homicide; 24 robberies, including 10 with a gun; and nearly five dozen property crimes that range from burglary to theft had taken place within 1,000 feet of the Big Chair Chess Club, according to
crimemap.dc.gov. Like the neighborhood in which it is situated, the Big Chair Chess Club does not have a formidable cash flow. The organization took in $16,000 and $22,500 in 2012 and 2011, respectively, and Brown, as CEO, has never been paid more than $8,000 during either of those years, according to tax returns for the organization under its legal nonprofit name, Chair Chess Club, Inc. Brown—who has plans to expand Big Chair Chess Club— said he initially had misgivings about the amount of money for which he sold the rights to his life story—the exact amount of which he declined to disclose. However, he said when he visited the Los Angeles set where he saw a replica of his Chess House, as well as Gooding and a number of lesser known and unknown actors busy at work, he let go any thoughts about not getting enough out of the deal. One female actress in particular told Brown: “Look at how many people you put to work.” “That right there alleviated any concerns,” Brown said, adding that he was just happy to see that his life story had brought blessings to other people. Another factor to consider is no matter how much Brown was or wasn’t paid for the movie, having his life story featured in a Hollywood movie adds a layer of credibility that has eluded Brown since he acquired a criminal record that he says prevented him from ever being able to teach in D.C.’s public schools. What’s more, the movie about Brown’s life could continue to put actors to work and yield other unforeseen benefits. For instance, in the movie, Brown’s character—seeking to motivate one of the young people he is mentoring through chess—makes a fairly prominent reference to GM Maurice Ashley, the first African-American grandmaster and someone with whom he was previously unacquainted. “Whenever I get a project that comes across my desk and
I don’t know about the person it frustrates me,” Gooding said. “Maurice Ashley was one of those names that I think it’s a travesty that not a lot of this is at least echoed in our educational system. “To say first black grandmaster of history is an important fact that a lot of kids need to know.” Asked if a movie should be made about Ashley’s journey toward becoming the first African-American GM, Gooding said he would consider playing the role if a filmmaker that he respected shot the movie. “I honestly think it would be an amazing movie and would be open to portraying it,” Gooding said. Asked what kind of impact he thought Life of a King might have, Gooding said he has no way to know but hopes that people are educated and inspired by Brown’s story. “I hope this story is healing and therapeutic not just for Black Americans but all Americans, and not just Americans but people abroad that can find inspiration,” Gooding said.
Malcolm Mays (right) as "Tahime" and Blake Cooper Griffin as "J. Thomas Gaines" in Life of a King. Photo courtesy of Millennium Entertainment.
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