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His most recent film, “Perseverance: The Story of Dr. Billy Taylor,” tells the
inspiring story of a former University of Michigan football star, his descent
into alcoholism, drugs and homelessness and then his amazing resurrection. The
film premiered at Ann Arbor’s venerable Michigan Theater in 2012.
Hercules’ 2009 documentary, “Radical Disciple: The Story of Father Pfleger,”
chronicles the controversial priest and how his political activism has brought
him into conflict with Catholic hierarchy. The film premiered at the 2009 Black
Harvest Film Festival in Chicago and won Best Documentary at the 2010 Big Muddy
Film Festival.
In 2006 Hercules and MPG co-owner Keith Walker made the film “Senator Obama Goes
to Africa,”—a chronicle of the then-Senator’s momentous 2006 diplomatic trip to
Africa including an emotional visit to his late father’s homeland near Kisumu,
Kenya. The film also includes stops at the infamous Robben Island prison in
Capetown, South Africa and a Darfur refugee camp in Eastern Chad. It is now in
home video release from First Run Features.
Hercules’ 2006 documentary is “Forgiving Dr. Mengele” (co-produced with Cheri
Pugh). The film is a portrait of Auschwitz survivor and former ‘Mengele twin’
Eva Mozes Kor, the transformation that led her to forgive the Nazi perpetrators
to heal herself, and the controversy it sparked. The film won the Special Jury
Prize at the 2006 Slamdance Film Festival.
In 2001 Hercules completed a short narrative film, “The Last Frontier,” which
was shot on High Definition 24p format. The film was named Best Dramatic Film
at the 2001 IFP Midwest Film Festival. It aired on IFC from 2002-2005.
Bob is a hopeless White Sox baseball fan and tennis fanatic. He dreams of
someday having a rest area named after him.
COMMERCIAL CREDITS
- Chicago Symphony Orchestra “Riccardo Muti,” :60 spot, January, 2010
- Toni Preckwinkle for County President, 3 spots, January, 2010
Agency: Ken Snyder Communications
- Anita Alvarez for State’s Attorney, 3 spots, 2008
Agency: Ken Snyder Communications
- King’s Daughters Medical Center “Photo Album”, :30 spot, January 2006
Agency: Storandt Pann Margolis
- University of Iowa Hospitals, :30 spot, March 2004
Agency: Storandt Pann Margolis
- University of Illinois at Chicago, :30 spot, Fall 2004
- Feldco Replacement Windows, series of :30 spots, Summer 2003
Agency: Breakthrough Creative Solutions
- Del Webb Sun City Huntley, :30 spot, May 2002
Agency: Publicis
- McDonald’s, :30 spot for concert for World Children’s Day, November 2002
BROADCAST CREDITS
- 2003-Concert for World Children’s Day (ABC)—one-hour concert special for Ronald
McDonald House Charities featuring Celine Dion, Josh Groban, Enrique Iglesias
and others. Behind-the-scenes Director.
- 2002-The Last Frontier (Independent Film Channel)—22-minute narrative film, shot
on High Definition 24p format, satirizing the relentless commercialization of
our culture. Best Dramatic Film 2001 IFP Midwest Film Festival.
Writer/Director.
- 1999-The Democratic Promise: Saul Alinsky & His Legacy (PBS)—one-hour
documentary about the famed community organizer and his modern-day legacy.
Narrated by Alec Baldwin. Director, Co-Producer, Co-Writer.
- 1995-America’s Great Indian Nations (The Learning Channel)—one-hour documentary
about 6 of the most celebrated American Indian nations. Distributed on home
video by Questar Video. Co-Director, Co-Writer, Director of Photography.
- 1992-It’s a Mall, Mall World (PBS)—one-hour program examining the phenomenon of
indoor shopping malls (part of the PBS series “The 90’s) Program Producer,
Director, Co-Writer.
- 1991-Touring America’s Historic Inns (The Learning Channel)—one-hour program
about nine of America’s most fascinating and colorful inns and stagecoach stops.
Director, Writer, D.P.
