Hi All,
Is this interesting? Not interesting? Thoughts? Would you watch it? Thanks for your time.
TITLE: True North
GENRE: Crime/Drama “The Brave One” meets “The Perfect Storm”
LOGLINE: A devoted cop’s widow must navigate a web of deception and doubt to
prove his innocence after being wrongfully accused of a serious crime.
SETTING: New England Coastal Town. Present Day.
JULIA EMERY, a military veteran is no stranger to life and death situations, but nothing
could prepare her for the sudden death of her beloved husband, Harbor View Police
Officer, CHRISTOPEHR EMERY, who is killed when he shows up to a suspicious
activity call while off duty. At his memorial service, Chris’ colleagues, 22 year veteran
DOUG HUMPHRIES and 10 year veteran SEAN KIRKLAND console Julia, promising
her that they will bring the culprits to justice. Julia’s boss, STEVE PHILLIPS, a well-
known and respected local realtor, tells her to take some time off from work and that he
will handle her house showings.
A few days after the service, TOM SHIELDS, an enigmatic and rugged DEA Agent,
unexpectedly shows up at Julia’s front door at which time he informs her that based on
evidence, it’s possible that Chris was involved in drug trafficking and using empty
homes on the market as drug stash houses. With Julia being a realtor, he’d have
access to this information. She insists that her husband is innocent and that she plans
on finding her husband’s killer. Tom is put off by her response but at the same time, his
intuition tells him that there’s something different about her.
When Julia stumbles across evidence that will either clear or incriminate Chris, it leads
her to her estranged brother, MARK STANLEY, a former and well-known drug user who
lives on a small fishing boat along the harbor. He tells her that he’s been working with
Chris as his eyes and ears on the docks. Not convinced, he tells her he owes Chris
because he helped get him into rehab and because of that, he’s been clean for 6
months. Julia eventually enlists his help because his resourcefulness might be her only
hope.
Mark informs Julia that based on their shady schedule witnessed by Chris, that
brothers BEN and RYAN HUTCHINS, who are 3rd generation commercial fisherman,
might be working as narcotic transports to makes ends meet. Ben is a religious and
honorable family man who always wants to do the right thing and Ryan is a troubled
and greedy soul who would stop at nothing for a better life, even if it involves putting
the lives closest to him in danger. He has no problem putting the pressure on Ben.
Julia confronts Ben who was also Chris’ longtime friend hoping for answers, but his
defensiveness and tight-lipped behavior makes Julia question his loyalty and
involvement.
Tom pays Julia another visit at which time he exposes a secret that she has of her own -
that she was a former P.O.W. and a war hero and he now understands why she would
want to pursue her husband’s killer. He also informs her he found evidence that
suggests Chris might have been secretly investigating corruption within the department
and that his death was not an accident but a targeted killing orchestrated by people he
trusted most.
As they uncover more evidence, they learn that Sean and Steve, driven by greed and
power, are the masterminds behind the drug trafficking operation, building a criminal
empire using their positions and resources to cover up illicit activities.
Julia’s relentless quest for justice puts her in grave danger and she becomes a target
herself. She is held at gun point by Sean at her home at which time he confesses that
Chris was killed because he knew too much and got in the way. Drawing from her
martial arts training, Sean finds himself at the other end of his own gun.
Driven by her love for Chris, Julia, along with Mark and Tom, bring his killers to justice.
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I like it. The movie should be interesting.
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Yes. Wrongfully accused is always a success here.
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Eric and Wal, thank you for taking the time to read it.
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Absolute watch
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I'd definitely watch this, Christine Capone! Great job on the logline and synopsis! I was confused by one thing in the synopsis though. "Tom pays Julia another visit at which time he exposes a secret that she has of her own - that she was a former P.O.W. and a war hero and he now understands why she would want to pursue her husband’s killer. Why would her being a former P.O.W. and war hero make her wanna pursue her husband's killer?
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Hi Maurice, thank you and great question! In the script, Tom says to her "usually a cop's widow accepts the American flag and desperately tries to move on with their life", but with her being in the military, it's kind of in her nature to pursue his killer. It's what she was trained to do. It's in her blood to find justice. I guess that's what I'm trying to say.
