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Inside the Butterfly Net - project in development
Directed by: Ian Spohr
Written by : Georgia Menides
Produced by Doug Lloyd, Georgia Menides and Scott Connolly
Log Line:
A renowned scientist discovers a gene in a rare butterfly that could cure
his daughter’s leukemia. Fourteen, spirited, and determined to live a
normal teenage life; Allison finds a shocking way to escape the disease
on her own.
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James Nagle is one of the top geneticists in the country who lectures
about scientific responsibilitybased on his own mistakes in the past.
His 14-year-old daughter Allison suffers from acute leukemia.
Although James has tapped every connection to get her the best drugs
for her condition, her body is not responding.
A chance meeting with an old colleague leads James and his brother Reid to Brazil, in search of a butterfly
said to promote an almost miraculous healing. A series of complex genetic screenings reveal a
sequence in the butterfly’s DNA that seems to reverse cell growth in malignant blood tissue. Unlike
most drugs, this sequence binds solely with the carcinogenic cells leaving the healthy cells in the body
unscathed.
An unfortunate accident with a colleague’s research leaves James hesitant. He fears his daughter’s diminished immune system cannot handle this new serum, and gives up hope on what he has discovered.
Secretly, Reid brings the butterflies home, using his own scientific background to continue testing. He is
convinced that if the serum works on infected blood tissue, James will change his mind.
At home, James’ marriage is falling apart. Often left alone to deal with her daughter and the realities of
her illness, his wife Jessica is sinking into anger and depression. As things get worse with Allison, and her
husband becomes more distant, Jessica’s isolation consumes her.
Allison’s aunt, Nettie, leads her through a series of spells and meditations that keep Allison excited and
positive. Allison’s faith in these rituals is constantly disrupted by her parents’ adherence to traditional
medicine. But In the end, Nettie has to come to terms with the limits of her religion.
Allison is a lovable and spirited girl determined to live a normal high school life, despite her illness. She
is convinced that between her father’s science and her aunt’s religion, she will get better. She is also
very much the average high school girl, “in love” with a basketball player in her school and constantly
thinking of ways of ways to attract him.
But when she finally confronts her father and learns that he is unsure of how to treat her, Allison is
forced to face that science, religion, and her own family have failed her. Now Allison must find her own
spiritual and physical liberation.
