Eugene Bullard: The Best Soldier America Never Had Inspired by true events. “Confidential and Proprietary. Copyright (c) 2020 of Blackfolk Productions All Rights Reserved.” Produced by Presenting quality, well written, produced, and directed stories by, of, and for people of color, with an emphasis on producing and casting from within a locally diverse pool of talent, above and below the line. Logline (Action-Adventure | Drama | Biopic) 1959 New York City. An African-American elevator operator is suddenly rushed away to an unexpected meeting with the President of France. Inspired by the true-life adventures of the boxer, soldier, fighter pilot, jazz musician, club owner, and spy. Comparable Titles Glory Casablanca Flyboys Genre: | Biography, Drama, History Genre: Drama, Romance, War Genre: Action, Drama, History Studio: TriStar Pictures Studio: Warner Bros. Studio: MGM Release Date (US): 1990 Release Date (US): 1943 Release Date (US): 2006 Budget: $18,000,000 Budget: $950,000 Budget: $60,000,000 Domestic Box Office: $26,979,166 Domestic Box Office: $10,462,500 Domestic Box Office: $13,090,630 International Box Office: - International Box Office: $47,829 International Box Office: $1,725,749 Worldwide Gross: $26,979,166 Worldwide Gross: $10,510,329 Worldwide Gross: $17,858,059 SYNOPSIS We open on African-American Eugene Bullard as he is pulled from his life as an Elevator Operator at Rockefeller Center, the home of the NBC TV network, and whisked off in a motorcade for a meeting with Charles De Gaulle, President of France, where Eugene is to receive the Legion of Honour (The French equivalent of the Congressional Medal Of Honor). In a series of sudden, jarring flashbacks, we are take n through Eugene Bullard's extraordinary life. In 1912, Eugene escapes from the Jim Crow South, after witnessing the near lynching of his father. His father was from Haiti, and Eugene speaks fluent French. He longs to go to France, where he believes he will be treated with more respect. He stows away on a German freighter, where he learns German. He then lands in Britain, where he becomes a champion boxer,d an finally reaches France just as World War I is starting. Eugene immediately volunteers, becoming first an infantryman in the French Foreign Legion, and then a fighter pilot in the French air force. SYNOPSIS (Continued) After the War, Eugene becomes a jazz musician and nightclub manager, meeting people like Louis Armstrong, Pablo Picasso, and F. Scott Fitzgerald. In a page taken from the movie Casablanca, Eugene, who now owns a nightclub, spies on visiting Nazis for French Intelligence during the years leading up to World War II. During World War II, Eugene once again fights for France, but when the Nazis invade, Eugene is forced to flee back to America. Eugene is famous in France, but he is unknown in the U.S. There he is just another Black man in America, facing ignorance and violence. Eugene endures the every day racism of 20th century America. He is beaten, more than once, but never gives in to fear or hatred. We return to the “present” to witness the awarding of the Legion of Honour medal, and the pronouncement by President De Gaulle, “All of our country is in your debt.” The Team STEVE WELLER is a writer, actor, and comedian. He was born in Vancouver, Canada, but grew up in Liverpool, England, where he learned the value of having an outsider's point of view. Returning to Vancouver, Steve studied acting in the Studio 58 program at Langara College, and at the National Theatre School Of Canada. He has appeared in some fifty plays and in many films and television shows. Steve has always loved storytelling, and has a fascination with language, which fuels his love of Shakespeare. He has written a SWORD & SORCERY novella; a Children's book; three STEVE WELLER stage plays; and has co-written three others. He is currently Writer | Actor | Comedian developing the series BLACK KNIGHTS OF THE FBI for television, and recently completed writing the animated feature, ESCAPE TO FREEDOM: A GHOST STORY. The Team WILL WILLIAMS is a Vancouver based entrepreneur and producer. Mr. Williams worked in the Sales and Insurance industries before rediscovering his love of acting. Having worked extensively in film, television, and commercials, he realized that there were stories - black stories - that needed to be told. He formed BLACKFOLK PRODUCTIONS so he could tell those stories. Being born in Detroit, growing up in Toronto, and working across the U.S. and Canada, his African-Canadian perspective is unique. WILL WILLIAMS Mr. Williams' specialty is finding and motivating talented Executive Producer | Story people to achieve amazing things. He is currently Developer | Founder, Blackfolk developing the series BLACK KNIGHTS OF THE FBI for Productions television, and the animated feature, ESCAPE TO FREEDOM: A GHOST STORY. The Team MARITAMA is a Canadian (Vancouver, BC) actress, producer, and