“Every great film starts with a great screenplay.”
- Bob Buhl
THE SHROUD DETECTIVE
Written by:
Robert J. Buhl
Represented by:
Peter J. Wilke, Esq.
323-397-5380
www.petewilke.com
PeteWilkeAtty@gmail.com
“The Shroud Detective” is an action-packed fictional thriller set against the backdrop of the actual Shroud of Turin religious relic. The story revolves around the most studied of all artifacts in the world, the Shroud of Turin burial cloth. In The Shroud Detective one man wants to study it, another wants to destroy it, a third wants to possess it, while the world wants to experience it. The extensive research done on the non-fictional parts of this epic drama are a culmination of over thirty-five years of research and the collaborative discoveries of Francis L. Filas S.J., former Professor and Chairman of Theology at Loyola University, Chicago and Robert J. Buhl, President, Industrial Film Group, Inc.
The timing for this high concept film could not have come at a better time considering the current condition of humankind.
The intriguing and suspenseful story line will have a worldwide appeal as it takes place in North America, the Middle East, and Europe. This genre has a proven audience and could redefine Blockbuster!
THE MILLION DOLLAR BIKE
Written by:
Robert J. Buhl
Represented by:
Peter J. Wilke, Esq.
323-397-5380
www.petewilke.com
PeteWilkeAtty@gmail.com
“The Million Dollar Bike” is an action-packed and heart-warming coming of age story about Randy Chandler, an outcast, who wants to impress and win the heart of popular Amanda Anderson. Randy feels he can succeed in his goal by competing against his nemesis in a city sponsored bike race with his new foreign made race bike that, accidentally and unknown to him, was used to smuggle into the USA a stolen million dollar necklace that the thieves want back at any cost.
“The Million Dollar Bike” was written with a primary goal and vision of providing a positive and moral theme for audiences to enjoy.
After the script was completed it became apparent that many corporations would have a viable interest in positioning themselves with such a worthwhile project. These primary goals expanded to include a truly unique advertising, merchandising and promotional campaign that would serve to achieve our vision and offer an unparalleled opportunity for companies such as Coca-Cola USA. “The Million Dollar Bike” and its related promotions offer limitless consumer participation due to the film’s huge target audience and the already existent high level of interest in biking.
“The Million Dollar Bike” project has so many unparalleled and seamless Product Placement integration possibilities that we presented it to Katie Joklik, VP Marketing, of Coca-Cola USA, Atlanta. Katie introduced us to Mike Nusinow, VP, of their product placement entity for film, Premier Entertainment Services International, Inc. in Hollywood. Mike indicated they would be interested with a significant monetary commitment once we were ready to start production.
What people said after reading The Million Dollar Bike screenplay.
“Best script in the marketplace today.”
— Ron Ver Keilen, former Director of the Illinois Film Office
“Should be a blockbuster.”
— Quentin Tarantino
“The best script I’ve read in twenty years and the bike chase sequences in the film offer opportunities that have never been done in Cinema before.”
— Don Carlson, Camera Operator, Home Alone 2, With Honors, JFK, Born on the 4th of July, Heaven and Earth, etc.
GUILTY ONCE; GUILTY TWICE
Written by:
Robert J. Buhl & Ron Dilger
Represented by:
Peter J. Wilke, Esq.
323-397-5380
www.petewilke.com
PeteWilkeAtty@gmail.com
“Guilty Once; Guilty Twice” is a true story about the historic trials of Chicago hitman Harry Aleman.
We’ve also written a non-fiction manuscript regarding this true story about this precedent setting legal case revolving around the murder trial of Chicago Mob enforcer, Harry Aleman.
This case successfully challenged the double jeopardy provision in the Fifth Amendment of the US Constitution and also broke the back of organized crime in Chicago. Aleman was the first mob hitman in Chicago’s long criminal history to be successfully prosecuted and sentenced after he killed Billy Logan.
We worked directly with the victim’s family and prosecutors, Neil Linehan and Scott Cassidy, along with retired prosecutor Nick Iavarone in the development of this project. We also secured Logan family photos, surveillance photos, arrest photos, crime scene photos, the complete trial transcript, historic newspaper printouts, and a special police book with mobster's pictures and their records from that era.
The photos and additional material are available for inclusion in the manuscript of the same title, and to promote the film and book through social media enhancing revenue potential for both.
Mimi Steinbauer of Radiant Films International has reviewed this high-concept, action script and project. Mimi pre-sells both foreign and domestic distribution when either an A-list Actor, or an A-list Director/Producer is attached which in turn funds the production. Mimi is ready to perform once an A-list entity is secured.
THE BOWLING BALLS
Written by:
Robert J. Buhl
Represented by:
Peter J. Wilke, Esq.
323-397-5380
www.petewilke.com
PeteWilkeAtty@gmail.com
“The Bowling Balls” is a heart-warming coming of age story about Bob Bergin, a high school senior. Bob is an over weight outcast, who wants to compete in their high school bowling tournament to help raise money for a local children’s hospital and win the heart of Brooke Johnson, a beautiful new girl in school.
Bob’s overweight friends also want to gain popularity and meet girls. To achieve their goal, they form a bowling team to play in the tournament held at the “Cosmic Bowling Alley.”
Their nemesis, Todd, names Bob and his team “The Bowling Balls” due to their roundness. Todd also wants to win Brooke’s heart. Todd and his team, The Ball Busters, will do anything to beat The Bowling Balls to keep them losers. Todd will also do anything to keep Brooke from liking Bob.
