Help fund ADULT LEAGUE

Hi! My name is Raymond Ceres, and I’m the writer and director of ADULT LEAGUE, a coming-of-age bowling short film. I’m a senior film student at Muhlenberg College, and this project is my undergraduate thesis film, which I have been developing since last fall.

SYNOPSIS:

Adult League is set in a lively bowling alley during an adult bowling league. Twelve-year-old Dylan tags along with his father, Josh, who’s competing and none too thrilled to be on babysitting duty. Craving his dad’s attention, Dylan makes several attempts to engage with him, but Josh remains fixated on winning—and on a deck of playing cards he keeps sneaking glances at. Feeling neglected and growing curious, Dylan discovers the game his dad is really playing.

DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT:

Adult League is a story about lacking attention from male role models while also learning from and trying to become their equals. Dylan, the protagonist, experiences complicated feelings that are only amplified by his lack of an outlet for his frustrations to be heard. Ultimately, this leads him down a reckless path and the adults around him begin to see him as a rebellious troublemaker. As the story unfolds, we come to realize that there is a lot more to Dylan’s story.

This is the most personal film I have ever created. I bowled throughout my childhood, competing in multiple leagues and tournaments every season of the year. Even when I was not bowling I was still immersed in the culture, spending countless evenings at my local bowling alley while my dad bowled in his leagues. This place truly became a second home to me.

Ever since I began filmmaking, I knew that I wanted to make a film centered around the bowling community. My experiences on sets so far have prepared me to realize this story, and I am incredibly excited and grateful to finally be bringing this project to life! However, I cannot do this without your support.

BUDGET:

Everything is in place: an incredible crew, two immensely talented leads, and a powerful vision. Now we just need the funding to make this film a reality and execute it at the highest caliber possible.

Below is a diagram outlining exactly where and how your money will be used. The following accounts for the leanest budget possible while still delivering a quality film.

REWARDS:

To show how much we appreciate your support, we are offering some rewards that your donation can unlock!

$5+ Special thank you in the credits

$20+ Private link to the film upon completion

$50+ Digital poster of the film and behind-the-scenes photos

$100+ Thank you video from the cast and crew with behind-the-scenes footage; Social Media shoutout—this is a great one for businesses!

$500+ Zoom Q&A with a panel of cast and crew; Associate Producer credit

Independent filmmaking thrives on community support. Every contribution, big or small, brings us one step closer to making this dream come to life!

MEET THE CREW:

RAYMOND CERES (Writer/Director)

Raymond Ceres is a filmmaker and photographer from the Pocono Mountains, PA, currently completing his senior year at Muhlenberg College. Over the years, he has contributed to more than 30 short films in various roles, including cinematographer and producer for Right Behind You and director of the award-winning screendance Rubbing Sticks. Most recently, Raymond studied abroad at the world-renowned Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague, where he wrote and directed It Drops at Midnight, a narrative short film shot on 16mm film. Raymond enjoys the unpredictability of filmmaking and loves watching projects evolve through collaboration at every stage of the creative process.

SYDNEY EILONWY COX (Producer)

Sydney Eilonwy Cox is a writer, filmmaker, and producer based in Los Angeles. A recent graduate of Bowdoin College, she is currently interning at a production company and literary management agency while also enrolled in UCLA’s director’s program. She has a deep passion for storytelling and bringing those stories to life, exemplified through her role as a co-producer and editor on Sweet Tooth, which won Best Woman Short at the LA Indie Short Fest. Sydney aspires to create women- and feminine-driven narratives in film and television. In addition to her professional work, Sydney enjoys social dancing, playing soccer with friends, and beach days. Originally from Fairbanks, Alaska, she is grateful to be living in a place with a 65° winter.

ROSY VINOD (Producer)

Rosy Vinod is a filmmaker and executive producer dedicated to championing bold, character-driven storytelling. As one of the Producers of Adult League alongside Sydney, she is leading the film’s development, overseeing production, and ensuring that the creative vision is fully realized. With a diverse background spanning writing and directing her own films to script supervising and producing for others, Rosy brings a wealth of experience to the project. She is a Film Fellow on the feature documentary In Love, In Memory, the standing Field Producer for the speculative feature Silk, and a member of the No Evil Eye Cinema Film Futura collective. Her shadowing work with A24 on Babygirl and ABC Studios’ The View has deepened her understanding of both independent and large-scale productions. A former President of the Muhlenberg Film Association and Board Member of the First Peak Film Festival, Rosy is passionate about bringing Adult League to life and creating a film that resonates with audiences long after the credits roll.

NICHOLAS BOND (Director of Photography)

Nicholas Bond is an independent cinematographer based in Boston, MA. At Syracuse University, Bond worked on numerous short films including Reservations (2022), Triage (2024), and Anthropophagous (2024); many of which are currently in, or being considered for film festival selection. Nicholas Bond worked in the commercial industry for brands such as Syracuse University Food Services, KTek; and local businesses in the Syracuse area. Bond was selected to study filmmaking abroad at FAMU International in Prague, Czech Republic. Currently, he is filming his senior thesis film, The Woodland Devil, and is planned to premiere in festivals this year.

Thank you so much for your time. We hope you consider helping us bring Adult League to life!

Sincerely,

Raymond Ceres