Detroit Entertainment Commission – Request for Proposal / Experienced Film Makers “The Kronk Empire / Emmanuel Steward Story”

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

PURPOSE
To produce one of the following: a documentary, docudrama or television series on the Kronk Empire interweaved with Emanuel Steward’s life.

GOAL
To secure the best filming production proposal to accomplish the above stated purpose for a finished product to be broadcasted on television or feature film. To preferably use Michigan’s talent.




FILM TREATMENT, “REGISTERED WITH THE WRITER’S GUILD OF HOLLYWOOD”

The film opens in the interior of the famed Kronk boxing gym in Detroit, Michigan. A door swings open. An unidentified man stands in a silhouette against the backdrop of bright sunlight. The man enters and a montage of images follows from the man’s point of view: A boxer wraps his hands. A boxer skips rope. A boxer hits the heavy bag. A boxer hits the speed bag. A boxer shadow boxes in a mirror. A nervous boxer stands in the corner ring waiting to begin a sparring session. The unidentified man enters the frame and positions himself just below the boxer in the corner ring. The bell rings. The boxer commences to spar with another boxer and we hear encouragement from the unidentified man. The scene fades to:

Interior bedroom of a plush residential Detroit home. We see the unidentifiable man go through a ritual of preparing for a black tie event. He brushes his black dress shoes. He puts cuff links on the cuffs of his white shirt. He puts on his silver tie. He puts on his black tuxedo coat and then exits the bedroom. And we fade to:

Exterior Curb in front of entrance to the Townsend Hotel in Birmingham, Michigan – Evening, where a black limo pulls up and stops. A valet opens the door. Our unidentified man exits the limo and is met by a talent escort who partially blocks his view, so we can’t tell who he is. The escort walks our sharply dressed man to a nearby side door of the grand hotel. A security guard appears at the doorway and they enter.

We follow our unidentified man as he is continually greeted by others who are obviously thrilled by his presence as the escort hurries him behind a curtain. Here, a group of smiling faces greet him. One person places a lavaliere onto his lapel. While another places a piece of paper in his hand.

As the unidentified man waits in the stage/right wings, a male voice is heard on the PA system, “He is a man who is a prominent icon in his community. He also was an influential force, not only in my life, but in my boxing career as well. He is a man who guided me with his philosophy in life and showed me how to live right through his unique health regime”. The voice goes on to say, “Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome a legendary boxing trainer, an HBO boxing analyst, an International Boxing Hall of Fame inductee and one of the greatest men I know, Mr. Emanuel Steward.”

The audience stands and applauds as Emanuel Steward enters the room and crosses to the podium. The camera pans to reveal a black tie event. It is the First Annual Kronk Foundation Fundraiser. People of note are in the room like Las Vegas Casino owner Don Barden, TV Judge Greg Mathis, the Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin, Attorney Gregory Reed who represented the Kronk Empire and several champions, HBO Commentator Jim Lampley and former boxing champions, Lennox Lewis and Wladimir Klitschko. When Emanuel reaches the podium we see him give a respectful hug to the gentlemen standing nearby. We can now see and recognize the presenter’s face. It is his longtime friend and mentee, Tommy “Hit Man” Hearns.

Emanuel then turns back to greet the crowed howlers who demand his attention. We seek a look of sincerity on his face as he continues to thank the seemingly never ending applause coming from the over-filled room. The camera pans the smiling faces as the clapping and cheering continues to fill the arena, as we fade to:

It is hours later in the Interior of the Kronk gym. Emanuel Steward, wearing his tux without his tie, walks around the gym looking things over. He stops at the boxing ring. He picks up a stool and enters the ring with it. He places the stool in the center of the ring and sits down.

A news columnist climbs into the ring and approaches with a mike in their hand. “Are you ready, Mr. Steward?” Emanuel nods and takes a swallow of a health drink he developed over the years for his fighters. The columnist continues, “You have trained more than forty professional world champions and Olympic gold medalists. Can you tell us what that was like?

Emanuel pauses to reflect on his long career. Then as narrator, he begins to share with us the story of his life. He takes us back to the “SHOWDOWN,” the highest gross revenue close circuit and pay per view events in boxing history between his protégé, welterweight Tommy “Hit Man” Hearns and Sugar Ray Leonard. This opening segment will entail archival boxing footage of the hype, pre-fight, the aftermath and the rematch of these two incredible fighters that help illuminate the Kronk legend.

As the documentary unfolds, the visual style will entail the use of still photos, newspaper clippings, archival boxing footage of other championship fights, staged re-enactments and live interviews. In learning more about Emanuel Steward, we hear again from the “Hitman” and “Sugar” along with other Marquee boxing greats like Oscar De La Hoya and Lennox Lewis as well as the common man. You will know the stories of Emanuel’s childhood, his family life, his life as a prolific boxing trainer, boxing hall of fame inductee, astute businessman, and how this incredible man became a compassionate community leader throughout the world.

The most important aspect we learn about Emanuel is that since the 1970’s, his hometown of Detroit, Michigan has experienced a steady economic downturn. Yet, through his socio-economic turmoil, he infused in the city a sense of pride and ownership with the success of the Kronk gym. Emanuel has said, “Detroit is known for cars and the Motown Sound. It’s also known as the home of the Kronk Gym and the Spirit of Its People”.

The film ends back in the ring at the Kronk Gym, where the news columnist asks Emanuel one final question as End credits and music roll.

Columnist: “What is your childhood ambition?”

Emanuel: “When I was a little kid I wanted to be an artist or painter. But once I got into boxing all I wanted was to box.” Then we fade to black.

Fade Up: The screen is black. Then what follows is a scroll of the following words: “The boxing world provided Emanuel Steward a platform in which he became a world class trainer of championship boxers. He eventually acquired Kronk Gym and raised it to legendary status in the USA and abroad. Today, Emanuel continues to give back to his community. He still trains young “up and coming” fighters. He teaches them life lessons and prepares them for the next “Big Showdown.” Fade to Black.

PHASES
The filming of the documentary will include the following phases:

Phase I – Preparation / Cost Analysis
Phase II – Production / Interviews
Phase III – Editing / Post Production

REQUEST
Submission of your proposal in filming this production should include a budget and the type of equipment being used. This project is being produced on a speculative partnership basis for placement as a joint venture with the Kronk Foundation. Submit your proposal to the Detroit Entertainment Commission c/o Gregory J. Reed, 1201 Bagley, Detroit, MI 48226 or gjrassoc@aol.com. A resume and experience should accompany the proposal. The deadline is August 14, 2009. All proposals will be reviewed and the best one will be selected.

Be Awesome!
Billy Whitehouse

Detroit Entertainment Commission – Film Committee

Executive Producer – Youngblood Solutions
Executive Director – FilmEmerge.org
Producer – MichiganMakesMovies.com/CBSRadio
Associate Producer – Raised Alone – www.SamKProduction.com
Advisor to the Michigan Film Industry
Actor – Film/Television/Theatre