STORY BY. DIRECTED BY
COLIN MINIHAN & JOHN POLIQUIN COLIN MINIHAN
SHARK PARK
SYNOPSIS
A group of environmental activists attempt to free a captive great white shark from an aquatic theme park, but a mechanical accident throws them into the state-of-the-art tank that houses the animal.
Trapped overnight, the group finds themselves in a fight for survival against not only the deadly shark, but the automated tank itself.
CAN THEY SURVIVE THE SHARK PARK?
AN ELEVATED, CONTAINED SHARK MOVIE WITH A FRESH TAKE
IT’S “THE SHALLOWS”, “OPEN WATER” & “47 METERS DOWN” BUT SET IN AN UNPREDICTABLE “ESCAPE ROOM” STYLE TANK.
THE TANK
Aquatic theme park Oceanworld has invested millions to build a great white shark habitat… the first of its kind.
The oval-shaped tank is massive, the size of a hockey rink. It’s a true spectacle of technology replicating nature.
The tank’s wall surfaces are composed of waterproof LED screens that digitally project seascape environments on a panoramic scale.
The photo-real illusion is designed to give customers a variety of stunning oceanic settings, transporting them all over the world
— Hawaiian mountains, Arctic icebergs, colorful Spring-breaker beaches, erupting volcanoes, endless open ocean skies — the possibilities are limitless.
Weather is another artificial variable in the tank. Under the surface, high power propulsion jets along the borders of the tank are designed to create realistic waves and tidal patterns. Above the surface, the weather settings are simulated with rain, wind, and even lightning.
The tank has several rich obstacles that will come into play as the film progresses. These are an integral part of the horror, creating near-impossible challenges that our characters must overcome in order to survive and escape Shark Park.
KATIE SUMMERS
Headstrong and empathetic, KATIE (20s) grew up on the ocean. Her father was a marine biologist who nurtured her love for aquatic life. Katie started working at OceanWorld a few years ago, with an idealistic viewpoint on conservation. But as the park has leaned more into commercial gains, she’s starting to feel disillusioned by it.
CHARACTERS
JEREMY LEE
An optimistic dreamer, JEREMY (20s/30s) first became involved in environmental activism while studying at Berkeley. Deep down, it’s an act of rebellion against his father, who runs a manufacturing plant in Shanghai known for dumping toxic chemicals. In recent years, Jeremy has become increasingly radicalized in his goal to perform eco-stunts that will make global waves.
MIA LOPEZ
Spunky and impulsive, MIA (20s) is Katie’s ride-or-die best friend. She’s pansexual and loves to pick up both guys and girls at their local dive bar. Mia works with Katie at OceanWorld, but she’s definitely not as comfortable in the water.
BRAN HOOPER
Scarred and jaded, BRAN (40s/50s) is a longstanding trainer at OceanWorld. Bran used to work with orcas before they were removed from the park, and he holds onto guilt surrounding the tragic death of his girlfriend — a trainer who was drowned by the orcas under his watch.
MASON
An narcissistic adrenaline junkie, MASON (20s/30s) will do anything for thrills or money. From a rough neighborhood, he grew up pickpocketing and scamming people. He was lucky enough to get a sports scholarship to Berkeley, where he met Jeremy Lee. After an injury, Mason became entangled in Jeremy’s activism.
ASH
A brilliant mind with effortless swagger, ASH (20s/30s) can hack almost any computer system. After graduating Berkeley in the 99th percentile, she was offered elite coding jobs at Facebook and Google, but turned them down. Instead, she has chosen to join her best friend, Jeremy Lee and try to change the world.
BEFORE WE DIVE IN…
COLD
OPEN
In treacherous open waters, a fishing vessel is illegally shark poaching. A deckhand finishes chopping fins off of a shark’s carcass, then spots a much larger fin swimming through the ocean. It gets stuck in the netting and the deckhand excitedly starts to reel it in. The massive shark violently thrashes, twisting the netting and pulling several deckhands overboard. Pure panic ensues. One by one, the vulnerable men are pulled under. The remaining crew manages to reel in the net, unveiling an enormous GREAT WHITE SHARK, thrashing aboard the vessel. It is the very thing the snarling captain was hoping to catch... and keep alive.
