Blow the Whistle Pitch Deck
© 2021 Syncro Studios LTD.
Episode 2: The Spy
Cold Open: “If I’m getting the geolocation of your cell phone and you’re not willingly providing it, we’re breaking some laws somewhere, right?” Igor Ostrovskiy lights another cigarette
The Crime: Illegally surveilling reporters
The Witness: Igor Ostrovskiy is a Russian immigrant, he recalls his childhood in an authoritative state
Gathering the Evidence: As a P.I. Igor kept photos, videos and audio recordings as evidence
Blowing the Whistle: Secretly met with Ronan Farrow of the New Yorker to provide him with information
The Retaliation: Asked to take a polygraph test exposing himself as the mole
Solved: Ronan Farrow’s reporting wins the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service
New York City. We are in the car but can’t see the face of Igor Ostrovskiy. He is a private eye and currently on the clock. Ostrovskiy was one of two operatives hired by an anonymous “client” tasked with surveilling investigative reporters, one of whom is Ronan Farrow of the New Yorker.
During his surveillance Ostrovskiy learned who his “client” was, and soon became embroiled in an international plot to suppress sexual assault allegations against Harvey Weinstein. The “client” was Black Cube, founded by a select group of elite Israeli intelligence Community members. Ostrovskiy had a crisis of conscience after his bosses asked him to do surveillance illegally. After a botched operation, Black Cube’s leadership was furious and ordered everyone who knew about it to take a polygraph test immediately.
Worried that it was only a matter of time until he was exposed and feeling compelled to do the right thing, Ostrovskiy went to the reporter he had been tailing for months, Ronan Farrow, and provided information to the court looking into charges against Black Cube.
Ronan Farrow mic’s himself and adjusts his vest before looking up at the camera.
“The small sliver of accountability we have now is because of the women who came forward. The women were so brave. Yes, I was in the cross hairs of a frankly, insane, international espionage campaign, there were people with false identities following me and two Russian guys hanging outside my Manhattan apartment. But the only reason we know any of this is because of the people who decided to come forward. The women who said this is enough and told their stories. And Igor who had an ethical crisis and helped hold accountable, a very powerful company and a very powerful man. These are heroic people.”
Farrow lays out the systemic problems that allow predators to stay in positions of power and our need to strengthen whistleblower laws in order to hold them accountable.