The Ace Of Love
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Film Short
Drama
Ace seeks an opportunity to be a hero, but the city of brotherly love challenges him to acknowledge the very best and worst within himself. Ace comes to realize he's neither good nor bad, hero nor villain, just human.
The Ace Of Love
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Film Short
Drama
1 Campaigns | Pennsylvania, United States
16 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
$1,875
Goal: $7,500 for production
Ace seeks an opportunity to be a hero, but the city of brotherly love challenges him to acknowledge the very best and worst within himself. Ace comes to realize he's neither good nor bad, hero nor villain, just human.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Once Upon A Time In The City Of Brotherly Love...
The Ace Of Love is a love story, an odyssey of one man returning to himself through forgiveness. Ace, our protagonist, faces a grim future and carries an even darker past. As time runs out, he desperately seeks redemption for a mistake that has haunted him since his youth.
Along his journey, Ace is pursued by Flynn, a younger, angrier, and more resentful version of himself. Together, they reflect one another's deepest desires and flaws, forcing each other to confront painful truths and see themselves for who they truly are.
In the end, what they need most is the very thing they've spent their lives running from.
A Brief Director's Statement
My name is Gavin R. Nersasian and I am the writer and director behind the The Ace Of Love. For the past six years I have been studying and working as a writer, actor, and director in the city of Philadelphia. It is my mission as a storyteller to not just entertain audiences, but to inspire them to be more.
Stories have the power to grant us courage, hope, ambition, and love. It is my intention to write and portray characters that represent both the good and evil humans are capable of, to explore truth. Only the truth can illicit the long lasting impact and emotional reaction from an audience that I aim to have with my stories.
Storytelling is the best way I can leave this world better than I found it. That's the mission now and forever.
The First Project For "York Road Pictures"
I, Gavin R. Nersasian, have and will continue to dedicate my life to telling stories that leave the world better than I found it. Which is why I've founded "York Road Pictures", named after the street in which I grew up on. This is a film and media production company that will always aspire to do more than entertain it's audience. Starting with "The Ace Of Love", York Road Pictures will handle the development and production of films, television, and visual formatted content aligned with my mission as a storyteller. At York Road Pictures we truthfully tell stories.
THE INSPIRATION
Similar to films like Manhattan or La La Land, The Ace Of Love is a love letter to my city, Philadelphia. I see good and evil in my city every day. I see this good and evil in my country, in my world every day. It is so easy to turn a blind eye to the evil, or to allow the evil to overshadow the good. Here in Philadelphia we are known for a few things. Cheesesteaks, obviously. The Philadelphia Eagles, Go Birds! Above all else, we are known for being the city of brotherly love.
Ace is that brotherly love. He is a man who is capable of good, and responsible for evil. However, he does his best each and every day to lead with love, to leave this world better than he found it. He's a real life hero.
This film is also inspired by the work of Wim Wenders, including Paris, Texas and Wings Of Desire. Similar to these films, The Ace Of Love uniquely portrays a character who's life is undone by guilt, while exploring the privilege and burden it is to have a beating heart fated to stop one day.
Ultimately, this film is an examination of any one person is capable of both benevolence and evil.
The First Half Of Production
In 2025, my cast, crew, family, and friends granted me the privilege of taking the project into production. With a budget of $4,000, gifted by family and friends, we had three days of production to complete our 14-page script. On Day 1, a hurricane that was forecasted to go out into Atlantic took an unexpected turn towards Philadelphia, raining out half of our day. Day 2 went off without a single hitch thanks to my unbelievable team. However, Day 3 saw many inconveniences due to forces beyond our control such as police closing off a block in which we had planned to shoot.
Following these three days of production, we had only shot roughly 66% of our shot list, but exhausted the entirety of our $4,000 budget. So, here we are reaching out to the Seed&Spark community to allow us the extraordinary privilege of finishing our film.
The Second Half Of Production & Beyond
We are launching our campaign with the goal of reaching $7,500, and a green light of $6,000.
Through the generous contributions of this community we aim to reach our goal. These contributions will be used to fund one final day of production (September 20th, 2026), as well as a rain-date (September 21st). Production costs include compensation for cast & crew, food/crafty during production, rental costs for an equipment package, permits, insurance, and transportation accommodations. Contributions from the community will also be used to fund our post-production involving compensation for our crew, extensive ADR, and music composition. Finally, we will use contributions to launch a successful festival campaign, ensuring our film can be seen on big screens across the country.