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Also, I didn't want her to suffer from PTSD. I wanted her to be strong...mentally and physically.
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You're welcome, Christine Capone. That makes sense. Maybe work "her being in the military, it's kind of in her nature to pursue his killer. It's what she was trained to do. It's in her blood to find justice" into the synopsis so producers/etc. will know. Maybe not word-for-word though.
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Good point, Maurice, I will fix it! thx!
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Maurice, do you think Sean and Steve's intentions are clear?
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You're welcome, Christine Capone. Yes, their intentions are clear. "As they uncover more evidence, they learn that Sean and Steve, driven by greed and power, are the masterminds behind the drug trafficking operation, building a criminal empire using their positions and resources to cover up illicit activities."
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Great, thanks Maurice! This helps. I've read it a million times but we always overlook something.
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Christine Capone This is really compelling. The only thing I paused at was the "...Drawing from her martial arts training..." bit. So she's a military veteran (of what branch?) that is utilizing her combat/close-quarters-battle/military martial arts training? Or is she a martial artist separate from the military service training? "Driven by her relentless pursuit for justice Julia finds herself a hostage in her own home due to the business end of Sean's 9mm Glock. Utilizing her Marine Corps martial arts training skills Julia is eventually able to turn the tables on Sean leading him to confess that Chris was killed because he knew too much about Sean's and Steve's narcotics smuggling operations."
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Thanks Mike, Yes I think I should or could make that more clear. Outside of her military training, she is also highly trained in martial arts. In the script, it has flashbacks where her husband trains her to fight. Almost as if to prepare her for what happens to him so she can take care of herself. She is former military police and she also studied martial arts. For instance, I'm a realtor but also a yoga instructor. It's just something else she's trained. in. I wanted her to be hard core.
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You're welcome, Christine Capone. I know what you mean.
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Nice!
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Actually Mike, I'm going to change it to "combat" training rather than martial arts. It would make more sense. Thanks for pointing that out!
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Bows extravagantly You are most welcome!
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I guess the killers were his friends by second paragraph. Maybe write the synopsis in a way Readers wont know until the end.
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Hey Dan, it's the 2nd to last paragraph where we learn his partner Sean and well known resident in the community, Steve, were involved in his murder.
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You're in good shape. Maybe stop the time and keep her without prospects of getting forward for a moment. Mark Stanley seems like a guy who she could be expecting nothing from, but to her surprise he wants to help.
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I could try that, thanks Wal!
There is one fundamental mistake in all this - the hero should not be ready to solve the problem. if your character were a kindergarten teacher with three young children and a huge mortgage debt, it would be right and dramatic.
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Arthur, that's the protag's goal, isn't it?
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Arthur, if after a few weeks of your husband's murder, a DEA agent shows up at your house accusing your dead husband of a crime, I think you'd be ready to go after the truth as well as prove his innocence. But maybe that's just me haha
No, civilians are prohibited from investigating criminal cases. private detectives can do this. but in Russia, even they are forbidden to engage in such investigations, only the police have the right to look for murderers and drug dealers.
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Tom, the DEA agent, is seemingly working with Julia, and apparently disclosing investigative information to her, giving her even more legitimacy. In the US you can investigate whatever/whomever you want as John/Jane Q Civilian, the potential legal issues would stem from impersonating a law enforcement officer (LEO) whilst doing so, or violating federal/state law, e.g. code on stalking, trespassing, harassment, etc. Film stories aplenty, too, where an active LEO gets fired, suspended, is retired, etc. and has no sworn peace officer powers (aka "a civilian"), but ends up running a shadow investigation, and brings a culprit(s) to justice.
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I have trouble with a DEA agent spilling the beans on a pending investigation to anyone outside law enforcement. Unless (and ignore the rest if this is presumptuous)...
Chris was secretly investigating his wife, based on evidence planted by her boss and she has no clue about this until the DEA agent, acting undercover,. contacts her, thinking she is connected to the drug operation and her husband's death, in part because she received a general discharge from the military due to her own drug problem. Because of her past, she is the one who helped Mark, not Chris, causing Mark to help her -- that is, until he, too, is murdered.
I have some other thoughts that I'd be happy to share, but only if you're not put off by my suggestions above.
