The common Cell Phone could lead to more and better Poker Movies.

[Vegas Knights 59]

I have read that with the improved quality of cell phones, a feature film could actually be made using a high quality cell phone. In fact, famous director Steven Soderbergh who directed "Erin Brockovich"and Oceans 11, 12, and 13, has made 2 features totally with an iPhone 8 cell phone. One of those movies is called "High Flying Bird". Another feature movie made with only a cell phone is called "9 Rides". That film was shot in less than a week using an iPhone 6 in 4K quality. This method of filming could be great news for screenplays like mine.

Some of you know that I have written a poker themed screenplay that has won 3 honors in various film festival screenwriting contests. I have tried to go the Hollywood route but it’s very difficult for a new writer without connections and not living in California to break into that arena.  And it’s especially difficult now with Hollywood never having fully recovered from Covid and also changing audience tastes that has hurt box office attendance.

But I think the good news now for a poker/gambling themed movie is that gambling entertainment has been exploding across the nation in the last few years.  If you would have told me 6 years ago that the NFL and other sports would be promoting betting on their games I would have thought you were crazy. The times have definitely changed with regard to gambling in this country.

I’ve seen the two movies mentioned above that were made soley with a cell phone and was quite impressed with them.  The movie “High Flying Bird” had at least 2 scenes where the light weight cell phone camera was an obvious advantage. In one of those scenes the camera followed an actor as he was walking all around downtown.  The lengthy walking downtown scene would have probably cost a fortune to film with standard Hollywood filming techniques and all the film crews required. I was also impressed how good the “9 Rides” film was able to film the interior of a car as it was moving in traffic at night.  My screenplay has several (in a moving car) scenes and they could be done very cheaply with a cell phone.

Also my script has several poker tournament scenes. Filming those scenes with a cell phone would allow the phone operator to easily walk from table to table capturing the essence of a big tournament rather than just having a big stationary camera focused on one table. Also my film has location scenes in several places like the desert and Hoover Dam which would be expensive to transport a fim crew to. No big deal if your just using a cell phone.

Sure there are a lot of changes going on in Hollywood today and a lot of people are losing jobs.  But this idea of films being made with cell phones opens up tremendous opportunities for people with video making talent that they never had before when the big studios were the gate keepers and access to that industry was extremely restricted.

Heck, nowadays a trust fund kid with a lot of time and good cell phone skills or an investor with a couple hundred thousand could make a feature film. I heard the famous actor/director Orson Wells say in an interview that a cinematographer told him that he could teach Wells everything he needed to know on how to make a movie in 2 days. Wells took him up on his offer and made his first movie ever at 26 yrs. old. The movie was "Citizen Kane" and was generally considered by movie critics of the 60's and 70's as the greatest movie ever made. Not bad for a 26 yr. old kid who never made a movie before.

Will this new environment in filmmaking lead to an increase in new movies made outside the expensive Hollywood system of old? Only time will tell I guess. But I know of one multi-honored poker themed screenplay that is out there for the person with 1) access to a decent amount of funds, 2) the talent, 3) the energy, and 4) good video/cell phone skills. Anyone who believes they might have what it takes, or knows someone who might, can take the first step and message me. Let’s give the gambling world, and the world in general, that one great poker themed movie we know is possible.

On a side note, if there is not too much trollish activity in this thread, I will post in this thread 3 full pages of my copyrighted script 2 weeks from today.  For the record those pages have never been shown before on the web.

[Vegas Knights 59]

Above I mentioned that the feature film "9 Rides" was filmed entirely with a iPhone 6 Cell phone. Some of you might be interested in some of the trailers of that film;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66jY579UPW4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSbqZdcvZss

I mentioned that my script had several (in moving car) scenes. It would seem logical to conclude that the visuals of Vegas at night would be somewhat more interesting than those shown in the above film.

 

[SuitedAces21 2,741]

if danny negs isn't broke from bad beats at the WSOP he would be wise to jump on this offer, but i fear he will need to read the full script first.  i'm looking forward to the three pages.

i havent seen either of the movies you mentioned, but i have seen the movie UNSANE, which was also shot by steven soderbergh on an iphone. it was a very good movie and given the subject matter it made it feel even more claustrophobic and real.

check it out if you havent, my old friend. 

 

[Vegas Knights 59]

On 6/2/2026 at 5:49 PM, SuitedAces21 said:

if danny negs isn't broke from bad beats at the WSOP he would be wise to jump on this offer, but i fear he will need to read the full script first...