- 1991-Did they Buy It? (Deep Dish Television Network)—45-minute documentary shot
on location in Nicaragua about that country’s momentous 1990 National Elections.
Best Documentary 1992 Big Muddy film Festival; Gold Plaque 1992 Chicago
International Film Festival, Director, Writer, Co-Producer, Co-D.P.
- 1990-Baseball’s Heirlooms (Discovery Channel)—one-hour documentary examining
four of America’s classic ballparks, hosted and narrated by actor Jeff Daniels.
Director, co-Writer, Co-D.P.
CORPORATE & EDUCATIONAL CREDITS
- University of Chicago Booth School of Business, “Mike Harper Tribute,” 2008
Agency: Lipman Hearne
- University of Iowa Hospitals, “Life Lessons,” 2007
Agency: Storandt Pann Margolis
- Motorola, “From Labs to Life”, 2006
Agency: Symmetri Marketing Group
- Nomos BAT SXI, marketing video for laser surgery device, 2003
Agency: Remedy
- Easter Seals, “Transportation Solutions”, educational/outreach video, 2003
- Weber/Shandwick, “Angels in Action”, awareness video, 2003
- Gap Clothing Stores, “Customer Engagement”, employee training, 2003
Agency: Breakthrough Group
- Alzheimer’s Association, “Safe Return”, educational/outreach video, 2002
DOCUMENTARY CREDITS
- 2009- Radical Disciple: The Story of Father Pfleger—feature documentary about
the radical priest and his fight for justice. Premiered at the Black Harvest
Film Festival.
- 2007- Senator Obama Goes to Africa—a chronicle of the then-Senator’s diplomatic
trip to Africa including his momentous visit to his father’s home village in
Kenya.
- 2006-Forgiving Dr. Mengele—A feature documentary about Auschwitz survivor and
former ‘Mengele twin’ Eva Kor, whose decision to forgive the perpetrators caused
a firestorm of criticism. Special Jury Prize, 2006 Slamdance Film Festival.
- 1999-The Democratic Promise: Saul Alinsky & His Legacy (PBS)—one-hour
documentary about the famed community organizer and his modern-day legacy.
Narrated by Alec Baldwin. Co-Director, Co-Producer, Co-Writer.
- 1999-Songkeepers: The Native American Flute Tradition—one-hour documentary
examining the resurgence of the Native American Flute featuring renowned flute
player R. Carlos Nakai. Narrated by Rita Coolidge. Director, Co-Writer.
- 1995-America’s Great Indian Nations (The Learning Channel)—one-hour documentary
about 6 of the most celebrated American Indian nations. Distributed on home
video by Questar Video. Co-Director, Co-Writer, Director of Photography.
- 1992-It’s a Mall, Mall World (PBS)—one-hour program examining the phenomenon of
indoor shopping malls (part of the PBS series “The 90’s) Program Producer,
Director, Co-Writer.
- 1991-Did they Buy It? (Deep Dish Television Network)—45-minute documentary shot
on location in Nicaragua about that country’s momentous 1990 National
Elections—Best Documentary 1992 Big Muddy Film Festival; Gold Plaque 1992
Chicago International Film Festival, Director, Writer, Co-Producer, Co-D.P.
- 1990-Baseball’s Heirlooms (Discovery Channel)—one-hour documentary examining
four of America’s classic ballparks, hosted and narrated by actor Jeff Daniels.
Director, co-Writer, Co-D.P.
AWARDS & FESTIVALS
- Slamdance Film Festival—Forgiving Dr. Mengele, Special Jury Prize, 2006
- Worldfest Houston—The Democratic Promise, Bronze Award, 2000
- IFP Flyover Zone Short Film Festival—The Last Frontier, Best Dramatic Film,
2001
- USA Film & Video Festival—The Democratic Promise, Special Jury Prize, 1999
- Philadelphia Int’l Film Festival—The Democratic Promise, Best Documentary, 1999
- Illinois Festival of Film/Video Artists—Stoney Does Houston, Best of the
Festival, 1994
- Chicago Int’l Film Festival—Did They Buy It?, Gold Plaque, 1991