Checkered Out

Production details

• Runtime: 10m 01s
• Aspect ratio: 16:9
• Genre: Queer romantic comedy
• Country: Canada
• Production year: 2026
• Language: English

Starring

• Alicia L’Archevêque as Girl in Black
• Sye Perry as Girl in Red

Filmmakers

Britney Kam — Director / Producer / Co-writer

Britney Kam is a Canadian-born Chinese filmmaker from Vancouver, British Columbia. Growing up immersed in dance and theatre, she was drawn to storytelling from an early age, particularly in exploring human connection and expression through art. Through her BA in Film Studies and a Master of Management at the University of British Columbia, she developed both a creative and analytical perspective towards film. Upon graduating, Checkered Out is her directorial debut as she enters the filmmaking field.

Sye Perry — Lead / Composer / Co-writer

Sye Perry is an aspiring Canadian artist from Coaldale, Alberta. She is currently a student at UBC studying Bioeconomy Science & Technology. Beyond her current studies, Sye has an extensive background in creative writing, theatre, and music. She is a classically trained harpist, singer in the UBC bands and choirs, and vocalist in an alternative rock band, Lower Limits. Sye is inspired by a desire to bring more humanity, engagement, and colour to the world at large. Checkered Out is her introduction to filmmaking.

Ansel Tan — Director of Photography / Colourist / Co-writer

Ansel Tan is a Canadian filmmaker from Calgary, Alberta, currently based in Vancouver, BC. Drawn to storytelling as a way of understanding people and place, his work is grounded in emotional attention, close observation, and sensitivity to character and context. Working across journalism and filmmaking, he approaches the camera as both witness and participant, often working independently to stay close to the material. He is a video journalist for Android Authority and SoundGuys, and a freelance filmmaker.

Director’s statement

In the epidemic of romantic nonchalance, Checkered Out is a beautiful, lighthearted, and weirdly adorable queer romantic comedy that reminds us to take chances, and dare to stop ‘watching’.

Checkered Out was written in whiteboard scratchings, shot entirely on an iPhone 17 Pro, and edited meticulously over a 10-day filmmaking extravaganza called Crash Test Cinema, hosted by CiTR 101.9FM & Discorder Magazine. Based at the University of British Columbia, this program is a low-barrier opportunity for students interested in filmmaking, regardless of experience, ability or access to equipment. I joined Crash Test Cinema in hopes of meeting creatives who shared my passion for connecting people through film, and was so lucky to form this crew with people I had met merely days prior.

Born from the comically subversive concept of ‘mutual stalkers,’ this script was fleshed out between the four walls of a study room, taking inspiration from Wes Anderson aesthetics and Fleabag’s awkward wit and fourth-wall breaks.

I hope that Checkered Out spurs genuine engagement and encourages people to engage with life instead of watching it from the sidelines. Our main characters, Girl in Red and Girl in Black, visually represent this through their authentic characteristics—excitable, mysterious, and very socially awkward. They are the ‘checkers’ that start on opposite sides of the board. Throughout the film they slowly get closer together before they finally engage, speak, and stop playing games.

— Britney Kam, Director