Chicago filmmaker Harvey Pullings II returns with a grounded, character-driven short film that captures the tension and uncertainty of everyday life.
Thank You for the Ride, Aileen, a short film written and directed by Chicago-based filmmaker Harvey Pullings II, is currently making its way through the U.S. film festival circuit. Shot and set in Chicago, the grounded crime drama follows a public school teacher who, while on strike, moonlights as a ride-share driver. One unusual day of riders shifts her routine into something far more unsettling.
The award-winning film draws inspiration from the character-driven realism of 1970s cinema. Pullings intentionally casts characters who feel like real people — shaped by spontaneous public interactions and the quiet weight of their circumstances.
Michaela Petro (Chicago Fire, Chicago P.D.) plays Aileen, a woman defined not by dramatic arcs but by quiet resilience. Her portrayal reflects the kind of everyday Chicagoan trying to get by — grounded, familiar, and deeply human.
Eric Nenninger (Malcolm in the Middle, Generation Me) plays Harrison, a jittery, overly talkative rider whose presence creates a creeping sense of unease. His character lingers in the film like a warning — the kind of person you have to engage with, even when your instincts say otherwise.
The cast also includes Tommy Martin, Rachel J. Jones, Justin Payton Nelson, Cassius Battaglia, Phil Elam, Laura Fudacz, and Kenny Smith.
Pullings, a Chicago-based film director, screenwriter, and multimedia artist, has been working independently for more than a decade. His work often explores themes of urban culture, crime, and everyday life circumstances amid larger societal forces. Earlier this year, he won the 2025 Silver Telly Award in the Culture & Lifestyle category for 3 of 77, a documentary that focuses on the historic neighborhoods and the small and influential businesses of Lakeview, Bronzeville, and Pilsen.
“I am a lover of 1970s cinema and 70s American history — and the human experience of that era is such a fascinating time,” Pullings said. “There was a considerable amount of social anxieties, change, and violence — all the while everyday life continuing on beside the larger scale events. I wanted to tell a story of a woman’s life that becomes a backseat passenger to the uncertainty of both the world and the people around her. Thank You for the Ride, Aileen is about layers of uncertainty and how we choose to navigate them.”
Thank You for the Ride, Aileen is a promising calling card for Harvey Pullings II and a reminder that some of the most compelling stories are happening right here on Chicago’s streets.
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