Crossfire
a Feature Film proposal
Overview
Crossfire centers around a WWII fighter pilot and his rebellious escapades and the girl he falls in love with. It’s TOP GUN meets INDIANA JONES set in 1940’s WWII Europe.
Summary
Jack Cooper grew up soaring above the golden fields of the Midwest as a fearless crop duster pilot. His talent for flying was unmatched, and when World War II erupted, he eagerly joined the Army Air Corps. He wasn’t just a pilot—he was a natural-born aviator with an edge. At flight school, Jack’s skill outshone even the instructors, though his cocky attitude often rubbed them the wrong way so they assigned him to be a cargo pilot.
The story begins after Jack get reassigned from flying cargo planes to Army Air Corps fighter pilot training, . Finally sent overseas for advanced training, he arrives early and stumbles into a lively USO club where he meets Lois, a spirited singer with a voice like an angel. They shared a dance, an electrifying moment interrupted by a senior officer, Lieutenant Scully, who challenges Jack to a fight. Jack knowing it’s a no win situation backs down and walks away.
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Next morning, Jack arrives at the base with his new orders. He goes to meet the C.O. (Commanding Officer) and is face to face with Lieutenant Scully. He is a stern, no-nonsense leader and now has made it his mission to push Jack to the limit, but Jack’s brilliance as a pilot couldn’t be denied. During a final training demonstration, Jack dazzles a visiting general with his aerial acrobatics, earning a rare commendation. Scully, seething with jealousy, can only grit his teeth.
Mission: Strike the Heart of the Enemy
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The stakes skyrocket when Allied intelligence uncovered chilling Nazi plans to construct an atomic bomb. Jack’s squadron is tasked with escorting B-17 and B-24 bombers deep into enemy territory to obliterate a critical German factory. Outnumbered and under relentless fire, Jack performs daring maneuvers, shooting down enemy fighters with precision. But fate turns against him—a well-aimed shot strikes his engine, forcing him to crash-land behind enemy lines.
Jack barely escaped his burning plane, only to find his friend, Wilkenson, injured and stranded in a tree. Together, they evade German patrols, sharing confessions and regrets during tense moments of silence. Jack reveales a dark secret: a flying accident from his youth had claimed the life of someone he loved. That tragedy made him hesitant to take risks that could endanger others.
Tank Takeover
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The duo’s luck seemed to run out when a German tank rolls to a stop near their hiding spot. Seizing the moment (when the tank’s team needs to "relieve" themselves), Jack overpowers the tank’s gunner and commandeers the vehicle. With Wilkenson onboard, they barrel through enemy lines, dodging gunfire and sowing chaos. Their escape was short-lived, as they encounter a roadblock of German infantry. Jack floors the throttle, scattering the soldiers like leaves in the wind.
Meanwhile, Lois’s USO band faced their own peril. A malfunction forced their transport plane to ditch in the English Channel. Stranded on a life raft, they were horrified to spot a German U-boat surfacing nearby.
Betrayal at the Airfield
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Jack and Wilkenson stumble upon a German airstrip. They devise a bold plan to steal a plane and get back to England. Using the captured tank as a diversion, they infiltrate the airfield, setting fuel depots ablaze. But their escape was interrupted by a shocking betrayal—Scully, now wearing a German uniform, reveals himself as a Nazi spy. He had defected with the intention of delivering a captured
P-51 Mustang and its cutting-edge bomb sight to the enemy.
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Scully’s men capture Jack and Wilkenson, forcing them aboard a transport plane bound for a secret island where the Germans are assembling their atomic bomb. The island also held unexpected prisoners—Lois and her band, taken from the U-boat.
Scully threatens to make Lois assemble the radioactive bomb if Jack refuses.
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Daring Escape
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Under the cover of darkness, Jack and Lois orchestrate a daring escape. After overpowering guards, they regroup with Wilkenson and the USO band. Jack sets explosive charges throughout the lab, vowing to destroy the Nazi operation. In a final confrontation, he faces off with Scully in brutal hand-to-hand combat. Despite being outmatched at first, Jack’s determination prevails. Just as Scully orders his men to execute Jack, the lab erupts in flames, throwing the base into chaos.