We hope you will consider allowing us the privilege of completing our film, and telling our story.
Every follow, share, and contribution to our Seed&Spark page on your part brings us one step closer to the finish line.
That's All Folks!
Before you go I'd like to remind/inform you:
- Our goal is $7,500
- Our greenlight is $6,000
- Our instagrams are theaceoflove_shortfilm and YorkRoadPictures
- We are offering Executive Producer credits for any donation of $500 or more
If you have any further inquiries not answered on this page regarding the project, please feel free to reach out to our production emails [email protected], and [email protected].
To anyone who has made it this far to learn more about The Ace Of Love, we thank you for your time and consideration!
Gratefully,
The Ace Of Love Team
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Production (Cast & Crew)
Costs $1,750
We are seeking contributions to compensate our cast & crew, rent a camera/light package, supply food & crafty, and secure locations.
Post-Production (Cast & Crew)
Costs $1,500
We will use contributions to compensate our Post-Production crew such as the Lead Editor, Music Composer, Graphic Designer, and Colorist.
Post Production (Sound & Score)
Costs $1,000
We will use contributions to complete ADR in post-production, and rent a recording studio for our music composer.
Post Production (Festival Campaign)
Costs $1,000
We will use contributions to launch our festival campaign in Mid-2027 which includes festival submission fees,
Production (Camera, Lights, & Sound Package)
Costs $750
We'll use contributions to rent a equipment package for our two days of production.
Production (Insurance)
Costs $1,200
We will use contributions to ensure we have all essential coverages such as General Liability and Worker's Compensation.
Production (Filming Permits)
Costs $300
We will use contributions to acquire the necessary permits for our ideal production.
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Gavin R. Nersasian (Writer/Director/Producer/Actor)
Gavin R. Nersasian is an Armenian-American filmmaker located in Philadelphia, PA. He is an acting student of Playhouse West-Philadelphia, where he is studying Meisner Technique under the mentorship of Tony Savant. He also is a graduate of Temple University's screenwriting program. His recent work includes PORKCHOP, a short film he wrote, directed, produced, and starred in. Gavin is committed to telling stories that do more than entertain audiences, but also inspire with characters that aspire to be the best version of themselves.
Michael Jansen (Actor/Executive Producer)
Michael Jansen holds degrees from Point Park and Villanova. Television and film credits include FBI: Most Wanted (CBS), Servant, and Brave the Dark. He recently played Bruce in Fun Home at the Media Threate. Michael spends his weekends signing up and down the coast with the band, Gypsy Wisdom. He is grateful for Gavin's vision and the opportunity to be a part of such an inspiring process.
Joe Henderson (Actor)
Joe Henderson is a Philadelphia based actor and writer. He has trained extensively at Playhouse West Philadelphia under Tony Savant, studying the Meisner technique. His screen credits include an apperance on Evil Lives Here, and his stage work includes productions such as Lobby Hero, Sweat, and Sunset Baby. Joe has also written and starred in original short films. He continues to develop his craft through ongoing training, performance, and independent film work.
Sarah Morrison-Cleary (Actor)
Sarah Morrison-Cleary is an actor whose work is driven by an inexhaustible passion for storytelling. Her work spans both screen and stage and is marked by performances emphasizing emotional authenticity, intelligence, and depth. Most recently, Sarah has appeared in the films Mama's Boy, Strange This, and Unsafe For Work, the latter of which is currently journeying through the festival circuit. On stage, she was last seen in Collected Stories as well as in Tony Savant's The Trouble with Stacey at Playhouse West - Philadelphia.
Michelle Opalesky (Assistant Producer)
Michelle Opalesky is an actor in theatre, film, and television. She has written and directed a once act play, two short films, and is currently directing a play. She loves the art of storytelling, whether through writing, directing, or acting. She is profoundly fulfilled when a group of people get together from varying backgrounds to tell one story. She's proud that is getting closer to finding out what she wants to be when she grows up.