Yeah, I’ve thought of Daniel regarding this project.  I really can’t think of anyone who would be more qualified to be involved in this.  His experience with cell phone vlogging, his tremendous WSOP experience, his film and  entertainment people contacts, his casino industry contacts, his many friends who are also celebrity poker players, and some other things I might get to.

If Daniel or GG (the company he is an ambassador for) bought this thing, they could change the script anyway they wanted.  Although there are a few jerks in the script, the two main characters are basically good guys and there’s not the usual criminal/violence element that exists in many films containing poker. That connection to crime and violence in those films probably hurts the image of poker.

The script does have a segment dealing with problem gambling (about 13% of the film) but that segment could be toned down or eliminated altogether. Actually that segment might help problem gamblers.  That would be good publicity for Daniel and GG by showing they themselves are actually concerned with the problem and want to do something to help. But overall the film loves poker.

I’ve also read somewhere that Daniel’s wife was an actress. There’s actually 2 speaking roles Amanda could play.  There would also be a speaking role where Daniel could play himself at a tournament.  Additionally, there could be roles for Daniel’s friends like Phil Hellmuth, Mike Matusow, and Phil Ivey. Heck there’s even a scene his 2 dogs would be good in.

The film is currently titled “Vegas Knights”. And no I did not steal that idea from the Las Vegas Golden Knights hockey team.  Actually the first edition of the screenplay was copyrighted with that title before the Golden Knights even came along.  But if necessary I have another title that might even be better. So the title should not be an issue.

Anyway, I know Daniel is currently very busy at the WSOP and doing his vlogs.   I’d be happy to send the script to one of Daniel’s representatives or someone like Amanda. Heck, she could even tinker with the script while Daniel is so busy with his poker career.  

If Daniel does read it and likes it, he or GG could actually buy it and put it in a drawer somewhere or on a computer file until he’s ready to devote more time to it. When he does have some time he could also tinker with it.  If he or Amanda does change anything they of course would get partial writing credits.
 
Anyway, this is all tentative at the moment but the possibilities are definitely exciting to consider.

[SuitedAces21 2,741]

we will keep this thread active until the end of the WSOP so hopefully danny can see it. if he could win a bracelet or two and be flush with cash and in a good mood it would certainly help things. 

maybe Bob can get the word to danny. 

 

[Vegas Knights 59]

Well I said I would post some of the screenplay.  There's a lot of poker in the script but I'd rather not post the poker stuff because it might give away too much about the story. If people are curious how much I know about poker they can read the following thread I created 

https://fullcontactpoker.com/poker-forum/index.php?/topic/150438-goodbad-comments-sayings-and-cliches-youve-heard-at-the-poker-table/
 
Anyway in the following post I’ve included 3 pages of the actual script.
 

[Vegas Knights 59]

The following is an excerpt from the copyrighted screenplay “Vegas Knights”. It should be noted that this story takes place in the year 2005 (the height of the worldwide poker boom)

EXT. LAS VEGAS STRIP - BRAD’S CAR - Dusk

Brad and Gary are now stuck in HEAVY STRIP TRAFFIC.

GARY
Man, what’s with this traffic.

BRAD
Oh, shit, I forgot, that big computer convention starts tomorrow.

GARY
Damn, that’s right... we should of went down Paradise.

Gary and Brad show their frustration. [NOTE: During these huge conventions you sometimes have to wait 5 or 6 light rotations to get through a Strip traffic light.] Gary sees a MARQUEE on a small casino. It reads “All Bottled Beer 99 cents”.

GARY
We’ll be here for 10 minutes. I’m gonna to run in there real quick and grab a beer.

BRAD
Well hurry up; this line might move.

Gary gets out of the car and JOGS to the SMALL CASINO. He goes to the bar and gets a BOTTLED BEER. He takes a SWIG,
then goes to the street entrance. He sees that Brad hasn’t moved an inch. He goes back inside, drinking his beer along the way. He goes to the CRAPS TABLE, gets a $5 bill from his pocket and throws it on the table.

GARY
(to craps dealer)
$5 on the Field.

DEALER
Money plays 5 on the Field.

The dice thrower throws a 12 (which pays double)and Gary wins $10. The dealer takes the $5 bill and gives Gary 3 red $5 chips.  Gary thinks a second and puts the 3 red chips on the Field again. The dice thrower throws a 2.

DEALER
Snake Eyes! Pay the Field double...
(Gary wins $30)

GARY
Guys, I hate to hit and run but
I really gotta go.

He tosses a $5 chip on the table.

GARY
5 for the boys on “Any Seven”.

