A Film by Thaddeus D. Matula

Zero
Mile

Earth's oceans collapsed. Oxygen is the commodity. Three unlikely heroes race to the last surviving coral reef to spark the enzyme that could let the world breathe again.

Genre
Action / Sci-Fi Thriller
Budget
$6.5M
Location
Louisiana
The World

Welcome to the End of a Human Extinction Event

Earth's oceans have collapsed, killing the phytoplankton that produce most of our breathable air. Oxygen is now compressed, extracted, stolen, and killed for. Stockpiled and traded like gold.

In the Florida Keys, the planet's only known surviving coral system holds the key. A newly engineered enzyme called dioxylase may be humanity's sole chance to reignite global oxygen production.

But the coral breeds once a year. The window is closing. And the people who control the oxygen supply will do anything to stop it.

70%
of Earth's oxygen comes from ocean phytoplankton. Gone.
1
surviving coral reef. The Florida Keys. Mile Zero.
1x
per year. Lunar-aligned breeding window. Miss it, humanity suffocates.
The Characters

Our Heroes. Their Last Stand.

⚔
Kurt
Ex-Special Forces

Battle-hardened veteran, disillusioned by humanity. Fights to protect Tommy, honoring a promise to a fallen brother.

★
Tommy
The Heart

Brilliant yet misunderstood teen with developmental disabilities. His hope and innocence fuel humanity's last shot at survival.

⚛
Elizabeth
Marine Biologist

Her discovery can restore oxygen to Earth. Hunted by Prince for her life-saving research. Carries the enzyme that could save everything.

☠
Prince
Oxygen Cartel Warlord

Fueled by greed, he rules with O₂ and fear. Determined to monopolize the last breath of mankind.

The Story
Act I: The Spark

Kurt's isolated existence with Tommy is shattered when Elizabeth arrives, bloodied and on the run. She carries an urgent plan to restore Earth's oxygen by injecting a miracle enzyme into surviving coral.

Act II: The Run

The trio embarks on a perilous journey to Mile 0 in the Florida Keys, relentlessly pursued by Prince's forces. Betrayals, dwindling oxygen tanks, and brutal clashes push them to the brink.

Act III: The Reef

Final standoff at the reef: seed the coral before Prince crushes humanity's last hope. Kurt, Tommy, and Elizabeth must risk everything for Earth's chance to breathe again.

Zero Mile unfolds in a world gasping for air.

Market Position

Mad Max Meets Children of Men

Action travels. Environmental urgency expands coverage beyond entertainment media. Found family provides the universal emotional hook. Built for theatrical impact, guaranteed streaming value.

Monsters
$500K
Launched Gareth Edwards to Rogue One
The Platform
$2M
Netflix's most-watched original
Prospect
$4M
Netflix acquisition, cult following
Moon
$5M
2x theatrical return + evergreen streaming
10 Cloverfield Lane
$15M
7x return on thriller elements
The Filmmaker

Thaddeus D. Matula

2.5M
Premiere Viewers
1.6
Nielsen Rating
🏆
Peabody Award
🏅
Emmy Award

Pony Excess was the highest-rated documentary premiere in ESPN Films history at the time of its release, reaching 2.52 million viewers with a 1.6 Nielsen rating. It won the Peabody Award and an Emmy. Zero Mile represents Thaddeus's transition to scripted features, bringing the same storytelling mastery that made Pony Excess a cultural phenomenon.

$6.5M
Total Production Budget
Louisiana Tax Credit (30-40%): $2M-$2.6M rebate Net Investor Exposure: ~$4.5M
Investment

Your $4.5M Controls a $6.5M Production

Structure

  • Single-purpose LLC
  • Clean, project-specific entity
  • No cross-collateralization
  • Revenue participation rights only
  • No copyright ownership burden
  • Clean exit after recoupment

Returns Waterfall

  • 100% principal recoupment
  • 15-20% preferred return
  • 50/50 backend split
  • Minimum investment: $150,000
  • Projected ROI: 2-3x

Louisiana Advantage

  • Established crew base
  • Proven studio facilities
  • Tax credits: early recoupment (6-8 months)
  • Lower risk profile than other states
  • Reliable rebate payment history
Timeline & Distribution
Pre-Production
~3 months. Casting, locations, crew build.
Principal Photography
6-8 weeks. Louisiana production.
Post-Production
~5 months. VFX, sound, color, score.
Festival Launch
Sundance, TIFF, or SXSW for premiere buzz.
Theatrical / Streaming
Limited theatrical release. Major streamer deals. Mid-budget thrillers command premium.
Ancillary Revenue
Cable, international sales, physical media. Multiple revenue streams maximize ROI.
Join Zero Mile

Zero Mile is a testament to the indomitable human spirit, the power of sacrifice, and the unwavering belief that even in the darkest of times, a single spark of hope can ignite the flames of change.

Thaddeus D. Matula

Peabody & Emmy Award-Winning Filmmaker

matula@thaddeus.film

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