ACT 1
MIA LOPEZ floats on her surfboard along a tropical coastline. From below, her legs dangle vulnerably. A sudden SPLASH makes her jolt. With a sigh of relief, it’s KATIE SUMMERS breaching the surface. Mia checks her smart watch, “3 minutes... not your personal best” — she was timing Katie’s free-dive. Their athletic bodies shimmer as they paddle out and surf the intimidating waves.
Back at her apartment, Katie helps her kid brother JACK (13) get ready for school. Jack’s upset that Katie refuses to take him surfing, but the truth is... Katie is scared for him — he suffers from an acute case of asthma that can be dangerous. Dropping him off at school, she sees that Jack is teased relentlessly. Katie feels helpless... she can’t protect him all the time.
This is a massive aquatic theme park that is more spectacle than aquarium. Roller coasters and VR attractions entertain bratty kids and rich tourists. In the gift shops, orca plushies are being replaced by vicious great white shark plushies. OceanWorld has recently made a “progressive” move — they no longer house large mammals due to public outcry.
Instead, OceanWorld is opening a major new attraction in just one day — the SHARK PARK, America’s only great white shark on display! Sensationalized marketing sells the shark as “a mindless killer, a man-eating machine.” They’re demonizing it for dollars, just like Hollywood’s been doing since Jaws.
MR. VAUGHN (40s), a charmingly plastic executive at OceanWorld, holds a press conference in front of an excited crowd. He reveals that the shark has arrived, and will be unveiled to the public first thing tomorrow morning at a premium.
A perky informational video demonstrates the high-tech automated features of the Shark Park.
OCEANWORLD
THE STAFF
Katie and Mia work at OceanWorld as junior marine biologists. They wade in an artificial cove and feed a cluster of baby nurse sharks. A crowd of children act terrified of these small sharks... they have bought into the park’s marketing. Katie and Mia explain— “the best way to understand something is to connect with it... and then it’s not so scary anymore.”
Katie demonstrates to the bewildered crowd how to put a shark into a state of tonic immobility. It’s a trick her dad taught her, who was also a marine biologist. Tonic immobility is a real process where divers calm sharks into a trance-like state, usually to tag them with trackers. You must be completely calm and rub the shark’s snout while orienting it vertically. It’s never been performed on a great white.
THE SHARK
A muscular body pulls on a wet-suit. This is BRAN HOOPER, a longstanding trainer at OceanWorld whose life has been shrouded in tragedy. When Bran walks through the park, his gruff appearance frightens people.
In the restricted area, Bran puts on an oxygen mask and holding a taser spear while he climbs into a steel cage. The cage lowers into the tank as Mr. Vaughn obnoxiously gives Bran instructions — this is practice for the big show. Bran is to feed the shark and provoke it.
Below, the water is murky and dark. Bran releases the bait, but nothing comes. Eerie suspense, until the SHARK charges forward from the darkness. Its gigantic, at least 20 feet, and its skin is full of scars — a sign that this shark is an aggressive fighter in nature.
The chain pulls the cage back to the surface. Bran protests what he sees as bullshit, “It had no interest in the bait... It wants a challenge. It wants to hunt.”
After their shift ends, Katie and Mia get a glimpse of the great white shark and are stunned when it slams itself against the glass enclosure. It’s violent, shocking and sad. Katie tries to explain to Mr. Vaughn that sharks are sensitive animals, and no matter how high-tech the tank is — the animal will die, just like all others have in captivity. Vaughn brushes her off.
Katie and Mia hit a busy dive bar for drinks. They’re approached by JEREMY LEE (30s), a mysterious and charming playboy. Katie and him have met before and there’s an undeniable attraction between the two of them.
There’s a plan in motion. Jeremy has assembled a crack team whose mission is to set the great white shark free tonight and send a message to major corporations around the world. Katie and Mia are the last pieces of the puzzle and they agree to help, knowing that otherwise the shark won’t survive.
Among heist crew is Jeremy - the money, Mason - the muscle, and Ash - the hacker.
THE PROPOSITION
Back at OceanWorld, the park shuts down. As the automated security system kicks in and all the staff go home, we reveal that Bran Hooper lives in a trailer shack at the back of the park… complete with an old dog named SALLY.
