Palm Springs International ShortFest
June 24, 2026 – 2:00 p.m.
On the Job Program
By Valerie Milano
Palm Springs, CA (The Hollywood Times) 6/22/26 – In an era when so much of life unfolds through screens, Dropping Off uses those very screens to tell a deeply human story about grief, compassion, and unexpected connection. Co-written and co-directed by married filmmaking partners Will Mayo and Ian Scott McGregor, the short film transforms an unusual real-life incident into a moving meditation on loss, memory, and belonging. Actress and producer Rebecca Metz delivers a heartfelt performance that grounds the film’s emotional journey.
Dropping Off screens at the Palm Springs International ShortFest on June 24, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. as part of the festival’s On the Job program.
As a proud media partner of Palm Springs International ShortFest, The Hollywood Times spoke with Mayo, McGregor, and Metz about the inspiration behind the project, the challenges of its innovative production style, and the universal themes at its core.
The spark for Dropping Off came from an unsettling yet ultimately inspiring incident near the filmmakers’ home in Beachwood Canyon. McGregor recalled monitoring neighborhood security cameras when someone unexpectedly drove up a secluded driveway and scattered ashes beneath their bedroom window. What initially felt invasive soon became something far more thought-provoking.
Rather than focusing on the mystery itself, Mayo and McGregor became fascinated by the story behind the act. Who was this person? Why did they choose that location? What emotional journey brought them there? Those questions evolved into the film’s premise: a rideshare driver confronted with a request that pushes him beyond the boundaries of his job and into a deeply personal encounter.
McGregor had long encouraged Mayo to create a film shot entirely on an iPhone, but the pair wanted a narrative reason to justify the approach. The solution came through the concept itself.
The entire film unfolds through security cameras, surveillance devices, dashcams, and mobile phone footage. Rather than simply using technology as a stylistic gimmick, the filmmakers integrated it into the storytelling, creating an immersive perspective that feels both contemporary and intimate.
The ambitious production created significant challenges during post-production. At times, twelve cameras were recording simultaneously, generating hours of continuous footage that had to be synchronized with audio and carefully assembled into a cohesive narrative.
“It was a monster of an edit,” Mayo admitted during the interview.
Click below for our exclusive interview:
For Rebecca Metz, joining the project was an easy decision. Initially drawn by her friendship with the filmmakers, she quickly discovered a script that resonated deeply with her own experiences. Having lost her father in 2024, the film’s exploration of grief carried special meaning.
“When I read it, the subject of grief and loss was very present for me,” she explained. “A lot of what the film touches on was already happening within me.”
Adding another layer of emotional significance, filming took place on the one-year anniversary of her father’s passing.
Rather than finding the experience overwhelming, Metz described it as healing.
“I was so grateful to have something creative and positive and communal to do that day,” she said.
One of the film’s most distinctive qualities is its portrayal of Los Angeles. While many productions focus on the city’s glamour or urban sprawl, Dropping Off captures a quieter side of LA, where wildlife, artists, dreamers, and longtime residents coexist in the hills above Hollywood.
At its heart, however, the film is about human connection.
The protagonist, Tom, is a newcomer to Los Angeles struggling with isolation after relocating from Kansas. Through an unexpected encounter with a grieving passenger, he discovers that meaningful connections often emerge in places we least expect.
Metz hopes audiences leave remembering that every person they encounter carries a story.
“You never know what fleeting interaction is going to take you down a wonderful road,” she said.
Mayo echoed that sentiment, describing the film as a reminder to look beyond daily anxieties and remain open to life’s mysteries.
McGregor offered perhaps the film’s most moving takeaway:
“I want people to leave the theater remembering the feeling of being loved by somebody that you’ve lost,” he said. “And how that stays with you for the rest of your life.”
With its inventive visual style, heartfelt performances, and universal themes of grief, memory, and connection, Dropping Off is poised to resonate with Palm Springs audiences.
Screening Information
Palm Springs International ShortFest
June 24, 2026 – 2:00 p.m.
On the Job Program
