New Chess Movie with Kids to be Shot in Brownsville

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2013

Hi everyone,

An independent movie about Brownsville chess with a story line that will resonate with locals is about to begin filming in Brownsville. “Endgame” tells the story of José, 11, who joins the school chess team and with the help of Coach Alvarado “embarks on a journey of self-discovery, team spirit and the importance of family,” Sandra Avila, the film’s co-producer and an Edinburg native, said from Los Angeles for an article by Gary Long in the Brownsville Herald. “It’s the kind of story that happens all the time in Brownsville,” Drue Brown, public information officer for the Brownsville Independent School District, said of the project.

Avila is working with BISD and Peter Goodman of the Brownsville Film Commission to secure shooting locations around Brownsville that will give the film a distinct local flavor. She also is looking for local sponsors and local talent.

“The whole goal is if we’re telling a local story, we want to tell it with local talent, both in front of and behind the camera,” Avila said. The production company, The Endgame Movie LLC, is seeking résumés from local residents to fill dozens of slots on the movie’s production crew.

Auditions will take place Saturday and Sunday at the Camille Playhouse. Filming is to start April 24 at locations around Brownsville. Avila said 20 to 25 speaking roles and about 150 roles as extras are available.

Rico Rodriguez, who is known for his role of Manny Delgado in the ABC sitcom “Modern Family,” has been engaged to play José. Efren Ramirez, best known for playing Pedro Sánchez in the 2004 indie film “Napoleon Dynamite,” has been similarly engaged to play Coach Alvarado, Avila said.

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