The mementos in his trailer show that he’s lived here for years… he moonlights as the live-in groundskeeper and overnight guard. His deceased girlfriend is a ghost in his place, and he looks at an old picture of them in happier times, with the orcas. Newspaper clippings reveal how after the infamous accident, Bran was vilified by the media, “He ignored the signs... It’s his fault she died.” Broken, he ices his body and drinks away his sorrows.
THE PARK CLOSES
We get a heist style sequence as Katie and Mia lead the team into Shark World. Ash is able to loop all the security cameras to show empty spaces — they’re now invisible. Katie uses her
keycard to bring them into the Great White Shark loading area.
The shark needs to be transferred into a much smaller adjacent tank, which has a direct connection to the ocean bay. This is how they’ll set the endangered animal free. Jeremy has
planned every step meticulously. They chum the water, trap the shark in netting and tranquilize it. Then, once Ash has hacked into the system — she’s able to assume control of the crane, and they begin to lift out the Great White Shark.
THE RESCUE STARTS
Bran JOLTS up. He heard a distant clamor from the ongoing operation. He checks the CCTV monitor, it shows no activity in the park... but something doesn’t sit right in his gut. He grabs his pistol and goes to investigate.
Meanwhile, the group is still in the process of lifting the shark out of the water. Katie and the majestic animal appear to lock eyes for a second, and it takes Katie’s breath away.
The crane arm swings toward the target, the transfer tank — there’s a heroic mood, all signs point to this mission being a swift success.
Meanwhile, Bran approaches. He enters the restricted tank area, startling the group right as...
THE WILD CARD
ACT 2
DISASTER STRIKES
NO ESCAPE
Katie dives into the tank, swimming down to a struggling Mia. With all her strength, Katie gets Mia’s leg free from the hook. They swim to the surface.
There, the group realizes that the only ladder which leads out of the tank was torn clean off during the accident, and it has sunken far below. There’s no escape.
They are all trapped in the shark tank.
On the deck, Ash’s laptop is flipped on its side, with a few busted keys. On screen, it shows the automated modes of the high-tech tank. It switches to “Shallow Bluffs Mode” and the tank comes to life.
The LED panels lining the massive tank finally light up and reveal a tropical coastal setting.
In the center of the tank, a small rocky bluff is rising mechanically. The group swim to it and climb out of the water… there’s just barely enough room for all of them.
They survey each other... the crane disaster left some damage — Mason’s got a broken nose, and Mia’s leg is bleeding. Blood drips down the rocks and into the tank… They look down into the depths… There’s no sign of the shark, yet.
THE TANK SET PIECES
Once in the tank, the film becomes a series of tense sequences as the group tries to avoid death by both shark attack and by the unpredictable tank modes.
This is “Cabin in the Woods” for shark movies.
A small rocky bluff that protrudes the water’s surface.
The platform is on hydraulics and will slowly recede underwater, mimicking tidal patterns.
WATER RISING
After they’ve barely caught their breath, the rocky bluff starts to recede, making it impossible for everyone to have shelter. Bran, Jeremy and Ash valiantly lower themselves into the water...
The shark circles the rock, excited by the blood. Mason throws debris, provoking it, and says that the only way they’ll survive the night is if they kill the shark. He wants Bran’s gun. The rest of the group protest... they came here to save the animal, not kill it.
Bran spots a first aid kit at the bottom of the pool — they can use it slow Mia’s bleeding and stop the shark from behaving aggressively. Bran fishes an oxygen mask from nearby and dives on a mission to retrieve the kit.
As the tide rises higher, Mason behaves selfishly... opting to keep his place on the rock. Unimpressed, Katie lowers herself into the water.
SHALLOW
BLUFFS
MODE
Every 15 minutes, propulsion jets turn on for 60 seconds, cycling water through the tank at a rapid rate.
This design allows for the shark’s gills to be able to intake the level of oxygen the species needs to survive.
If you’re in the water during propulsion mode, you better beholding onto something... otherwise the currents will suck you toward the propulsion grates, where you’ll either drown, or worse, be chopped into pieces.
“Propulsion Mode” kicks in while Bran is deep underwater, just inches from reaching the first aid kit. He is pulled toward the sharp grates, but in the last moment grabs onto a cable.
Above water, the current rips around the rocky bluff. The group struggle to hold on, but Ash is sucked into the riptide. It looks like she’s going to drown until the propulsion jets turn off. Close call.
