The Nearly Forgotten Incident – POC

Written by Kyle Marra on March 30, 2025

Support the Film

*All donations via our crowd funding campaign are tax deductible*

The POC Story

Dr. Emeka Okoro arrives under cover of fog, burdened by the weight of his own invention—“Candy Cane,” a device with the power to reshape the future. When ordered to hand it over to shadowy government agents, he faces a painful reckoning: trust the system or destroy what he created. As betrayal looms, Okoro must confront the terrifying cost of his own brilliance in The Nearly Forgotten Incident.

Thematic Depth and Social Relevance:

     The Nearly Forgotten Incident is more than a Cold War thriller—it’s a meditation on moral responsibility, systemic corruption, and the resilience of conscience. Set during a time of intense institutional distrust, the story explores the tension between innovation and ethics, power and purpose, and personal integrity versus blind allegiance.

     While the film is packed with suspense and genre-driven energy, its heart lies in the internal conflict of Dr. Okoro—a man wrestling with whether to trust his creation to the very system that seeks to exploit it. His friendship with Harrison grounds the story emotionally, providing a quiet contrast to the chaos around them, and reinforcing themes of loyalty, redemption, and courage.

The Look & Feel

The film opens on an eerily foggy night in 1974, set in a desolate small town shrouded in mystery. Espionage, intrigue, and shadowy figures lurk around every corner. The images below capture the mood and visual tone of this opening sequence.

The Feature Film

Logline: In a town gripped by bizarre disappearances, a group of unlikely allies stumble upon a sinister candy company whose dark secrets threaten everything they hold dear.

This short serves as the proof-of-concept for a feature film, where the story expands to explore family legacy, corporate manipulation, and the dangers of unchecked technological progress. It also uniquely integrates food as a thematic symbol—”Candy Cane” itself—and teases a larger commentary about what we consume, who controls it, and the hidden costs behind everyday indulgences.

The Cast

The Crew

Production stills by John Michael Apsey (https://www.johnapsey.com).

The Locations

Root and Branch Films and Odd!Life Studios have partnered with the Clermont Mainstreet Program to bring the production of this proof-of-concept short to downtown Clermont. Its historic charm will be instrumental in bringing this POC to life. Additional locations include a residence in Brooksville, FL with access to a private airstrip.

In the News:

SouthLake TV

Print/Web

BTS

Supporters

The Nearly Forgotten Incident has garnered meaningful support from both community and organizational partners. Key sponsors include Clermont Main Street and Discover Lake County, which is supporting our downtown filming with both logistical and financial resources; Live Oak Theatre Company, providing wardrobe and creative collaboration; and Herbert Sherbert, whose product plays a central role in the narrative of both the short and feature. Ron Dykes, Andy Hafer, and an Anonymous Donor for providing much needed financial support. These partnerships reflect the film’s strong community roots and help bring its 1960s setting to life with authenticity and character.

In addition, our acceptance into the From the Heart Productions Fiscal Sponsorship Program has expanded our fundraising potential, allowing us to pursue a broader range of funding sources. The program also offers valuable education in fundraising strategies, equipping our team with tools to secure support for this and future stages of the project.

How to get involved

The Nearly Forgotten Incident – Proof of Concept has been officially accepted into From the Heart Productions’ Fiscal Sponsorship Program!

This partnership opens up incredible opportunities for our team. Since From the Heart is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, we’re now able to:

• Apply for a wider range of film grants reserved for nonprofit organizations
• Offer our supporters the benefit of making tax-deductible donations, whether financial or in-kind

As with most fiscal sponsorship programs, From the Heart retains a small percentage of contributions to help sustain their mission of supporting independent filmmakers like us.

If you’d like to support the film, you can make a tax-deductible donation using any of the methods mentioned below:

FOR CROWDFUNDING DONATIONS:

FOR PAYPAL DONATIONS:

FOR CRYPTOCURRENCY DONATIONS:

Follow this link: https://platform.engiven.com/give/1193/widget/1065

MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO:

From the Heart Productions, Inc.
1013 Harbor Blvd #53
Oxnard, CA 93035

No matter which donation method you choose, please be sure to write “The Nearly Forgotten Incident – POC” in the memo line to ensure the funds get where they need to go.

FEES

6% for Checks and Wire Transfers
7% for Credit Card Donations via PayPal or Allyra
1% fee for all donations from outside of U.S.

These fees cover our legal, administrative, and accounting costs for From the Heart Productions.

For those interested in getting involved in other ways, we’d love to hear from you! Reach out at info@rootandbranchfilms.com.

Thank you for being a part of this journey!