[music]

>> The biggest names in business and in

Hollywood all call one woman to teach

their kids to drive, Shanti. Her story

and those of her clients, including the

Murdochs, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Wall

Street bankers, are featured in the

short film Shanti rides shotgun.

>> Don't breathe yet.

You're not having a baby yet.

So, you don't need to

>> I got it right, right? Just think on it.

Yes.

>> Mom, step on the gas pedal.

>> It's one of the 20 standout documentary

shorts by Yahoo and the nonfiction

hotlist and is streaming now on

yahoo.com/nonfictionhotlist.

And our own Brooke DePaul got a ride

with Shanti. Take a look.

>> So,

what did your kids think when you

started this school? Did they think you

were like crazy for doing this?

>> Yeah, I was crazy, but I made it though.

>> You made it.

>> Yeah, I did. I did.

>> And not only made it, but now you're one

of the most sought-after driving

instructors there is.

>> Yes.

>> In New York City.

>> Yep.

>> All right. Well, I got to go around this

person. [laughter] It's going to be a

second.

>> Go left.

Brooke, you're funny.

>> Oh my god. I swear I drive. I I really I

don't know.

>> So, how much is a typical driving

lesson?

Do you Do you charge by the client? Are

we talking like I hear we're in the

thousands of dollars. I'm going to have

a little bit of trouble with you.

>> I You know what? Um

I was teaching this guy named Dash

Wasserstein.

And he's like, "Shanti, in your kind of

business, you could charge whatever you

want." And he's right.

People will pay to come and sit

>> So, how much Do how like What do you

negotiate?

>> No.

Like, I have a lady Shut up.

Left turn.

I have a lady that's trying to negotiate

prices. And you know what I told her? I

don't bargain.

>> So, you give them the price and that's

it. Take it or leave it.

>> Yeah, there you go. And she took it.

She called me back.

>> How much would I have to pay, Shanti?

>> Um

>> [laughter]

>> I The lessons? Make a left, all right?

Yeah. The lessons, um I charge anywhere

from $100 to 150 dollars.

>> Per an hour?

>> Yes.

>> Wow. So, you're typically in the car

with the student though for how many

hours? Two?

>> Each lesson is two hours. Look, I have

this girl that I'm teaching right now.

>> Shanti, so you're bringing in like a

thousand dollars a day.

>> Yeah, or more.

Look, I have this girl I'm teaching

right now. Her Her name is Emily.

And

Emily Emily Emily's very young.

Emily, you see her?

>> So, you're doing a lesson two hours

every day, five days a week.

>> Yeah, look she's all over my book. Emily

Emily.

>> Do her parents think she's like the

worst driver in America?

>> She knows she's hard to teach.

>> [laughter]

>> Cut that. Cut that.

>> When they're in this car with them, it's

like we're best friends.

>> Yeah. No, I I I genuinely feel like I

have a friendship with you already.

>> Yeah, yeah, and then

>> And we just met.

>> What time do you start in the morning?

What's your first thing? Like tomorrow

morning?

>> Tomorrow morning, what's your schedule?

You leave your home at 5:30.

>> Yes. Where's home? In the Bronx.

>> Okay. First lesson, what time?

>> I got to pick them up at 6:30.

>> 6:30 a.m.

>> And then I got to take them for their

driving test.

>> How long Oh, you take them for their

driving test tomorrow?

>> driving test.

>> So, what is that? Like how many people's

driving tests have you taken today?

>> Like today I did one.

>> Did they pass?

>> Of course.

>> Of course.

You've a 99%

pass rate?

>> Yeah, you could even Even the DMV will

tell you about me. It's like when I go

to that test site, I get so much

respect.

They're like, "Shanti, what's up?"

>> Okay, so how do they find you, Shanti?

>> They just find me.

>> Word of mouth?

>> Yep, and I don't go on Yelp to advertise

me. I don't do none of that.

>> No.

>> They just find me.

>> So, do you get a call from random

numbers all the time?

>> time.

>> And do you always have your phone on

high to answer these calls?

>> All the time. All the time.

>> Okay. How do you find talent that's like

you, Shanti?

>> You know what?

You

I don't know how this happened to me but

I am so famous. It's unbelievable.

>> Okay, so how would that do match an

instructor with someone who is as famous

as you or someone who could be

the next Shaunda?

>> No, there is no next Shaunda. You

You can't compete with me.

>> You can't.

>> No, you cannot.

>> So how do you find other drivers if

nobody can compete with you?

>> they're not they don't teach like me.

Like

>> What made you start Empire State Driving

School?

>> I used to work for all these different

driving schools and it's like every

school I worked at they would fire me.

>> Not because you didn't pass but just

because

>> Because I was doing my own thing. I was

getting People were calling me

and when you work for a school they

don't want you to work privately. They

want you

to give them the client so they could be

making money off you.

>> owner

>> went to the road test line and he saw me

and he says

calls you over he goes

What does Shaunda have in that car? Did

she have a driver?

>> It's open.

Oh, sorry, guys.

>> And then he fired me and then I decided

to go

and open my own school.