Introduction
Hey there!
We have a question for you. Do you remember the first time you experienced pool? Maybe it was your father teaching you to hold a cue stick, or calling the neighborhood kid a "Shark" when you racked up the balls for an after-school game. or hustling your way through college as you learned the color of money from Tom Cruise and Paul Newman.
We remember...and that's why we're here. I've been an avid amateur pool league member for 13 years and have competed at the highest levels of the Artistic/Trick Shot Competitions (2011 World Championships). I love the competition and camaraderie, and what I've realized is....I'm not alone. Along with my creative team, I've developed American Road Players to showcase the sweat, slickness, and survival behind the sport. And we've done it by following real people....like you and me....who are hustling to make what they can for themselves and their families. Sounds like the American Dream, right? With balls.
Our team has funded the pre-production to this point and we will take on the cost for post-production, but we need your help to raise the actual film production budget. We are asking for your donations because we want to film and present this show in a way that will allow us to capture as many real moments along the way as we can.
We are looking for you to join our campaign and help bring this story of survival to life. We know there are many ways you can spend your money, so we thank you in advance for your support. Simply pick your level of contribution, and join us for the ride. We're cued and ready.
Every Donor will receive a
FREE POOL DAWG tip-pick
American Road Player is a new reality series that takes
us inside the forgotten world of underground pool hustling. This is a world that has produced legendary performances from Jackie Gleason and Paul Newman to Tom Cruise. Our story will bring to life the "real" characters who thrive within a world where people choose to live life on their own terms. This is a sport that not only allows them to be who they really are, but champions those who master the "Art of the Hustle". This may be a forgotten "ART" to some, but we have found it living and breathing in pool halls all across america and those who have mastered it are known as "The Road Player."
Season 1 will bring you on a 2900 mile ride through 10 states,
40 pool halls, and hundreds of pressure packed shots leading up to the
most lucrative week in high stakes underground pool, The Derby City
Classic. The star is Scooter Goodman, self proclaimed “Best Hustler in America” is a
family man from Cleveland, Ohio, who takes his crew from town to town
looking for the next game that will pay his rent. His ultimate goal is to reach the Derby
with a stack of money that he can put on the line against the best players
in the country. But this isn’t a hobby for these guys; it’s literally how
they pay their bills. With an insider’s
view, we ride the roller coaster with Scooter, where on any given night, he
could win $10,000 and give it all back by sunrise. The cast of characters along the way will include
Tournament Champions, local business owners and part-time Ferris wheel
operators. No matter who Scooter plays, he has the wits to work out the right
odds to win money... Some nights it all works out as planned and he and
the crew are checking into a nice hotel and other nights that nine ball
just won’t fall and they are sleeping in their car. If he has nothing to show for the trip,
his family doesn’t have groceries. It’s
a fearless life on the road that only the strongest can survive.
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The Map above represents the proposed route and destinations where we are planning to visit along the way. Of course, with these guys manning the GPS, who knows where we will end up!
Donors will be updated throughout the actual production on our route and schedule, so you will be able to join us wherever we are on the road and you might even be able to challenge one of our cast members to a match!
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These companies have joined us in this campaign because the owners not only believe in our team and project, but the have lived their lives in this world. They know better than anyone what a great story this is to tell. In fact, many of them had their start on the road which ultimately paved their way to success. We are grateful for their participation and honored that they have shown this much trust in this process.
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Here are a few of Season One's cast, but not the only ones. We will be meeting plenty of great new characters along the way!
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For three years, we have worked with many people to make this show come to life. The relationships that have been built with the cast and industry professionals along the way has created a foundation from which we can build this show on now and into the future. The team for Season One will include:
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER - Michael Murphey
Michael has produced for over twenty feature films and numerous television projects, including the Sony Pictures blockbuster hit "DistrictNine", which was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture.
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER - Mickey Conway
Mickey is an entertainment attorney and producer, whose recent credits include the sports film for ESPN Classic "Fifty Years at the Final Four".
DIRECTOR/PRODUCER - Peyton Thomas
Peyton is the Creative Director of Side Pocket Productions which has been responsible for the Pre-production and will be responsible for Principle Filming, Post Production and Web Launch. He is an experienced film actor, director, producer, and also a world ranked "Trick Shot/Artistic Pool" Player.
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Why did we choose to crowdfund this project?
We decided to create this campaign because the majority of the people we spoke to or saw our footage, responded in the same way.
"I would definitely watch that show!"
The people have spoken, so let's give them what they want. - The first reality show that truly highlights the unique characters and stories inside the world of a great sport!
What pushed us over the top were the commitments that have been made to this project, not only by this team, but also by the sponsors and cast. The passion everyone feels for this subject is very clear, especially during a time when the industry is looking for new outlets, new stories and new heroes.
