SUMMARY

STATUS

LOGLINE

A scripted series that follows two captivating stories: Sam Bellamy, a young man who becomes the most successful pirate of all time before meeting his untimely end and Barry Clifford, a driven explorer, who centuries later and against all odds, discovers the shipwreck and treasure.

SYNOPSIS

A true story based on the book "Expedition Whydah," written by Barry Clifford and Paul Perry, we first step into 1950s Cape Cod where young Barry Clifford becomes enthralled by his uncle's tales of the Whydah wreck and legend of a lost pirate treasure. We then fast forward to 1980s Cape Cod where, as an adult, Barry makes a decision to embark on a quest to pursue this legendary treasure. It’s not an easy task— He faces immense challenges and personal sacrifices, including a failed marriage, a business on the ropes and his finances pushed to the brink of ruin. Despite a nearly insolvent expedition and on his last half tank of gas, he decides to do one last dive on the wreck site, which leads to a startling discovery: the largest authenticated pirate treasure ever found.

The story then intercuts, taking us back to 1700s Cape Cod where we follow the remarkable journey of Sam Bellamy, a young sailor left stranded by the British Royal Navy on the coast of New England. Bellamy quickly falls in love with Maria, a local maiden. However, it’s a forbidden liaison, her parents forbid her to wed this penniless stranger. Desperate to win her hand, Bellamy sets out on a dangerous voyage in search of his fortune. His initial venture ends in spectacular failure and he is left with a hard choice, either return empty-handed or risk it all and choose to turn pirate. He does just that, and quickly emerges as the infamous pirate, Black Sam Bellamy. Following a brazen trail of plunder and serendipity, Black Sam has a meteoric rise to become the most successful pirate of all time.

However, despite having a ship’s hold full of pirate gold, fate deals a cruel blow to Bellamy's quest. En route back to the arms of his lover Maria, tragedy strikes as the Great Storm of 1717, the worst storm in recorded history to ever to hit the Cape, sends his ship, crew, and massive treasure to the depths of the ocean, a mere 300 yards from shore. Due to the nature of those dangerous waters, the treasure lays undisturbed and becomes local lore, awaiting Barry’s discovery several centuries later.

"Expedition Whydah" presents a dual narrative that alternates between the stories of the pirate Black Sam Bellamy and the explorer Barry Clifford. It's a captivating period piece that delves into the extraordinary lengths that only a few brave individuals will go to fulfill their dreams. Drawing inspiration from acclaimed stories like "Shogun," "Master and Commander," and "Raiders of the Lost Ark," this compelling TV show merges thrilling elements of high-stakes treasure pursuit with historical adventure.

CONTACT

Betsy Ockerlund Nolte
connect@110.film
847.878.8886