Synopsis

“Endure” (Thriller) by Joseph O’Brien

Logline

After a shocking photo of a young woman is found inside the twisted metal of a fatal car crash in a dense Florida swamp, veteran detective Emory Lloyd must risk everything to identify and find the woman before it’s too late.

Synopsis

Veteran detective Emory Lloyd is called from the bedside of his ailing wife to the site of a gruesome traffic accident on a remote highway late at night. The fatal crash is one of 400 deaths resulting every year from deer strikes on Florida roadways. This one is different. Discovered inside the twisted metal of the car: a camera and Polaroid photograph of a young woman gagged and tied to a tree. The terror in her eyes says it all.

Assigned to help Lloyd unravel the identity and whereabouts of the woman is young detective, Zeth Arnold, a college-educated, smart-ass transplant from Nashville. Together, they will discover the base of evil that exists just below the surface of their beautiful city. That is, if they don’t kill each other first. As the mystery unfolds, both must put aside their differences and rely on the strengths of each other to locate the woman before it’s too late. Working their way through hidden identities and a labyrinth of computer forensics, the detectives uncover the secret life of the man killed in the collision and a startling revelation: they’re not the only ones looking for the woman.

As if the pressures of finding the woman aren’t enough, Lloyd must also deal with the failing health of his beloved wife, Sirena. She’s the one thing he’s counted on to make sense of the fallen world he lives in. Now, the clock ticks away the precious moments of her life as well as any chances of finding the missing woman alive. Lloyd must face his inability to control every aspect of his life, including the health of his own wife. He must learn to endure the hardships that make him uniquely human and trust in something larger than himself.

The investigation reaches a boiling point when the search for the woman culminates to a fevered footrace into the mire of wetlands that cover 560 thousand acres in central Florida. With no time to lose, the detectives close in on the location of the woman only to find they’re too late. The woman is gone, and they could never have been prepared for what they find.

Miss Nebraska USA

Who is that woman tied to the tree? When the producers of Endure finalized their search for someone to portray a young woman tied to a tree for the development trailer, they ended their search with Micaela Johnson. They found Micaela through an agency in Orlando, Florida where she was doing some work during the Spring of 2007. According to Rob, this former Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader was perfect for the part. Recently, Micaela was crowned Miss Nebraska USA and will be competing in the upcoming Miss USA pageant. To learn more about Micaela you can visit her website www.micaelajohnson.com.

State Incentive Fund Article

State Puts Money Into Movie Made in Lakeland
The company received a pledge for reimbursement of $178,916.

By Gary White
The Ledger

The $1.2-million projected budget for the film "Endure" would barely cover the catering costs of a Hollywood blockbuster. For the Lakeland-based NFocus Productions, though, it's a massive sum.

Even as they continue to solicit private financial backing for the project, the filmmakers now can take comfort in knowing nearly one-fifth of their budget will be covered by the state of Florida. The production company recently received a pledge for a reimbursement of $178,916 upon completion of the film, scheduled to be shot next summer in and around Lakeland.

The money is part of a $25 million pool offered during the current fiscal year as incentive for companies to make movies and TV shows in Florida. The state competes with many others that offer tax breaks and financial inducements to lure production companies.

more>>>

Trailer

In order to heighten the marketability of Endure during the development process, the producers decided to create an initial trailer. The trailer was produced utilizing a series of over 200 high resolution still images which were then placed together and effected in Final Cut. You can view the trailer by visiting our website www.enduremovie.com.

Story Mapping

Realizing that he might have a difficult time outlining the Endure story, Joe utilized the process of mapping out the story on index cards pinned to a large cork board. Joe referred to and updated the board throughout the script development process.

Lakeridge PD Press Conference

From the beginning of the "Endure" project, the producers felt it necessary to create a realistic atmosphere through the entire process. This would begin with the efforts to market "Endure" from the earliest of the developmental stages of the film. A staged press conference was produced as part of the marketing effort. You can view the Lakeridge Police Department website by visiting http://www.enduremovie.com/lakeridgepdpress.html.

Auditions For Development Trailer

Auditions for the trailer to be used during the development phase of the Endure project took place at an agency in Tampa during February 2007. It was the producers' first experience at gagging women for an audition...something they described as "a little uncomfortable."