First Chair is a heart-wrenching drama about Charlie Mann, a gentleman in his sixties who strives to be the best violinist in his symphony orchestra. His confidence is quickly obliterated when he has to re-audition for his own seat as First Chair against a competitor with an unfair advantage.
The short film focuses on Charlie and his perspective on futuristic technologies that seem far off from implementation today, but may actually be right around the corner. The film's striking juxtaposition between classical music and the realm of ever-developing artificial intelligence sheds light on the uncertain future of classical art as society becomes arguably less and less human.
Though some of the characters are more advanced with technology use than others, the film underlines the various effects technological "advancements" may have on artists. For example, each of the three judges in the film has a different opinion on AI.
Click the 3 dots at the top next to "Story" to meet the team and check out the amazing Studebaker Theater! Keep reading below for more on Charlie's story and his mysterious competitor...
The overall tone of First Chair is dark and gritty with muted energy. When there is color and light, it is vibrant and bold, and draws the viewer's attention accordingly. For one, this contrast is highlighted in the stark differences between the warm, bright theater where the final scene takes place versus Charlie’s muted and cold home. The warmth of the theater also juxtaposes the robotic, impersonal, and cold connotations of AI itself. Additionally, different color palettes are used with the respective characters to further underscore various elements of the story.
Artificial intelligence is a topic that is more relevant than ever. Ever-developing AI technologies enable companies to function more efficiently at a level that is valuable to businesses, and in many ways, valuable to society as a whole. However, AI will only continue to increasingly affect everyday people who have positions that can be replaced with technology, as well as the arts and how consumers appreciate and interact with the artistic sphere as a whole. By filming First Chair, we hope to humanize the discussion around AI and shed light on the far-reaching implications it already does and will undoubtedly have on communities.
First Chair also celebrates women in the filmmaking industry, as the project's Director and Executive Producers are all women. According to USC Annenberg's January 2024 article, "Was 2023 the year of the woman director? Survey says... no", women comprised a mere 12.1% of directors on the top 100 films of 2023. This is just one statistic of many that all ultimately reflect the same ugly truth: women in film are underrepresented, and the glass ceiling has yet to break.
 | Charlie will be played by first time actor, James Sanders, a talented musician based out of Chicago. He earned a Masters Degree in Performance from Yale University and has held a seat in the Chicago Sinfonietta since 1993. James mentors young musicians through the orchestra's Project Inclusion and SEED programs.
Sanders is also known for the curriculum he developed to teach the fundamentals of improvisation to classically trained string players. He also teaches and coordinates the string program for the Arlington Heights, IL School District. He is on the faculty of the Music Institute of Chicago. |
As we polish our shot list, hold rehearsals, and put the final pieces in place to enable a successful production process, we're relying on contributions from generous donors like you to bring this vision to life. This essential support will help us finance First Chair, compensate our talented collaborators for their work, and promote the film to wider audiences. Because First Chair is an independent project, community involvement is at the core of what enables us to do what we do best: create art that speaks to people. Your support is invaluable, and we deeply appreciate your time and consideration.
Want to know where your money is going? Here are more specifics...
Buy the Cast & Crew lunch! - $200 x 2
Donate so we can rent our camera & lighting equipment! - $1,000
Purchase a coffee for our wonderful Makeup Artist, Toshi, for making us look so beautiful. - $10
Pay an amazing Studebaker Theater staff member for helping us. - $200
Donate to pay for Charlie's sharp concert attire. - $50
Oh no! Our equipment van broke down... Help us pay for the unexpected! - $250
Buy the Cast & Crew coffee for the early mornings. - $50 x 2
Buy our incredible editor, Joseph Cunin, a late-night snack during the late-night edit. - $15
Great... Cassidy broke the clapperboard... - $35
Support the Crafty Table! (snacks, water bottles, coffee, etc.) - $150
Oh brother... Cassidy broke the new clapperboard as well ... - $35
Got to come prepared. Purchase our First-Aid Kit! - $30
Human engagement is something that doesn’t go unnoticed the more AI becomes prominent in live performances. However, humanity and creativity remains crucial, as it is the soul of any art. While AI becomes more mainstream in our everyday lives, it’s important that we are vigilant against AI replacing genuine connections between people and overshadowing human experiences. Additionally, I am extremely passionate about supporting the performing arts. Growing up, my father encouraged me to see plays and live performances as often as I could. I see bits of myself in Charlie as he struggles to stay true to himself as an artist in the face of the challenges against him. As a woman in film, I aspire to make my mark on an industry which has historically excluded women from director positions. I can't wait for you to watch First Chair, and I know you will enjoy seeing Charlie's story brought to life. Thank you for your support.
Highlights
See all activity31The Theater
The Studebaker Theater
We are honored to film select scenes from First Chair at Chicago's iconic Studebaker Theater! Read below for more on its incredible history...
A jewel of Chicago theater since 1898, the Studebaker Theater first emerged as a music and opera hall, hosting a variety of acts and performers. Situated where the Studebaker Carriage Company once held its carriage showroom, the theater sat 1,550 people and featured classical music, opera, and vaudeville performances, as well as resident companies such as the Castle Square Opera Company. In 1910, the Studebaker hosted a sold-out two-week farewell engagement with the famed French actress Sarah Bernhardt.