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Arthur, first of all, it's a movie, I can do whatever I want! haha. It's a small town and she's using her connections and resources to work alongside the DEA Agent. Don't take it so literally but I understand where you're coming from.
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Mike you nailed it on the head!
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Hey Daniel, thanks for this. I'd have to do an entire rewrite. I appreciate the angle though. This was an idea I had and I ran with it. Again, it's a movie. Look at all the Mark Wahlberg movies. Apparently, why call in the military when you can call him to do the job.
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Christine Capone Have you seen "Hightown"? For some reason, after reading your synopsis, that popped into my head before any other NE-based series/film...
Daniel Broderick This, i.e. LE leaks, legitimately happen ALL the time, and not just in film...
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I have done extensive research on true crime and have consulted with both sides of the law as well as with people who went through addiction. This has been over 7 years of research.
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MIke I haven't but will check out today!
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Christine Capone It's VERY good. Damn it...now I want lobstah...
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Mike actually, yes I have! I just looked it up. I loved the tone of the series. I didn't watch it in full but I think I will this weekend. Thx!
I wrote everything I wanted to say. your heroine does not overcome any obstacles, she is not in danger, she has little motivation to follow the plot of the story.
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haha, Mike I just came back from the Cape/Boston and the seafood is the best!
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Arthur, other than her recently deceased husband is being vilified and accused of a crime he didn't commit and he's not alive to defend himself. That alone is motivation, in my opinion. Dealing with people in drug trafficking is very dangerous and that puts her in harm's way. I do appreciate your input though.
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Christine Capone Color me envious. I "suffer" from a shellfish ADDICTION. The best lobstah story ever is that prisoners back in the Olden Times in the NE complained that getting fed lobstah every day was akin to 'cruel and unusual punishment'. I would have died eating it and gone, "O' Death, where is thy sting?!"
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Arthur, I'm open to opinions and constructive criticism. It's only going to make me a better writer. This is not a story for everyone and I'm okay with that.
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Mike, i'm sure a lot of people would have!! I love lobster. I miss living on the east coast and going to clam bakes. The best!
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This sounds like an interesting movie. I would definitely watch it. Great job!
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Thanks Tara!
the policeman's wife asks the kindergarten teacher Laura to follow her husband, a policeman, whom she suspects of treason. she offers money to Laura, who has three small children and a huge mortgage debt after her divorce from her husband. Laura agrees to do this easy job.
She follows the policeman until she discovers his corpse. Laura is horrified that she left footprints at the crime scene and will become the only suspect in the murder of a policeman. She is forced to look for a murderer in order not to go to jail. however, when she finds out that narcomafia is involved in the case, she realizes that it is better for her to go to prison for a crime she did not commit than to find her children fried in the oven.
Next, Laura either finds a clever way out of the situation, or becomes a hostage of the situation and starts working for the mafia to save herself and the children.
Arthur, what is this?
Hi Christine! Great idea. I have two quick suggestions. 1) If the main character's husband was investigating corruption, it may be more compelling and a quicker in if, rather than her simply deciding to seek the truth, he left behind some critical piece of evidence that could implicate his killers, and so they come after her to find it. Sort of throw her into the story, instead of her making the conscious decision to "create" the plot. Having to make the sudden shift from grief to survival and "navigating the web of deception" might provide more opportunities for internal/emotional conflict for your main character, as well. 2) If you dig this idea, I'd revisit the logline. Right now, her "must" hinges on the audience buying into her being that "devoted", whereas, intertwining her own fight for survival with clearing her husband's might make for a more plausible set-up. And, I hope you'll find this a compliment, but I'm getting very strong, "female-led, but with more action 'THE FUGITIVE' vibes" from your story. Good luck and keep going!
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Paul, that's an interesting angle, actually. I will consider it and see if that could work. Throwing her into this world might make it more interesting, forcing her to seek the truth. Now you have me thinking! Thanks for this!
I did want the element of surprise as far as who was involved. She just thinks he was killed in the line of duty until the DEA agent shows up at her house...it's not mentioned in the synopsis, but he actually went to the police academy with her husband and pays her a visit, almost as a courtesy but not in a friendly manner her, forcing her to seek the truth. She finds evidence in a police notebook he kept hidden away, so she flips through it and finds her brother's info in it.