Bran returns to the surface. He has the first aid kit, and has also retrieved two more oxygen masks that fell into the tank. They now have three.
Ash explains the cardinal rule of the tank — “Every 15 minutes, the propulsion jets turn on for 60 seconds. If you’re not holding onto something when it happens next, you’re dead.”
PROPULSION
MODE
In this mode, there is nothing to hold onto, and no shelter. You have to tread water. The panoramic LED screens show an open ocean skyline with an infinite horizon. To make matters
worse, weather and wave patterns can change on a dime.
The group fight amongst themselves.
Bran is livid that he’s in this situation, having to “save a bunch of children”. He explains to the group that this shark wants to hunt, so no sudden movements.
Mason is panicking and reveals that he’s not a great swimmer.
He’s splashing a lot just to stay afloat.
Jeremy, for the first time in his life, has found himself in a situation he can’t pay to get out of.
Katie is concerned with Mia’s wound and is putting on a brave face to keep her friend calm.
DON'T
DROWN
The tank shifts to a dazzling stary night. It’s the calm before the horror. Several moments pass as they tread water in silence.
Out of the blue, the SHARK ATTACKS Mason, dragging him underwater, killing him. It’s sudden and shocking.
The group is left in a state of disbelief and terror.
OPEN WATER MODE
SHARK NIGHT
AGGRESSION MODE
Blood is pumped into the water through vents along the side of the tank. This feature is designed to stimulate the shark, riling it up to provoke aggressive behavior for park guests.
VICIOUS WATERS
On Ash’s laptop, we see that the tank goes into “Aggression Mode”. Underwater, the group notices dark blood being pumped into the tank. Bran explains to them what it is... an ethically questionable design in the tank meant to turn the great white shark into the monster that the audience wants it to be. The shark’s pupils dilate... with a taste of blood already, it wants more.
The shark violently swims between them.
In order to avoid the same fate as Mason, the group must swim to the bottom of the tank where there’s a sunken ship resting. In it, they’ll be able to find refuge.
THE SUNKEN SHIP
One of the tank’s underwater features — an immaculately art-directly sunken vessel. It’s big with dark, winding hallways and secret passages. The perfect place to try to hide from the shark or flee an attack.
HIDE AND SEEK
We get a suspenseful cat-and-mouse sequence as the group hide from the shark in the Sunken Ship. It’s dark and hard to see, and after some nail-biting tension, we deliver on some big jump scares and close calls. Time passes, and the oxygen in their tanks starts to run low. Thankfully, they find some pockets of air where they can breathe.
Just as we think the shark has retreated, it surprises them and SNATCHES ASH. Katie pursues them, but it’s too little too late. Ash is ripped in two. The shark turns its eyes on Katie, but in the last moment as it attacks, Mia saves her best friend by thwarted if off with shrapnel from sunken vessel.
The group know the truth, they can’t just hide in here and wait here to die.
They have to retrieve the steel ladder and bring it to the surface.
STORM MODE
An extreme weather mode in the tank where a tropical stormhits. The LED screens project a rocky enclave. Massive ocean waves rock the tank. It blasts wind, pours rain, and flashes lightning. To demonstrate the power of the ocean during this mode, the tank releases a retractable weather buoy.
ALL HOPE IS LOST
The tank shifts into “Storm Mode”. In the depths of the tank, a large weather buoy is released on a chain line. Katie helps Mia onto the buoy.
Across the tank, Jeremy and Bran have succeeded in bringing the ladder to the surface. They hook the curved ladder over the upper edge, fighting the stormy waves. Jeremy begins to climb up and Bran follows him. Jeremy is so close, almost there... when the SHARK BURSTS from the surface of the stormy waters and CLAMPS ITS JAWS around the steel ladder, cutting Bran’s leg in the process.
In the chaos, the ladder is pulled back down and their plan to escape has failed.
SERENITY MODE
A peaceful weather mode where a pink sunrise plays on the panoramic LED screens and the water goes calm. The sunrise reflects across the glassy surface. It’s breathtaking.
DARK DAWN
Together on the elevated weather buoy, they assess Bran’s wound. With this injury, there’s no way he can lift the ladder again.
Mia reveals that she wasn’t so lucky. When she saved Katie, she was wounded in the torso and has been quietly bleeding out ever since. She expresses her love for Katie and reminiscences about their first shift together, how Mia was scared shitless of the petting sharks, but when she saw Katie put one into a state of tonic immobility, she knew she was with someone who was special.