“The Bowling Balls” project has many unparalleled and seamless product placement integration possibilities presented through the stories backdrop of a bowling tournament set in the high-concept Cosmic Bowling Alley with its light shows, loud music, and sponsor signage.
CHICAGO’S BIG STEAL
Written by:
Robert J. Buhl & Ron Dilger
Represented by:
Peter J. Wilke, Esq.
323-397-5380
www.petewilke.com
PeteWilkeAtty@gmail.com
“Chicago’s Big Steal is a true story about the 1974 Purolator Money Warehouse break-in and the crew that pulled off the largest cash theft in Chicago’s history.
Who hasn’t seen an armored truck pull up to a retail outlet or a bank and pick up or drop off large sums of cash? You may have wondered where that money comes from or goes to from there. Few people would guess “The Grand Cayman Island.” But that was the ultimate destination for $1.2 million of the $4.3 million that turned out to be the payoff for the well-planned and executed heist on the night of October 20, 1974 in Chicago.
At the time, this was the largest cash theft in history suitable for an organization with international tentacles. How could someone simply pull a green van into the highly secure Purolator Money Warehouse, open one of the vaults, steal $4.3 million in cash, and then just calmly drive away?
The robbery of Purolator was obviously carried out by a criminal mastermind with a super-efficient team under his control – at least that’s what the police thought, at first. In the following days there was no trace of the criminals or the money. The FBI was called in to take the lead in solving the case.
The conspirators behind the theft were something much different than expected. The gang was an ad hoc group of acquaintances who ultimately pulled off this largest cash theft in Chicago’s history.
INCIDENTS IN THE LIFE OF A SLAVE GIRL
Screenplay adaptation written by:
Robert J. Buhl & Ron Dilger
Represented by:
Peter J. Wilke, Esq.
323-397-5380
www.petewilke.com
PeteWilkeAtty@gmail.com
“Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl” is a true story about Harriet Jacobs that we discovered because it focuses on one of our areas of specialization: the Civil War, its immediate causes and its impact on people at the time. Harriet wrote about her compelling incidents to tell white women in the north of her story and the reality of slavery in the south during this time.
Harriet lived in the small town of Edenton, NC, during the first 29 years of her life and fought sexual harassment and attempted rape by her master. She was a strong and confident person in her own defense. Her story needed to be told then and its impact is even greater today as Harriet’s book is read in schools across our country and is available around the world. Film audiences will clearly empathize with her circumstances – and cheer in her ultimate victory over slavery.
THE BLAIR HOUSE OF RICHMOND
Written by:
Robert J. Buhl & Ron Dilger
Represented by:
Peter J. Wilke, Esq.
323-397-5380
www.petewilke.com
PeteWilkeAtty@gmail.com
“The Blair House of Richmond” is a compelling story of love and war that explores the lives of people living in Richmond, Virginia, as they experience four years of the Civil War that tears at their lives. The city of Richmond as the Capitol of the Confederacy was its political heart and soul during those four years. The ebb and flow of the war in the field was felt and reflected in both the North and South Capitols, but was painfully visible in Richmond -- and its many citizens as well -- including Billy Gentry a 22-year-old who is new to the city and must learn the harsh realities of life and love during these trying times. As the war progresses the pace of life in Richmond quickly accelerates in response while at the same time must adjust to the challenges of a declining economy and living conditions. Billy must deal with internal conflicts about the South’s “peculiar institution” – slavery, head -on to survive in love and as a soldier in the Confederate Army. This is an extremely timely project due to the current controversy over the confederate flag, historic statues, and other issues in our Country.
MOBSTER VLOG: THE FRANK ANELLO STORY
Written by:
Robert J. Buhl
Represented by:
Peter J. Wilke, Esq.
323-397-5380
www.petewilke.com
PeteWilkeAtty@gmail.com
“Mobster Vlog: The Frank Anello Story” is an episodic series that tells the true life story of Frank Cullotta as a Mobster in the Chicago Outfit and then as a reformed ex-mobster. Each episode will start and end by mirroring the format of Frank's highly successful podcast "Having Coffee With Cullotta" but will re-enact each storyline through flashbacks. Frank's podcast has had twenty-million downloads to date. Frank’s story has filled four books co-written with Denny Griffin and his life has been presented on countless other podcasts. Frank was the technical advisor to Nick Pileggi and Martin Scorsese for the book Casino and its adapted screenplay. The character Frank Marino in Casino was based on Frank Cullotta’s life in Las Vegas.
Frank Cullotta’s reputation in Chicago grew as the scale of his crimes increased. Frank earned his way to becoming a made man responsible for protecting the Outfit’s interests in Las Vegas. There is so much more to Frank’s story in Chicago that still needs to be told and this project undertakes that effort.
Joe Cullotta, Frank’s brother, and I have spoken to the author and screenwriter Nick Pileggi. We then had Pete Wilke, Esq., our attorney, present episode 1 and the treatments that we wrote to Nick Pileggi in person. Nick loved the episode, treatments, and the whole concept. Nick thinks it will rival the success of Sopranos and he told each of us that he would do whatever we want of him as he owes his success to Frank Cullotta.
Here is the link to see all the podcasts that we produced with Frank Cullotta:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwBsOFFLhTs&list=PLfhI4SaVwRw5raKteSF3sLwQbIO7A2v9s