The short film: Suffering
The Story
(Story by: Ivory Hunter & Esther Levy)
(Writen by: Christopher DerGregorian)
Suffering tells the compelling tale of young married couple John and Victoria. They have a happy marriage that is upended when John learns that Victoria is pregnant and has been keeping that news from him.
John has previously said he does not want a child and demands Victoria "take care of it." When she skips her appointment to end the pregnancy, John is hit with relief and he realizes that he too wants to be a parent.
After Victoria and the newborn die of complications during the birth John is a shell of himself. He seeks out the doctor who cared for Victoria and takes he and his wife hostage at gunpoint. John wants to kill the doctor's wife so that he will feel the same pain. However, John cannot go through with it and instead turns the gun on himself.
Suffering is a tale of love and the torment it can cause.
"Why should you invest with us and our project"
Suicide is a poignant issue in the United States and the rest of the world. Suicide is too often the response to unaddressed and deep suffering; suffering related to work, depression, family, relationships, and so much more. The world is full of suffering fathers, mothers, sisters, and brothers. Suicide and suffering know no economic bounds, no particular race, religion or age. Suffering is an indiscriminate and all-to-often silent plague whose final echoing utterance is suicide. So many of our lives have been touched and changed forever by this haunting resolution to a loved ones life.
How many of these tragic ends could have been averted? What will it take?
Awareness. Understanding.
Our aim is to demonstrate our ability as storytellers and filmmakers to weave a compelling tale with a meaningful message which is at once as engaging as it is impactful. Help Leobra Productions bring the light of compassion and comprehension to the human struggle. We have so many important stories to share, but to share our vision as more than a velleity requires capital. We invite you to participate in this vision with an investment so that we can create a truly moving work.
Thank you for your consideration.
Goal of Short Film
The goal of Suffering is to shoot a short film version of the full length feature and use as a selling tool to investors for the feature film. We intend to present Suffering at the best film festivals throughout the world. Below are a list of short films turned into full length features that were purchased at the film festivals:
Short Film Full length
Bottle Rocket Bottle Rocket
Le Jetee 12 Monkeys
Alive in JoBurg District 9
Dirk Diggler Boogie Nights
Within The Woods The Evil Dead
Peluca Napoleon Dynamite
Some Folks Call It: Sling Blade
Sling Blade
Saw Saw
The Customer Is: Sin City
Always Right
Film Festivals
Sundance Film Festival (USA)
Cannes Film Festival (France) – for shorts under 15 minutes only
Palm Springs International Festival of Short Films (USA)
Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival (France)
Aspen Shortsfest (USA)
Bios of Production Team
Mo McRae (Director & Producer), From a complex black panther leader opposite David Oyelowo, to a big contract professional ball player opposite Liev Schreiber, Mo McRae has quickly risen in the entertainment industry as an actor to watch in 2015. McRae can currently be seen as a scene stealer in WILD [FOX Searchlight], as “Jimmy Carter” opposite Reese Witherspoon. Directed by Jean-Marc Vallée, WILD, based on the memoir Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed, premiered at the Telluride Film Festival, and also created Oscar buzz at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival.
In addition to WILD McRae recently shot the lead role in romantic comedy NOVEMBER RULE, opposite DJ Qualls, Tatyana Ali, Lala Anthony, and Kali Hawk [release date TBA]. McRae secured roles in WILD and NOVEMBER RULE soon after he made waves as black panther leader “Eldridge Huggings” in the critically acclaimed, award-winning film THE BUTLER [The Weinstein Company] directed by Lee Daniels.
On the television front, it was recently announced that McRae would be joining the cast of TNT’s detective drama “Murder in the First” for season two as a series regular, slated to premiere in spring 2015. McRae is also well known for the role of “Tyler” on FX’s hit series “Sons of Anarchy.” Introduced during season five [fall 2013] McRae rejoined the cast for the final season of the show, which follows the lives of a close knit outlaw motorcycle club operating in California’s Central Valley. Additional recent TV credits include: recurring as “Deonte Frasier” on seasons one & two of Showtime’s “Ray Donovan,” and guest star roles on the STARZ upcoming series “Survivor’s Remorse,” and “Battle Creek” for CBS. !
Born and raised in South Central Los Angeles, McRae is the oldest of three children. Growing up in the 1980’s in South Central he made a decision at an early age to dream big and defy the odds, as having a successful career in anything, let alone in the entertainment business seemed slim to none in the community he was raised. McRae funneled his energy into poetry, music, and sports. He developed an affinity for performing arts while attending Washington Preparatory High School, and has pursued that dream ever since.
Within weeks, McRae had landed six national commercials, and quickly booked his first feature film, appearing in the Oscar nominated, critically acclaimed Fox Searchlight Pictures THIRTEEN. He went on to book a lead role in Sony Pictures Entertainment’s GRIDIRON GANG opposite Dwayne Johnson and Xzibit as “Leon Hayes,” a teenager at a juvenile detention center who under the leadership of his counselor gains self esteem by playing football. McRae has also made his mark on the television front, appearing on top television series including: “NYPD Blue,” “Boston Public,” “Becker,” “The District,” “The Shield,” “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” “ER,” “Cold Case,” “Southland,” “Detroit 1-8-7,” “The Defenders,” and “CSI: NY.”
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0594895/?ref_=nv_sr_1
Ivory J. Hunter (Producer), a Libra, is the creative force behind Leobra Productions. This propensity for ingenuity enables Leobra Productions to springboard imaginative concepts into tangible reality. Alter Ego is one of a myriad of ideas.
Mr. Hunter’s experience in entertainment ranges from acting to producing (with Soul Savers [TV], and Phobia [film] currently in development). Mr. Hunter, true to his Libra sign, has the uncanny ability to strategically balance fairness, peace and harmony in a chaotic industry. His connections and resourcefulness enables Leobra Productions to utilize Hollywood’s lifelines.
Mr. Hunter holds a B.A. in Psychology from Dominican University of California.
Roderick McCarthy (Producer), a Leo, is the strength and visionary of Leobra Productions. Mr. McCarthy has over 25 years of experience in the entertainment industry. He studied under a number of well-known acting instructors including, Diana Castle, Estelle Harmon, Aaron Speiser, Uta Hagen and Stella Adler. They gave Mr. McCarthy the edge and insight he needed. The Closer, Bones, Justified, NCIS, The Finder, Awake, The Mentalist, Parks and Recreation, Wilfred, Scandal, The Wedding Band, Workaholics, E.R., Victorious and Firefly, are a few notable acting accomplishments.
Mr. McCarthy recently completed a producing project, a TV pilot entitled, Sensitive Men, in which he also co- starred. The pilot, creating an industry buzz, is currently being shopped to numerous television networks. This is one of many successes to the future of Leobra Productions’ television projects.
Mr. McCarthy obtained his B.A. in Business Administration with an option in Marketing from California State University, Los Angeles.
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1195518/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
Past work of one of our producers Roderick McCarthy
http://www.planetcstudios.com/work/sensitive-men/sensitive-men-pilot-preview-trailer/
