What happens when the thing you love, the thing you are most passionate about, becomes all that you are? Director Shea Sizemore‘s A Chess Player aims to examine what happens when your dream consumes you, leaving only that dream.

Sizemore’s short film will span 50 years and follow Tony, a man who discovers his love for the game of Chess and builds his entire life on it, only to fall from its graces in surprising and tragic ways. Think Brooklyn Castle meets Fight Club: underground basement tournaments, cigarette smoke fills the air as bare lightbulbs hover above a shifting crowd of onlookers.

The spectators watch with excitement, shouting and making bets, passing money as two people play against the clock and themselves. Sounds pretty bad-ass, right?

Shea Sizemore needs YOUR help to make this short film a reality, however. With only 19 days remaining, Shea has raised $1,910 of his $7,500 goal on Kickstarter. But enough of me blabbering on, I’ll let Shea tell you all about it…

INCENTIVES FOR DONATING TO SHEA’S KICKSTARTER CAMPAIGN:

PAWN – $10 or more – A digital download of the completed film before it’s made public.

ROOK – $25 or more- A signed copy of the script and story boards with a credited “Special Thanks” at the end of the film (PLUS all the above)

KNIGHT – $50 or more – A special edition DVD copy of “A Chess Player” with a making of documentary and exclusive access to the making of blog that will have weekly updates, video clips, and sneak peaks throughout production (PLUS all the above)

BISHOP – $75 or more- A personalized chess piece from the movie (PLUS all of the above). (PLUS all the above)

QUEEN – $100 or more – A special edition compilation DVD of over 24 of Shea’s short films, an (un)Heralded films T-shirt and a “Director’s Circle” credit at the end of the film (PLUS all the above)

KING – $250 or more – Your name will be used as a central character in the film and audibly spoken in the movie. Your name will again be seen in the end credits associated with the actor playing your name. You’ll also get a set of chess board coasters, cut from the chess boards used in the film (PLUS all the above).

CHECK – $500 or more – You’re invited to the cast and crew premiere party (transportation is not included). You will also receive a set of hand crafted book-ends made from real 8mm cameras that will be signed by the cast and crew, and a hand painted poster of the film. (PLUS all the above).

CHECK MATE – $1000 or more – We want to talk with you about joining our team as an Executive Producer and being more involved in the creative aspects of the project. (PLUS all the above).

Invest in Shea if you like what you see, hear, or read on this page or on the film’s official website. Invest in the film if you can relate to the story or feel it could ring true for others. But above all, invest because you LOVE movies “” especially if you love independent movies and filmmakers who will march forward no matter what.

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