teacher, who was born and raised into a family of performers. She has been involved in the entertainment industry for many years as a dancer, singer, model, and actor in various television, web, and film productions. She launched her company, PINK LIGHT PRODUCTIONS, in 2019. She has experience in production, and co-production of films, televi sion, shorts, web series, teaser trailers, and has an aptitude for assembling film crews, talent, and for pitching. She is also a credited acting teacher, curriculum builder, and coach. MARITAMA CARLSON Her recent work includes the short film SO CALLED Production Manager FRIENDS (credited writing and acting); a teaser trailer for THE VINEYARD; and ANOTHER PLACE. She co-wrote, and produced her own comedic web series THE IZ AND MT SHOW. She h as recently associate produced two psychological feature thrillers called, AMBER'S DESCENT, and CRIMSON POINT. The Team C.J. has worked on over 400+ films, TV series, music videos, and commercials since 1980. Starting first as an actor and stuntman, then working his way up through various crew positions including Transport Coordinator, Production Manager, and eventually Line Producer. He produced and directed a television pilot for VOD Networks. Budgeting, scheduling, and film industry troubleshooting are his specialty. C. J. also own and operates INFINITY GRIP AND C.J. CLAYTON ELECTRIC, a film industry supplier, in the Okanagan Valley Line Producer region of BC. Characters & Cast Wish List EUGENE BULLARD (Historical | Lead) Languages: Fluent French and English (Southern US accent). German would be an asset. Adult Eugene African / African-American (30-62 yrs). The years pass, but Eugene continues to fight for himself, and now, his young daughters. Eugene works as club owner, and jazz musician. No matter what life throws at him, Eugene refuses to give in. Back in America, Eugene defies racism, and the Communist Dijimon Hounsou witch hunts of the 1950s. Even when he is forced to work as a Actor | Producer | Director Longshoreman, Security Guard, and Elevator Operator, Known for: Guardians of the Eugene is quiet, determined, and still undefeated. Galaxy; Captain Marvel Characters & Cast Wish List EUGENE BULLARD (Historical | Lead) Languages: Fluent French and English (Southern US accent). German would be an asset. Young Eugene African / African-American (16-25 yrs). Eugene escapes from the Jim Crow South in 1912, traveling to France. Eugene is resourceful, hard working, and willing to try anything. He has a hair trigger temper, which often gets him into trouble, but is also funny, and charming. Isaiah Hodges Actor In World War I, Eugene is completely fearless, both as a Known for: Emily in Paris | soldier, and later, as a fighter pilot. Mending of Heart Characters & Cast Wish List MAURICE BRODEUR (Fictional | Supporting) Language(s): Fluent French and English. German would be an asset. Caucasian (30-62 yrs). Maurice is a smart young man from a wealthy family, when he meets Eugene in World War I. The two men form a friendship, which spans forty years. Maurice is attracted to life in the Manuel Sinor French army, though he later transfers to Military Intelligence. Actor | Writer He is devoted to the defense of France, and would die for his Known for: X-Men: Apocalypse; country if necessary. Anna Characters & Cast Wish List KITTY TERRIER (Historical | Principal) Language(s): Fluent French and English. German would be an asset. Caucasian (27 yrs). Kitty is a French Intelligence agent, working for Maurice. She works in Eugene's club, monitoring visiting Germans. Kitty is beautiful, brilliant, dedicated, and ruthless. She is trained in armed, and unarmed combat, and would not hesitate to kill. Her father, the Mayor of a small town in Alsace, was executed by the Germans during World War I, and she wants revenge. Alba Baptista Kitty is romantically involved with Eugene, and is devoted to Actress | Producer | Director protecting his daughters. Known for: Warrior Nun Characters & Cast Wish List CAPTAIN ERNST WESTFAHL (Historical | Principal) Language(s): Fluent German and French. Caucasian (67 yrs). Captain of the Marta Russ, Captain Westfahl has spent his entire working life on ships. He is a tough man, and runs a tough ship, but he has secrets of his own. As a teenager, Eugene stows away on his ship, but instead of throwing him overboard, the Captain, admiring his Jürgen Prochnow enthusiasm, and willingness to work, gives him a chance. Actor | Producer | Soundtrack When Eugene eventually leaves the Marta Russ, Captain Known for: Das Boot; The English Westfahl will miss him, although he would never admit it. Patient Tone The “modern” scenes, set in 1959 New York, at the beginning and end of the film, are muted and gray, but everything in France - Eugene's life as a boxer, soldier, fighter pilot, jazz musician, club owner, and spy - is bright and colorful, as fitting an Action-Adventure.