Kent Ichikawa (Director Of Photography)
Kent Ichikawa is a cinematographer and camera operator from Tokyo, Japan, with a passion for visual storytelling. Primarily based in the Philadelphia and New Jersey area, he periodically works in Tokyo, where he originally developed his love for the arts, photography and filmmaking. His experience spans commercial, documentary, music video, and narrative work, always seeking new experiences that push his creative potential. He hopes to continue bridging. He hopes to continue bridging the gap between the U.S. and Japan through film.
Gray Bennett (Assistant Director)
Gray Bennett is an emerging filmmaker who has a deep appreciation for the craft from all angles. Including assistant directing, putting together a logistical plan to make the shooting day run smooth is deeply satisying and rewarding to them. Each project is an opportunity to push boundaries, experiment with form, and collboarate with others who share the same passions. For them, filmmaking isn't just a career--it's a lifelong pursuit of self expression through art. Bringing others vision to life is just as rewarding as their own!
Collin Shaw (Assistant Camera)
Collin Shaw is a Philadelphia based cinematographer and AC who has a deep passion for analogue film making.
Stephen White (Gaffer/Grip)
Stephen White is a gaffer, grip, and stagehand based in the Philadelphia region who has been working commercials and narratives for over three years. A graduate from Temple University with a bachelor's in cinematography, Stephen brings a keen eye, and years of experience to his craft.
Fred Chyi (Key Grip)
Fred Chyi is a freelance cinematographer from Taiwan based in Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia. Fred believes cinematography isn't just about capturing beautiful images, it's about weaving emotions and narratives into every frame. He is driven to push boundaries, to delve into uncharted territory, and to breathe life into every project he undertakes. He strives to continue learning, and venture beyond his comfort zone.
Savannah Sakaguchi (Sound Operator)
Savannah is a Philadelphia-based actor studying the Meisner Technique at Playhouse West Philadelphia, where she has trained since 2022. She has worked on numerous short films in both on-camera and behind-the-scenes roles, building a strong foundation in collaborative storytelling. She appeared in the film Upcycle, which was selected for multiple film festivals. Her work is grounded in an emotionally truthful approach, and she is actively seeking opportunities in film and stage.
Benny Mash (2nd Assistant Director/Production Assistant)
Benny Mash is an independent filmmaker based in Philadelphia and a graduate of Temple University. Making movies is his biggest passion and he considers himself fornunate to collaborate with so many talented people over the years. He loves telling stories that provide audiences with a unique experience that stays with them long after the credits roll.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Once Upon A Time In The City Of Brotherly Love...
The Ace Of Love is a love story, an odyssey of one man returning to himself through forgiveness. Ace, our protagonist, faces a grim future and carries an even darker past. As time runs out, he desperately seeks redemption for a mistake that has haunted him since his youth.
Along his journey, Ace is pursued by Flynn, a younger, angrier, and more resentful version of himself. Together, they reflect one another's deepest desires and flaws, forcing each other to confront painful truths and see themselves for who they truly are.
In the end, what they need most is the very thing they've spent their lives running from.
A Brief Director's Statement
My name is Gavin R. Nersasian and I am the writer and director behind the The Ace Of Love. For the past six years I have been studying and working as a writer, actor, and director in the city of Philadelphia. It is my mission as a storyteller to not just entertain audiences, but to inspire them to be more.
Stories have the power to grant us courage, hope, ambition, and love. It is my intention to write and portray characters that represent both the good and evil humans are capable of, to explore truth. Only the truth can illicit the long lasting impact and emotional reaction from an audience that I aim to have with my stories.
Storytelling is the best way I can leave this world better than I found it. That's the mission now and forever.
The First Project For "York Road Pictures"
I, Gavin R. Nersasian, have and will continue to dedicate my life to telling stories that leave the world better than I found it. Which is why I've founded "York Road Pictures", named after the street in which I grew up on. This is a film and media production company that will always aspire to do more than entertain it's audience. Starting with "The Ace Of Love", York Road Pictures will handle the development and production of films, television, and visual formatted content aligned with my mission as a storyteller. At York Road Pictures we truthfully tell stories.