Staring out at the beautiful sunset, Mia pushes off of the buoy. After a peaceful beat, the shark explodes upward from the water and snatches Mia in an operatic death.
Jeremy consoles Katie. After a moment of hopelessness, Bran reveals that there might be one other way out of the tank.
THE PROPULSION NETWORK
This state-of-the-art shark enclosure was designed with a network of surrounding tubes that provide the oxygen-flow for the propulsion system. The water flows from a central line that is connected to some of the adjacent tanks. Razor sharp turbines goes from stationary to high speed during “Propulsion Mode”.
THE WAY OUT
Bran explains how the propulsion jets into the shark tank have grated metal covers. But… there should be enough room enter. Whoever goes will have 15 minutes to reach an exit in an adjacent tank before the propulsion jets turn back on. If they don’t make it out in time, they’ll become ground meat.
Jeremy volunteers himself… it’s his fault that they’re in this mess. He will take the one remaining oxygen mask and do the mission solo.
Below them, the shark smashes itself into the side of the tank over and over again, creating a small crack in the glass. The animal’s aggression is elevating with each minute.
The group realize they need to figure out a way to calm the shark down so that Jeremy can access the propulsion network.
Katie knows how to calm the shark... with tonic immobility.
ACT 3
ESCAPE MISSION
The tank flips back to “Open Water Mode”, and the weather buoy is pulled away via the retractable chain.
Jeremy and Bran swim toward the jet propulsion grates while Katie free-dives into the depths, looking for the shark.
Parallel action as we intercut between both missions:
Bran helps Jeremy squeeze through the grate and passes him an oxygen tank... but the SHARK STARTLES them and the tank drops from Bran’s hands. Jeremy, now inside the propulsion network, watches helplessly as Bran chases the sinking oxygen tank.
STATE OF TONIC IMMOBILITY
With Katie underwater — the SHARK CHARGES at her from out of the darkness. She barrel rolls and is able to grab onto the shark’s fin.
Now traveling through the water with the erratic shark, she pulls herself up along its body. This is the moment of truth… she reaches her hand out toward the shark’s snout and rubs. Amazingly, she is able to connect, putting the great white shark into a state of tonic immobility. Its behavior slowly calms to a trance, and Katie floats peacefully alongside it. The “mindless killer” has been tamed.
THE TURBINE MAZE
With the shark no longer an immediate threat, Bran is able to retrieve the oxygen mask and hand it off. Jeremy swims deep into the ominous Propulsion Network.
It’s a race against the clock as he moves through the labyrinth of tubes, sliding between the massive stationary blades that could turn on at any moment.
He almost makes it to exit at the adjacent tank but “Propulsion Mode” kicks back in and Jeremy is sucked back... directly into the turbine blades and is shredded to pieces. A cloud of blood and body parts shoots out of the propulsion grate.
A VICIOUS FATE
The fresh blood snaps the shark out of its state of tonic immobility. Katie holds on for her life as its erratic behavior returns.
In a terrifying moment, the shark nearly bites Katie before turning to Bran. It attacks viciously and takes his arm clean off.
Finally, “Propulsion Mode” switches off.
Katie swims to the surface where she reunites with Bran. He’s bleeding badly, on the verge of death.
SPRING BREAK MODE
An ironic tank mode designed for laughs from the themepark audience. “Copacobana” plays eeriely on the speakersas the tank shifts to a candy-colored busy Florida beach
environment. A single colorful pool floatie falls from above.
INCHES FROM FREEDOM
Katie stumbles to the shark transfer loading bay where the accident happened. She yells out for Bran, and he responds - still alive. Desperate, she lowers a rope and starts pulling him up.
As Bran dangles, the SHARK EXPLODES from the water’s surface below.
It looks like the shark may devour Bran, but instead it soars right past him and out of the tank.
An amazed Katie watches as the shark hits the deck and slides across the floor, stopping just inches away from the adjacent tank with direct access to the bay.
Katie pulls Bran up to the deck. They look at the beached shark — it’s twitching erratically, drowning.
They have a decision to make... let it die, or set it free.
THE PARK WILL SOON OPEN!
We cut to outside the park. Dawn approaches.