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In December 1982, M&R Amusement Company converted the Studebaker and the Fine Arts Building’s smaller World Playhouse theater into a multiplex.At first, the new multiplex mainly showed art and independent films, but when M&R sold their theater chain to Loews in 1988, it switched to playing mostly Hollywood films. Films shown at the multiplex included the Talking Heads’ Stop Making Sense, as well as Paris, Texas, Blue Velvet, Metropolis, Repo Man, Moonlighting, True Stories, Crimes and Misdemeanors, and many more.
M&R closed the complex in November 2000, and the Studebaker went on to sit empty and in disrepair for about 15 years. |
In 2014, work began to restore the Studebaker theater, and it reopened for occasional live performances in 2015. In 2021, a major multi-million dollar renovation began, bringing all-new seating, a two-level production booth, state-of-the-art lighting and sound systems, and more to the Studebaker. The renovation was formally completed in 2022. Since its grand reopening in 2022, the Studebaker has been home to NPR’s “Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me!”, and has featured performances from the Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival, the Chicago Opera Theater, the Chicago Academy for the Arts, the Chicago Jazz Orchestra, as well as award-winning Broadway musicals such as Lin Manuel Miranda's Hamilton. |  |
Meet The Team
James Sanders - The Lead
Drawing on his Dominican heritage, Sanders formed the Latin jazz ensemble called James Sanders' Conjunto in 2001. The band, whose membership expands and contracts in accordance with the artistic requirements of any given project, performs regularly at clubs and festivals around Chicago and the Midwest. A 10-piece version plus guests and a dance company performed before nearly 10,000 people at the Pritzker Pavilion in Chicago's Millennium Park in 2011. In 2022 and 2023, Conjunto collaborated with Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center to create Stories From the West Side, two projects incorporating music, dance, and storytelling to explore the life experiences of Chicago's historic Latino communities.
James Sanders - Stories from the West Side
Stories From the West Side is a community concert event created and performed by James Sanders and Conjunto and Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre and presented by Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center. The 2023 performance marks the second consecutive year that members of Conjunto and Cerqua River conducted workshop listening sessions where community members told us about life in Latino Chicago, and we responded with improvised music and dance that formed the basis of this concert.
In addition to Conjunto, he leads the Blue Violin Quartet. an
ensemble dedicated to straight-ahead jazz. He regularly collaborates
with members of Chicago’s AACM collective and has played in several
groups, including the Harrison Bankhead Sextet, Dee Alexander's
Evolution Ensemble, Doug Lofstrom's New Quartet, Fulcrum Point New
Music Project, and Kahil El'Zabar's Ethnic Heritage Ensemble.
Sanders is also a member of the Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre music
ensemble where he has composed original works for dance.
| Cassidy Tee - Director
Cassidy Tee is a filmmaker and screenwriter born and raised in the Metro Detroit area. She graduated from film school in 2019, then relocated to Chicago to further expand her creative horizons and continue honing her craft.
Her work has garnered significant recognition, including being an official selection winner at the HORROR Underground Film & Screenplay Festival for her short film Wit's End. In addition to this achievement, she has been nominated twice at other festivals for her writing and directorial work.
As a director, Cassidy's focus is on crafting compelling narratives, with an interest in the thriller genre film space. Her approach blends a love for character-driven storytelling with an appreciation for suspense and atmosphere. Cassidy continues to explore new creative avenues while building her career in film. |
Kristina Mercado - Executive Producer
Kristina A. Mercado, a Chicago-born filmmaker and educator, is making waves in the independent film industry. Raised on the South Side, she's found inspiration for her creative pursuits. A graduate of Southern New Hampshire University, Kristina has a knack for storytelling and a passion for empowering women in film.
She founded Tied on Topic in 2022, a platform for diverse creative expression. When not behind the camera, Kristina is sharing her love of writing and theater as a teaching artist and playing soccer on a women's league. Her collaboration with director Cassidy Tee has ignited a powerful partnership, fueling their shared vision for innovative filmmaking. |  |
 | Annie Crousore - Executive Producer
Though she does not have any prior experience in the film industry, Annie has a deep background in fundraising and philanthropy work. Most notably, Annie was the Alpha Phi Beta Tau Vice President of Philanthropy and Indiana University Dance Marathon Chair for three consecutive years, leading her team to raise over $80,000 for Riley Children's Hospital in her senior year alone. Annie is passionate about the arts as a former competitive ballet dancer and member of the Indiana University RedStepper Dance team. After moving to Chicago in January 2024 to pursue her career in law, Annie was looking for a way to get involved with the arts as a hobby. Operating the financial side of First Chair seemed like the best of all worlds! |
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Allie Morgan - Assistant Director
Allie Morgan (she/her) is a writer, director, and producer in Chicago, IL. She studied entertainment business at Los Angeles Film School and screenwriting at New York Film Academy. She has written and directed numerous award winning short films and a proof of concept, and recently started her own production, Muffy Film Productions, which focuses on platforming marginalized filmmakers.
When she is not writing and directing her own projects, she also loves assistant directing and producing others projects. She is passionate about telling stories for women, people of color, and the LGBTQ+ community and her ultimate goal is to put these underrepresented communities in front of and behind the camera in all of her films. |
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Phat T. Nguyen - Director of Photography