THE INSPIRATION
Similar to films like Manhattan or La La Land, The Ace Of Love is a love letter to my city, Philadelphia. I see good and evil in my city every day. I see this good and evil in my country, in my world every day. It is so easy to turn a blind eye to the evil, or to allow the evil to overshadow the good. Here in Philadelphia we are known for a few things. Cheesesteaks, obviously. The Philadelphia Eagles, Go Birds! Above all else, we are known for being the city of brotherly love.
Ace is that brotherly love. He is a man who is capable of good, and responsible for evil. However, he does his best each and every day to lead with love, to leave this world better than he found it. He's a real life hero.
This film is also inspired by the work of Wim Wenders, including Paris, Texas and Wings Of Desire. Similar to these films, The Ace Of Love uniquely portrays a character who's life is undone by guilt, while exploring the privilege and burden it is to have a beating heart fated to stop one day.
Ultimately, this film is an examination of any one person is capable of both benevolence and evil.
The First Half Of Production
In 2025, my cast, crew, family, and friends granted me the privilege of taking the project into production. With a budget of $4,000, gifted by family and friends, we had three days of production to complete our 14-page script. On Day 1, a hurricane that was forecasted to go out into Atlantic took an unexpected turn towards Philadelphia, raining out half of our day. Day 2 went off without a single hitch thanks to my unbelievable team. However, Day 3 saw many inconveniences due to forces beyond our control such as police closing off a block in which we had planned to shoot.
Following these three days of production, we had only shot roughly 66% of our shot list, but exhausted the entirety of our $4,000 budget. So, here we are reaching out to the Seed&Spark community to allow us the extraordinary privilege of finishing our film.
The Second Half Of Production & Beyond
We are launching our campaign with the goal of reaching $7,500, and a green light of $6,000.
Through the generous contributions of this community we aim to reach our goal. These contributions will be used to fund one final day of production (September 20th, 2026), as well as a rain-date (September 21st). Production costs include compensation for cast & crew, food/crafty during production, rental costs for an equipment package, permits, insurance, and transportation accommodations. Contributions from the community will also be used to fund our post-production involving compensation for our crew, extensive ADR, and music composition. Finally, we will use contributions to launch a successful festival campaign, ensuring our film can be seen on big screens across the country.
We hope you will consider allowing us the privilege of completing our film, and telling our story.
Every follow, share, and contribution to our Seed&Spark page on your part brings us one step closer to the finish line.
That's All Folks!
Before you go I'd like to remind/inform you:
- Our goal is $7,500
- Our greenlight is $6,000
- Our instagrams are theaceoflove_shortfilm and YorkRoadPictures
- We are offering Executive Producer credits for any donation of $500 or more
If you have any further inquiries not answered on this page regarding the project, please feel free to reach out to our production emails [email protected], and [email protected].
To anyone who has made it this far to learn more about The Ace Of Love, we thank you for your time and consideration!
Gratefully,
The Ace Of Love Team
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Production (Cast & Crew)
Costs $1,750
We are seeking contributions to compensate our cast & crew, rent a camera/light package, supply food & crafty, and secure locations.
Post-Production (Cast & Crew)
Costs $1,500
We will use contributions to compensate our Post-Production crew such as the Lead Editor, Music Composer, Graphic Designer, and Colorist.
Post Production (Sound & Score)
Costs $1,000
We will use contributions to complete ADR in post-production, and rent a recording studio for our music composer.
Post Production (Festival Campaign)
Costs $1,000
We will use contributions to launch our festival campaign in Mid-2027 which includes festival submission fees,
Production (Camera, Lights, & Sound Package)
Costs $750
We'll use contributions to rent a equipment package for our two days of production.
Production (Insurance)
Costs $1,200
We will use contributions to ensure we have all essential coverages such as General Liability and Worker's Compensation.
Production (Filming Permits)
Costs $300
We will use contributions to acquire the necessary permits for our ideal production.
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Gavin R. Nersasian (Writer/Director/Producer/Actor)
Gavin R. Nersasian is an Armenian-American filmmaker located in Philadelphia, PA. He is an acting student of Playhouse West-Philadelphia, where he is studying Meisner Technique under the mentorship of Tony Savant. He also is a graduate of Temple University's screenwriting program. His recent work includes PORKCHOP, a short film he wrote, directed, produced, and starred in. Gavin is committed to telling stories that do more than entertain audiences, but also inspire with characters that aspire to be the best version of themselves.