Mr. Vaughn, the plastic OceanWorld executive who we met earlier, gets into the back seat of an Escalade. On his way to the park for the grand opening.
On his phone, he pulls up the CCTV footage of the shark tank. The feeds were hacked by Ash, so everything looks normal in the tank.
FREE DIVE TO SURVIVE
Katie has no choice but to free-dive into the Propulsion Network to attempt the same escape. Leaving a nearly-unconcious Bran on a floatie at the surface, Katie takes a deep breath and descends. She squeezes through the grate and along the same path of tubes that Jeremy took. She crosses the sharp blades, some still covered with his bloody residue. She arrives at the exit lever that Jeremy reached. Thankfully, he was able to loosen it enough for her to push it open.
Katie gets through just in time and swims up to the surface in the adjacent tank, gasping for air. She’s finally escaped the Shark Park enclosure.
A FINAL CHOICE
Back with Katie and Bran — Katie watches the shark suffocate with torn feelings. Bran opens up about his biggest regret, the death of his girlfriend. While they had good intentions with the orcas, they missed all the signs. They didn’t listen to what the animals were communicating — they wanted out. He won’t repeat his past mistake. The shark deserves to live in the wild and be free, not a prisoner vilified for profit.
With all their might, they push the shark along the wet, sleek floor.
Finally, the shark drops into the adjacent tank and swims out the direct line that leads to the ocean bay. The shark has its freedom.
Katie watches as its fin disappears into the open ocean, the sun rising behind it. At least all of this was for something.
SIX MONTHS LATER
STORY BY DIRECTED BY
COLIN MINIHAN & COLIN MINIHAN
JOHN POLIQUIN
The crane cable gets stuck. In a panic, Mason hits at the cable with a wrench, causing the shark to spasm violently, throwing the crane out of sync. This sets in motion a catastrophic series of events.
The cable snaps, sending the shark back into the water and catapulting the machinery around them. The crane’s base is thrown into the tank, along with Jeremy and a slew of diving equipment and oxygen tanks. Blindsided — Bran, Mason and Ash are SLAMMED by the crane’s arm and thrown into the water too.
A cable whips around and HOOKS into Mia’s leg, violently ripping her into the tank. She’s being pulled deeper and deeper underwater by the descending crane.
Katie is the only one left standing. She must make a decision… jump in, or let her best friend drown.
ONE LAST SURPRISE
Mr. Vaughn shows up at the entrance to the park where a group of wealthy investors and their bratty kids are waiting. He leads them to the viewing deck of the shark tank. Expecting to see the shark, they all rush the glass. The obnoxious kids bang hard against the glass, demanding a show from the shark.
BUT... the hairline glass fracture that we set up earlier in the film, starts to spread until the cracks open. Water EXPLODES through the glass, flooding the room and slamming Mr. Vaughn and the guests. It’s utter chaos and totally cathartic.
We hard cut to emergency services at OceanWorld. Bran’s wounds are being treated... he’s going to survive, but Katie is nowhere to be found. When questioned by Vaughn and the police, Bran lies, saying that all those involved with the stunt have died. He pretends like Katie was never there, protecting her.
For once in his life, he stands up against Vaughn and tells him he’s no longer his prisoner. Bran quits and pushes a hysterical Vaughn into the baby shark tank. As news reports roll, we drone away from a devastated OceanWorld.
In an emerald ocean cove, Katie is finally taking her brother Jack surfing — she no longer treats him like he’s broken. She understands he has to live his life full and free... just like the shark.
We reveal that paddling alongside them is a one-armed “Uncle Bran”, with his dog Sally on his longboard. A celebration as young Jack catches a wave. But then, Katie sees it — the silhouette of a great white through the wave that Jack’s riding.
SHARK FACTS
Humans kill millions of sharks every year. Sharks only kill about 7 people a year, and usually they’re mistaken for a splashing seal.
So, who is the real monster?
SHARK FACTS
While this movie will hit all the satisfaction of elevated horror, there is a message lurking below — Instead of vilifying and labeling those you don’t understand as monsters... Try to understand them.
SHARK FACTS
Many of our characters are experiencing similar thematic struggles in their lives.
SHARK FACTS
This is a film about the misunderstood. It’s about how false information, based on fear and sensationalism, can skew perception and ruin lives.
SHARK FACTS