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While Wilkenson and the others escape in a stolen seaplane, Jack commandeers a German fighter. In a spectacular dogfight above the burning island, Jack faces off against Scully. The duel ends in a fiery explosion, with only one plane emerging from the smoke. The seaplane passengers held their breath as the surviving fighter approaches—relief washed over them when they see Jack at the controls.
But his victory comes at a cost; his fuel is nearly gone.
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In a breathtaking display of skill, Jack executes a dead-stick landing atop the seaplane, climbing aboard just as his fighter slid into the sea. Together, they make it back to Allied territory, delivering critical intelligence that helps turn the tide of the war.
A Hero’s Return
Cut to a grand ceremony: Jack, now in full dress uniform, stands before the general who had once praised his flying. The crowd erupts in cheers as a Medal of Honor was pinned to his chest. Among the crowd was Lois, whose smile reminds Jack that even amidst the chaos of war, there was still something worth fighting for.
Characters
Jack Cooper
A daring pilot in his mid-20s, Jack has been flying since he was 12 and honed his skills as a crop duster before the war. Though recently promoted to the fighter squadron, Jack’s easy confidence and sharp instincts make him a natural ace in the skies. Growing up with four sisters taught him more than resilience—it also gave him dance skills that come in handy when he's not dodging enemy planes. Handsome, quick-witted, and morally grounded, Jack hates the idea of war and killing, but knows he has a job to do.
Jim Wilkenson
An affable fellow pilot, Jim quickly befriends Jack and becomes his trusted wingman. While not as seasoned, Jim’s eagerness to learn and natural camaraderie make him invaluable. When both are shot down behind enemy lines, it’s Jim’s grit and loyalty that help them survive, turning him from a rookie into a hero.
LOIS
A glamorous New Yorker with Broadway dreams, Lois found herself touring with the USO as the lead singer for a big band orchestra. Graceful and captivating on stage, she’s every soldier’s dream, but her heart is drawn to Jack. With a voice that can silence a room and a knack for lighting up even the darkest days, Lois is more than just a performer—she’s a beacon of hope.
General Armstrong
A grizzled yet sharp-eyed leader, General Armstrong oversees the fighter squadrons with a keen sense for talent. He recognizes Jack’s rare combination of skill and intuition, valuing him more as a rule-breaking maverick than a by-the-book pilot. Armstrong becomes an unexpected mentor to Jack, often butting heads with Scully over how the squadron should be run.
Capt. Tim Scully
Stern and calculating, Captain Scully commands the fighter squadron with an iron will. Beneath his military exterior, however, he seethes with jealousy—both over Jack’s flying prowess and the way Lois has taken a liking to him. His envy masks a dark secret: Scully is a German spy working to sabotage the Allies. As Jack continues to outshine him in the air and on the dance floor, Scully’s frustration grows into dangerous obsession.
ChURCHILL
Initially, Churchill comes off as a smug and self-serving pilot, constantly seeking Scully’s favor. He resents Jack’s rise to prominence, but over time, Churchill can’t help but admire Jack’s talent and courage. The evolution of their relationship—from rivals to allies—adds tension and depth to the squadron’s dynamics.
About the Creator
Mark Kalbfeld
Mark Kalbfeld is an award winning producer, director, editor and writer for over 25 years. Mark has produced TV specials, commercials, documentaries and hundreds of network promos and music videos, plus EPKs, Still Shoots and long form videos including multi camera music concerts. He knows production, truly from concept to shoot and the entire post production process and therefore can speak to all departments with knowledge and in their terms.
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Mark is an extremely optimistic person and his team spirit truly inspires everyone on the set, so much so, that he consider’s himself the Ted Lasso of production.
To view some of Mark’s work click here: www.markkalbfeldproducer.com
Contact Information
For a copy of a the full length script contact Mark Kalbfeld
Frames Per Second Productions, Inc
Executive Producer - Mark Kalbfeld
310-497-1645
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