Michael Jansen (Actor/Executive Producer)
Michael Jansen holds degrees from Point Park and Villanova. Television and film credits include FBI: Most Wanted (CBS), Servant, and Brave the Dark. He recently played Bruce in Fun Home at the Media Threate. Michael spends his weekends signing up and down the coast with the band, Gypsy Wisdom. He is grateful for Gavin's vision and the opportunity to be a part of such an inspiring process.
Joe Henderson (Actor)
Joe Henderson is a Philadelphia based actor and writer. He has trained extensively at Playhouse West Philadelphia under Tony Savant, studying the Meisner technique. His screen credits include an apperance on Evil Lives Here, and his stage work includes productions such as Lobby Hero, Sweat, and Sunset Baby. Joe has also written and starred in original short films. He continues to develop his craft through ongoing training, performance, and independent film work.
Sarah Morrison-Cleary (Actor)
Sarah Morrison-Cleary is an actor whose work is driven by an inexhaustible passion for storytelling. Her work spans both screen and stage and is marked by performances emphasizing emotional authenticity, intelligence, and depth. Most recently, Sarah has appeared in the films Mama's Boy, Strange This, and Unsafe For Work, the latter of which is currently journeying through the festival circuit. On stage, she was last seen in Collected Stories as well as in Tony Savant's The Trouble with Stacey at Playhouse West - Philadelphia.
Michelle Opalesky (Assistant Producer)
Michelle Opalesky is an actor in theatre, film, and television. She has written and directed a once act play, two short films, and is currently directing a play. She loves the art of storytelling, whether through writing, directing, or acting. She is profoundly fulfilled when a group of people get together from varying backgrounds to tell one story. She's proud that is getting closer to finding out what she wants to be when she grows up.
Kent Ichikawa (Director Of Photography)
Kent Ichikawa is a cinematographer and camera operator from Tokyo, Japan, with a passion for visual storytelling. Primarily based in the Philadelphia and New Jersey area, he periodically works in Tokyo, where he originally developed his love for the arts, photography and filmmaking. His experience spans commercial, documentary, music video, and narrative work, always seeking new experiences that push his creative potential. He hopes to continue bridging. He hopes to continue bridging the gap between the U.S. and Japan through film.
Gray Bennett (Assistant Director)
Gray Bennett is an emerging filmmaker who has a deep appreciation for the craft from all angles. Including assistant directing, putting together a logistical plan to make the shooting day run smooth is deeply satisying and rewarding to them. Each project is an opportunity to push boundaries, experiment with form, and collboarate with others who share the same passions. For them, filmmaking isn't just a career--it's a lifelong pursuit of self expression through art. Bringing others vision to life is just as rewarding as their own!
Collin Shaw (Assistant Camera)
Collin Shaw is a Philadelphia based cinematographer and AC who has a deep passion for analogue film making.
Stephen White (Gaffer/Grip)
Stephen White is a gaffer, grip, and stagehand based in the Philadelphia region who has been working commercials and narratives for over three years. A graduate from Temple University with a bachelor's in cinematography, Stephen brings a keen eye, and years of experience to his craft.
Fred Chyi (Key Grip)
Fred Chyi is a freelance cinematographer from Taiwan based in Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia. Fred believes cinematography isn't just about capturing beautiful images, it's about weaving emotions and narratives into every frame. He is driven to push boundaries, to delve into uncharted territory, and to breathe life into every project he undertakes. He strives to continue learning, and venture beyond his comfort zone.
Savannah Sakaguchi (Sound Operator)
Savannah is a Philadelphia-based actor studying the Meisner Technique at Playhouse West Philadelphia, where she has trained since 2022. She has worked on numerous short films in both on-camera and behind-the-scenes roles, building a strong foundation in collaborative storytelling. She appeared in the film Upcycle, which was selected for multiple film festivals. Her work is grounded in an emotionally truthful approach, and she is actively seeking opportunities in film and stage.
Benny Mash (2nd Assistant Director/Production Assistant)
Benny Mash is an independent filmmaker based in Philadelphia and a graduate of Temple University. Making movies is his biggest passion and he considers himself fornunate to collaborate with so many talented people over the years. He loves telling stories that provide audiences with a unique experience that stays with them long after the credits roll.