From ordained preacher at 17 to 22-year drug addiction to redemption. The true story of Rev. Burton Barr Jr. - a powerful testament to how faith can transform any life.
📄 Church Support PackageKobalt Books Entertainment
P.O. Box 1062, Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004
📞 314-503-5462 | ✉️ cedric.mixon@kobaltbooks.com
Ray Ellingsen began his film career in 1987 as a writer. He has since pursued numerous aspects of filmmaking, from directing and producing, to supervising post production of feature films, documentaries, and commercials. In 1999, Ellingsen helped form Ugly Old Bird Productions. He managed Hollywood-Phoenix Film Studios and has written and directed two documentaries and a feature film, produced nine feature films and over 30 video projects.
Cedric Mixon is the founder and owner of Kobalt Books, publisher of The Hoodlum Preacher. Originally from St. Louis, MO, he started Kobalt Books in 2003 as an outlet for real life stories. Mixon directed and produced the documentary "121: Overcoming Drug Addiction by Faith," currently streaming in 16 countries. Kobalt Books has over 20 titles in print and 9 films in development.
Rev. Dr. Ronald Leon Bobo, Sr. is the Senior Pastor of First Trinity Missionary Baptist Church of Flint, Michigan. He served as Senior Pastor of West Side Missionary Baptist Church in Saint Louis, Missouri, from 1986 until retirement in 2019. He holds degrees from Oakland University, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and recently completed a Master of Arts in Humanitarian and Disaster Leadership from Wheaton College.
Rene Leda has over 28 years of experience in the film and television industry. His expertise ranges from developing and distributing television programs in international markets, to handling programs for companies like Twentieth Century Fox TV International, Warner Bros., ABC, CBS, Columbia Pictures, BBC, and many more within Latin American markets. In 2004, Leda formed NetMinds Inc., a distribution company selling films, series, and formats to markets worldwide. Leda's NetMinds joined forces with Anatol Chavez/Terra Entertainment in 2009 to create Synergetic distribution, an entertainment production and distribution company.
Bill Duke excels in front of and behind the camera. His acting and directing credits are extensive and include stints on such groundbreaking television series as Fame, Hill Street Blues, Knotts Landing, Dallas, and New York Undercover. His feature credits include Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit, Get Rich or Die Trying, Deep Cover, Hoodlum, Predator, Menace II Society and Not Easily Broken, to name a few. His documentaries, Dark Girls and Light Girls, both NAACP Image Award nominees, aired on OWN and were two of the most successful documentaries on the network.
Jeffrey Hardy, president of FilmProfit, LLC, is the author of The FilmProfit Guide to Film Distribution Deals, a respected primer to the film markets. FilmProfit contributed to The Independent Film and Videomaker's Guide (2nd ed.) and to the Independent Filmmaker's Guide to Writing a Business Plan for Investors (1st and 2nd eds.). Jeff has provided business and strategic planning for over 300 motion picture projects, with budgets from the micro level to mid-budget range, such as Pawn Sacrifice and The Lost City of Z, as well as films budgeted over $100 million, such as The Meg.
Kevin Kenney has been a writing consultant and screenwriter for over a decade, working with The Discovery Channel, VH-1, and several entertainment companies. He wrote "Atlantis in the Andes" for The Learning Channel and adapted "The Hoodlum Preacher" screenplay from the true life story of Reverend Burton Barr.
Casting is currently in progress. We're seeking talented actors to bring this powerful story to life.
The adult version of Burton Barr during his addiction and recovery journey.
Additional cast members will be announced as production progresses.
Interested actors can contact the production team for audition opportunities.
Rev. Burton Barr Jr. was ordained to preach at age 17 but at age 20, Barr was held down by a group of friends while they injected heroin into his veins, which started his 22-year drug addiction, crime-spree and downward spiral. Arrested over 30 times and wanted by the police in over a half-dozen jurisdictions, Barr had done everything possible to ruin his life.
He was addicted to crack, trees, reds, heroin, acid, cocaine, and alcohol. He overdosed several times. He was a drug dealer and was shot and even stabbed. By the grace of God, Barr survived it all! He climbed his way from rock bottom to sobriety, where he now helps troubled youth and young prisoners avert a wasted life, providing evidence of just how much the presence of God can change and save a man.
Rev. Dr. Burton Barr, Jr. has served as an associate minister of the West Side Missionary Baptist Church in St. Louis, Missouri since 1994. He retired from his position as Minister of Outreach & Evangelism on December 31, 2019. Barr serves as Chairman of the Home Mission Board of the Missionary Baptist State Convention of Missouri and Director of Prison Ministry for the Berean Missionary Baptist District Association.
Barr earned both Bachelor and Master Degrees in Christian Education from Western Baptist Bible College in Kansas City, Missouri. He was awarded an honorary doctorate degree for his work in prison reform and criminal justice. He preaches and teaches the Gospel of Jesus Christ in jails and prisons all over the country and serves as a Missouri State Opioid Response consultant to help prevent opioid overdose deaths.
