Media Process Group

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Bob Hercules: co-owner, director, producer...

Bob Hercules is a veteran television producer/director and a co-founder of Media Process Group. He received his Master of Arts in Communications from the University of Michigan in 1984.

Hercules’ work has been seen widely on PBS, the Discovery Channel, the Learning Channel and the Independent Film Channel. He has directed corporate programs and commercials for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Alzheimer’s Association, McDonalds, Gap Clothing Stores, Easter Seals, Children’s Memorial Hospital, University of Iowa Hospitals and the Obama for President Campaign.

Hercules most recent documentary, “A Good Man” (co-produced with Kartemquin Films), chronicles acclaimed choreographer Bill T. Jones over two years as he creates a work about the legacy of Abraham Lincoln. The film premiered at the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival and will air on PBS’ American Masters program November, 2011. He also recently completed “The Joffrey Ballet: Mavericks of American Dance” (narrated by Mandy Patinkin).

Untitled 1 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 an improving tennis player. 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