In 1995, 52-year-old Larry L. Hillblom, the founder and largest shareholder in DHL Worldwide Express, disappeared after crashing his WWII seaplane in the South Pacific. Hillblom had been living what seemed to be a quiet and health-conscious bachelor life in Saipan, 115 miles north of Guam, mostly because he liked the tax benefits. Leaving behind almost a billion dollars, Hillblom sparked a battle over his estate that took on epic proportions: Led by a soft-spoken but unwavering lawyer from Saipan, the impoverished teenage prostitutes who claim to have birthed Larry's heirs find themselves pitted against Larry's former business associates, blinded by greed and entitlement, and several of the largest law firms in the world.
In her feature debut, director Alexis Manya Spraic methodically peels back the layers of the secretive and scandalous life of an enigmatic and reclusive tycoon. Brilliantly staying ahead of the audience, she keeps the mystery unraveling at a steady pace and probes deeply into the legal quagmire and fascinating players on both sides. Shadow Billionaire is a gripping character piece and a fascinating look at the lengths an unlikely hero will go to expose the truth.
CAST & CREDITS
Directed by Alexis Manya Spraic
Alexis Manya Spraic graduated from Columbia University in 2003 and has since been working as a filmmaker based in Los Angeles and New York. Her most recent work includes Cat Dancers (winner of the special jury prize for editing at SXSW), which she edited and coproduced for HBO; the Grammy-nominated Respect Yourself, which she edited for PBS; Maxed Out, which she edited and coproduced; and the feature Red Sands, which she edited for Sony Pictures. Her work has been seen on Showtime, HBO, PBS, A&E, and IFC as well as theatrically and at festivals internationally. Shadow Billionaire is her directorial debut.
Executive Producers
Jonathan Murray, Gil Goldschein, Josh Braun
Director
Alexis Manya Spraic
Composers
Luke and Holly Rothschild with String Theory
Production Company
BMP Films
Producer
Sasha Alpert
Director of Photography
Jon Aaron Aaseng
CONTACTS
Press Contact
Mariah O'Hara B|W|R 5700 Wilshire Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90036 Phone: 310 248 6177 mohara@bwr-la.com
Technical Contact
Alexis Manya Spraic 4307 Avocado Street Los Angeles, CA 90027 Phone: 424 653 4200 alexisspraic@hotmail.com
Print Source
Sasha Alpert Bunim/Murray Production 6007 Sepulveda Boulevard Van Nuys, Ca 91411 Phone: 818 756 7026 salpert@bunim-murray.com