The dice thrower throws a 7 and the dealers win a $25 TIP.  Gary chuckles, and the DEALERS THANK HIM. Gary heads for the          street exit. Just before exiting, he glances at a BLACKJACK TABLE that has a BEAUTIFUL BLONDE DEALER. The pretty dealer smiles at him; Gary smiles back and heads for the exit. When Gary reaches the exit he stops, turns around, and looks at the blonde  dealer again. He then looks out to the STREET and sees BRAD’S CAR has only moved a short distance. He goes to the blackjack table. He thinks a beat, and puts his eight $5 chips into one of the circles.

GARY
(to dealer)
Play ‘em all.

The dealer counts the chips and turns to her pit boss.

DEALER
(to pit boss)
Checks play, $40.

The pit boss nods OK. The dealer wishes Gary good luck. There is one other player at the table, a black male about
40. The pretty dealer deals the black player a blackjack and he reacts happily. She then deals Gary a king and a queen which makes 20.

GARY
Alright!!

The dealer pays the black player his winnings and Gary stands pat with his 20. The dealer has a 2 showing as her up card.
She flips over her other card and it is an ace. She now has a total of 3 or 13. She flips over another deuce which makes a 5 or 15.  Gary is very anxious as the dealer flips over a king which gives her a 15. Gary can barely stand it as she flips over a 6 which gives  her the dreaded 21.
 
GARY
Shiiittt!

DEALER
Oh, that was a tough one.

Gary looks at the dealer with contempt.

GARY
Yeah, that was a freakin’ tough
one alright! ... Shit! ...

Gary shakes his head in disbelief. He angrily grabs his beer.

GARY
(totally disgusted)
Thanks for the memories, hun.

Gary storms off and goes outside. He sees that Brad’s car has moved about 50 yards. He begins to RUN ON THE SIDEWALK,
BUMPING INTO TOURISTS along the way. He reaches BRAD’S CAR, and gets in. Brad notices Gary looks upset.

BRAD
...How much did ya lose?

GARY
$5, big freakin’ deal!

BRAD
You look pretty upset for losing $5 ...

GARY

I don't know man-- it's just this losin’ streak I’ve been on.
Ya know one of these days we ought to blow this town- move to Idaho or somewhere..

 

[SuitedAces21 2,741]

i like it. when gary hit the blackjack table i was expecting him to have to double down and then get dominated by the hot blond. hopefully this sexy blond comes back around and gives gary a chance later on. 

for cost savings we might need to move the film to present day so we can use current locations and cars. we'd need a lot of cash to retro fit the strip to make it look like 2005. just a thought. 

[Vegas Knights 59]

On 6/9/2026 at 8:58 PM, SuitedAces21 said:

i like it. when gary hit the blackjack table i was expecting him to have to double down and then get dominated by the hot blond. hopefully this sexy blond comes back around and gives gary a chance later on. 

 

Well remember, Gary's friend was out front sitting in traffic, so he could only play one hand. The whole idea of the scene was to show the craziness of Gary to do such a thing as drink and gamble while his friend was in traffic. 

For the record, I've never seen a scene like this where someone jumps out of a car and goes inside to drink and gamble and comes back out and gets in the car. So I guess if there is a similar scene like this in the future on TV or in a movie then copyright infringement might  be considered.

[Vegas Knights 59]

3 hours ago, SuitedAces21 said:

...for cost savings we might need to move the film to present day so we can use current locations and cars. we'd need a lot of cash to retro fit the strip to make it look like 2005. just a thought. 

Well these hotels existed in 2005---

Bellagio

Caesars Palace (opened its luxury Augustus Tower this exact year)

Circus Circus

Excalibur

Flamingo Las Vegas

Luxor

Mandalay Bay

New York-New York

Paris Las Vegas

The Venetian

Treasure Island

Wynn Las Vegas (officially opened its doors on April 28, 2005)

---so just the front of the above hotels could be shown. Also there are many YouTube videos showing a car driving in traffic down the strip during that era. People would probably be very happy to see a portion of their 2005 era video in a movie, especially if they got a couple hundred for it.

And anyone who bought this script could--with a few changes--certainly have it happening in the present.  

[SuitedAces21 2,741]

there is a scene in seinfeld where they are stuck in traffic and go on side adventures after getting out of the saab. the famous puerto rico day parade episdoe late in the series, but they werent gambling. 

i'd work in a reference to the movie HEAT when gary gets back to the car. brad tells gary he has a problem if he's rolling dice and catching cards while stuck in traffic and gary says, well, brad, for me, the action is the juice. and brad says that doesn't even make sense for your gambliing addiction but tom sizemore is the man. 

and then the traffic clears thanks to the tom sizemore effect.