, of Ukrainian Village, who studied international relations in Italy and gained some hands-on film experience at a program in Mexico.
“I think something just broke in our brains – or maybe was fixed in our brains – and we just said, ‘No one’s going to hand us anything. We have to go out there and make something for ourselves.’ That is the ethos that we were raised with. Being a working artist means waking up every day and betting on yourself.”
“Driven,” a short film by Max and Gabrielle Fitzpatrick, will premiere at three sold-out showings during the Chicago Underground Film Festival.
Poster designed by Arturo Lopez