DreamTicket

Inspired by Rochelle Ballantyne, the First African American Female to pursue Chess Master Candidate.

While mourning the loss of her Grandmother, a troubled young girl, Rochelle suffers a living nightmare of eviction, homelessness and bullying. However, all is not lost when her Grandmother's spirit pays Rochelle one last visit for one last lesson that helps her overcome her demons and starts her on her path to success.

  • Cherrelle e'Lan
    Director
    HeadHunters, Black In The Future
  • Cherrelle e'Lan
    Writer
    HeadHunters, Black In The Future
  • Cherrelle e'Lan
    Producer
    HeadHunters, Black In The Future
  • Kayden Phoenix
    Producer
    HeadHunters, Schooled
  • Beverly Robinsn
    Producer
  • Angela
    Producer
    Wilson
  • Dana St. Amand
    Production Crew
    Cinematography
  • Jessica Gomes
    Production Crew
    Editor
  • Davis Bonner
    Production Crew
    Sound
  • Kyah Cook
    Production Crew
    First Assistant Camera
  • Cherrelle e'Lan
    Key Cast
    "Peaches"
    Criminal Minds, Black In The Future, HeadHunters, DreamTicket
  • Gabrielle Rosser
    Key Cast
    "Rochelle Ballantyne"
  • Maia
    Key Cast
    "Grandmommy"
    Beauty and the Baller
  • Racquel Marshall
    Key Cast
    "Mother Ballantyne"
    Return To Me
  • Phoenix Nicholson
    Key Cast
    "Peanut"
    Birthright
  • Michael Luckett
    Key Cast
    "Mr. Braxton"
    The Teacher Among Us
  • Storm Bell
    Key Cast
    "DeShawnda"
    Sleepy Hollow
  • Jasmin Brown
    Key Cast
    "Tamika"
    Not Me Too: When the Predator Becomes the Victim
  • Mariah Tavares
    Key Cast
    "Little Girl"
    Teddy Mate
  • Lailani Darville
    Key Cast
    "Sister Ballantyne"
  • Marcus Hamm
    Key Cast
    "Uncle Ballantyne"
    Loving Him
  • Andrea Brashears-Lusk
    Soundtrack
    THIS IS NOT A GAME
  • Diron Dorn
    Soundtrack
    THIS IS NOT A GAME
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Drama, Biopic
  • Runtime:
    16 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    September 1, 2019
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Cherrelle e'Lan

Pitching consumer investigative ideas, and assisting Producers for PrimeTime and 20/20 News Magazines inspired Cherrelle éLan to build her career in storytelling. Also, while working with ABC's News team during the 9/11 Tragedy, Cherrelle received a Peabody Award for her participation in conducting interviews of heroes.

A natural talent, it wasn't long after these experiences that Cherrelle discovered she is gifted to bring dramatic stories to life via Acting. Having appeared on Prime Time shows like CBS's Criminal Minds and HBO's Enlightened and in movies like Gina Prince Bythewood’s Beyond The Lights, and Terrence Malick’s Knight of Cups, Cherrelle éLan has committed to Filmmaking.

After completing her educational career in Literary Arts and Film with a Bachelor of Arts, Magna Cum Laude from Howard University and a Master's Degree from The Newhouse School of Communications, Syracuse University, Cherrelle returned to her High School alma-mater The Duke Ellington School of the Arts High School and initiated the first High School Media Day.

She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Also, a black belt in Tae Kwon Do she is training for her screenplay in pre-development, Seoul, U.S.A. inspired by Olympic Gold Medalists Lynnette Love and Arlene Limas.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

It was important for me to have Directed this short, because I have an emotional understanding of Rochelle’s journey. Growing up in Washington, D.C. during the 80’s at the time of the crack epidemic, poverty, crime, teen pregnancy and all kinds of pressures, I relate to Rochelle’s desire to escape. Having overcome many odds during my younger years with Tae Kwon Do, I know what it's like to know the exact moment the decision is made to take charge of your own life. Influenced by Chess, this short film aims to capture Rochelle’s take charge of her future moment.

Also, unlike today's generation I was fortunate to have many positive role models to look up to...both in my neighborhood and popular culture. Unfortunately, today's youth are bombarded with role models in careers or disciplines that they are not gifted or interested. Rochelle's story offers a different discipline for at risk girls to escape their daily peer pressures. Let’s go!

I am a huge advocate for equal rights for ALL in the competitive arena, especially sports and games competition. Having trained in Tae Kwon Do, a male dominated martial-arts form, I am familiar with gender descrimination. I have discovered that although the Title IX Law, which protects people from discrimination based on sex in education programs or activities that receive Federal financial assistance, was passed in 1972, women continue to face unfair discrimination. Specific to the game of Chess, it has been assumed by male dominate professional Chess players that girls and women are too emotional to take on competing in the game. Rochelle Ballantyne took on that challenge becoming the first African American Female to become a Chess Expert, crowning her a graduate of Stanford University.

DreamTicket aims to motivate young girls to make choices that will provide them the same advantages as Rochelle.