"A Game in the Dark at Midnight," Nellie and her sister, Jess, engage in a divination game on New Year's Eve in 1899. While Jess gives up, Nellie persists and witnesses her future husband, Alfred, proposing through the mirror. Her excitement grows as she glimpses other milestones like her wedding, first home, and first child, only to be confronted with a vision of Alfred on his deathbed.

Nellie’s world takes a dire turn as she races through the woods to fetch the local country doctor, Dr. McDonald. Despite the doctor being sick himself, Nellie convinces him to come to their aid. However upon reaching her house, the doctor's condition worsens, rendering him unable to help Alfred. Desperation sets in as Nellie rushes upstairs, only to discover her husband has stopped breathing.

Undeterred by her grim reality, Nellie resolves to seek the guidance of a local healer on the other side of the mountain. When she gets lost in the dark woods, Nellie accepts the inevitability of her situation. However, a realization dawns on her- the entire experience has been part of the divination game she's playing in 1899.

Finishing the game, Nellie dismisses her haunting visions as a bad dream, hoping they won’t come true. "A Game in the Dark at Midnight" intricately weaves between the mystical and the harsh truths of life, presenting a poignant exploration of sacrifice, love, and the unpredictable twists that fate can impose, leaving a lasting impact on viewers.

A GAME IN THE DARK AT MIDNIGHT will employ a mesmerizing blend of camera techniques to accentuate its magic realism and provide a visual feast for audiences. Atmospheric tracking shots and seamless transitions between time periods will guide viewers through the tumultuous experiences of the main character, Nellie.

Drawing inspiration from the cinematography of period piece films such as CRIMSON PEAK (2015, Dir. Guillermo Del Toro) and ORLANDO (1992, Dir. Sally Potter), the visual style will immerse the audience in the rich historical setting of the 1890s. Dream-like cinematic techniques reminiscent of ORPHÉE (1950, Dir. Jean Cocteau) will further enhance the narrative, blurring the boundaries between reality and the mystical.

True to our Appalachian Chekhov Trilogy, each frame of A GAME IN THE DARK AT MIDNIGHT will be infused with a distinct Southern Gothic aesthetic. The cinematography will capture Nellie’s thrilling journey, traversing rugged moonlit mountain landscapes, effectively portraying her inner turmoil visually. This approach will create a stunning and thematically rich cinematic film and allow our audiences to experience this story through an all-new lens.

A GAME IN THE DARK AT MIDNIGHT breathes new life into Anton Chekhov's tale, "The Looking Glass," giving it a contemporary sensibility that seamlessly bridges the gap between classic and modern storytelling in this thrilling adaptation. Exploring themes of love, fate, and personal choices, the film promises a culturally rich perspective brought to life through dynamic visuals and a gripping narrative. Meticulously crafted to keep audiences on the edge of their seats, the adaptation provides an exciting and captivating lens through which to view Chekhov, inviting audiences to reexamine and appreciate classic literature in a way that feels both timely and transformative.

Seed & Spark requires that we raise at least 80% of our goal for the project to be funded.

We must reach this goal in 30 days

or we won't receive a single penny!

To round up the finest folks to collaborate with and capture the breathtaking Appalachian views we need for our film, we're aiming to raise a total of $6,000 for A GAME IN THE DARK AT MIDNIGHT. 

The majority of the budget will cover production expenses like location permits, equipment rental, and keeping our cast and crew fed and happy. Additionally, a portion of the budget will go towards outfitting our amazing cast in gorgeous time period costumes. Your support means the world to a small indie short film like ours – it's the backbone of our mission to bring classic literature to audiences far and wide in a way that feels just like sitting on a front porch and sharing stories.

My name is Alex Richard Thomas and I am a director who focuses on films that reexamine the past with a Southern slant. I recently completed two films based on the works of Anton Chekhov,  beginning with my thesis film in the MFA program at the University of Georgia. Both films are now doing the festival circuit, having achieved stellar reviews from Chekhov experts across the United States.

My goal in directing this piece is to showcase Chekhov in a different light and offer a fresh perspective on his illustrious legacy. Having tackled his weighty ideas and realistic characters, this new thriller will showcase Chekhov’s capacity to captivate an audience with twists and turns. Amidst the excitement, the essence of Chekhov's brilliant writing will remain a guiding force, ensuring that the characters and situations portrayed on screen resonate with the authenticity that defines his work. I want to craft an electrifying cinematic experience that both keeps viewers on the edge of their seats and explores the rich tapestry of human experience as only Chekhov can conjure.

During my academic studies of Chekhov's narratives, I found his timely themes remarkably resonant with my experiences in the American South. By situating the film in the Blue Ridge Mountains, which I grew up near, I want to draw comparisons between 1890s Russia and the American South in the 1890s, both of which were dealing with the complex issues of rural life in the midst of industrialization. The rich historical and cultural tapestry of Appalachia, will serve as a distinctive and evocative backdrop for this project, allowing us to explore the themes of love, loss, regret and fate in a new and exciting way, and to examine how these forces shape the lives of the characters in the film. Together, we have the opportunity to craft a powerful and moving piece that will linger in the minds of audiences long after the credits roll.

As we launch our crowdfunding campaign, our dedicated team is hard at work bringing A GAME IN THE DARK AT MIDNIGHT to life! From rounding up the perfect cast and crew to nailing down location permits, rehearsing, and wardrobe fittings, our to-do list is buzzing with action as we march forward to bring this exciting film to the world!

Come April, we'll kick off the exciting phase of physical production, capturing the rugged North Georgia mountains as spring begins to take hold. Following a three-day shoot, we'll be hunkering down into post-production and editing, shaping A GAME IN THE DARK AT MIDNIGHT into a completed film. Our ultimate goal is to share this compelling story with audiences far and wide by sending it into the ring at prestigious film festivals. We hope y’all will join us in our incredible film journey!

Thank you so much for following along with our campaign. Please help us spread the word by tagging @ and sharing the example post below on social media:

Join us in supporting the upcoming short film A GAME IN THE DARK AT MIDNIGHT, an Appalachian thriller based on Anton Chekhov's "The Looking Glass". Follow @ and click the link below to find out how you can help bring this story to life! www.seedandspark.com/fund/gameinthedarkfilm”