PEORIA, IL
AMERICA'S PULSE
Long before it was a punchline, Peoria was a proving ground. This is the story of a river city that shaped the nation's industry, its culture, and its conscience — told by the people who lived it, and the ones rebuilding it now.
A city once called the nation's bellwether — reintroduced.
Peoria, IL — America's Pulse is a three-part documentary series that traces the economic, cultural, and social heartbeat of a city that helped shape the modern American experience. From its origins on the river to its industrial rise and its fight to reclaim its soul, the series is anchored by real stories and exclusive interviews with the people who define Peoria's past, present, and future.
Produced by Peoria Pulse Films LLC, the project brings together Emmy, ADDY, and Telly Award—winning storytellers with the community that inspired it.
A production of Peoria Pulse Films LLC, a subsidiary of Ozone Gold Publishing LLC.
3
Feature-length episodes
1600s—Today
Four centuries of Peoria history
Global
Distribution across streaming, broadcast & festivals
Three films. One river city.
Each episode moves the story forward — from the river town's founding, through its wide-open, wayward years, to the fight to rebuild it today. Plus one companion short.
If It Plays in Peoria
Long before colonial borders were drawn, the Peoria people built a thriving society along the river that still bears their name. Through the fur trade, westward expansion, and the rise of a river-town economy, Peoria grew into an unlikely proving ground for the nation — the place where new acts, products, and ideas were tested before they dared take on America, and where a phrase was born that would define the mainstream for a century to come.
1600s – Early 1950s
Sin City
Beneath the factory smoke and river commerce ran a second Peoria — the self-proclaimed “Whiskey Capital of the World,” a wide-open town of bootleggers, brothels, and backroom deals. This chapter goes inside the red-light district that raised a young Richard Pryor, the organized crime that ran parallel to City Hall, and the nightlife that made Peoria as notorious as it was influential — the raw, unfiltered underside of the American mainstream.
Mid 1950s – 2000
The Spirit of Peoria
Confronting today's challenges — economic decline, corporate downsizing, rising violence — while uncovering the resilience that refuses to fade. This is the story of the next generation of entrepreneurs, artists, and visionaries rebuilding Peoria from the inside out. More than a comeback, it's a bold reintroduction to a city still writing its legacy.
2000 – Present & Future
The Love/Hate Letter
A shorter, more intimate companion film — first-person reflections from the Peorians who left, the ones who stayed, and the ones who came back. Equal parts tribute and confrontation, it's the love/hate letter every hometown deserves.
“Everything I am and everything I'm not — started in Peoria.”Richard Pryor
Have a Peoria story worth telling? We're building the cast.
Sign Up To Be Considered For The CastThe people behind the pulse.
Heaven Gilmore
Peoria-born media distributor, publisher, and licensed financial professional. Founder of Ozone Gold Publishing and creator of Peoria, IL — America's Pulse. Her cross-industry partnerships — including Amplified Distribution, Amplified Media, Alliance Entertainment, Billboard, and MNRK Music Group — drive the project's publishing, music distribution, outreach, and business development.
Brand partnership across film, events & distribution.
Sponsorship is available across all three films, live pre-marketing events, festival premieres, community activations, and the streaming release — aligning your brand with the story, culture, and future of Peoria.
- On-screen acknowledgment & end-credit recognition by tier
- Logo placement across marketing, event & digital platforms
- VIP premiere access and sponsor hospitality
- Live & virtual event activation opportunities
- Press recognition and community engagement tie-ins
Sponsorship payments may qualify as business advertising or marketing expenses depending on your circumstances — consult your tax advisor. The production may also qualify for the Illinois Film Production Tax Credit; eligibility is determined by the Illinois Film Office and isn't guaranteed by sponsorship alone.
Official Brand Partner$12,500▾
- On-screen product placement (1 film)
- End-credit logo (1 film)
- 2 premiere tickets & VIP access
- Festival program logo & website listing
- Live-event signage, step-and-repeat & branded materials
- Virtual stage logo, virtual booth & replay branding
- Social tags, mentions & campaign hashtag inclusion
Presenting Brand Partner$50,000▾
- Everything in Official Brand Partner, plus:
- Script/story integration (1 film)
- End-credit logo (2 films)
- 4 premiere tickets & VIP access
- Community activation rights & press mentions
- Thematic / legacy integration
- On-stage verbal mentions at live events
- 30-second ad campaign (virtual/streaming)
- Screening sponsorship at festivals
- Branded content integration (social)
Strategic Brand Partner$125,000▾
- Everything in Presenting Brand Partner, plus:
- On-screen placement (2 films) & trailer branding (1 film)
- Soundtrack + DVD logo placement
- 6 premiere tickets & VIP access
- Awards & campaign inclusion
- Branded booth at live events
- Sponsored segment (3-6 min) & redirect/pop-up notifications
- Panel/discussion sponsorship & branded lounge at festivals
- Dedicated brand posts & paid media amplification
Lead Brand Partner$250,000▾
- Everything in Strategic Brand Partner, plus:
- On-screen placement, script integration & trailer branding (2 films)
- Opening title card “In Association With” (2 films)
- Soundtrack + DVD logo (2 films)
- 8 premiere tickets & VIP access
- Metadata return from live/virtual events
Founding Brand Partner$500,000▾
- Everything in Lead Brand Partner, plus:
- On-screen placement, script integration, title card & trailer branding across all 3 films
- Soundtrack + DVD logo across all 3 films (inside & outside wallet)
- 10 premiere tickets & VIP access
- “Presented by” billing at festivals
- Exclusive “Powered By” virtual stage placement (limited to one partner)
Exclusive Brand PartnerBy Invitation▾
- Every benefit across all tiers
- Full category exclusivity — no competing brand in your industry
- Unlimited premiere tickets & VIP access
- First right of refusal on future Peoria Pulse Films projects
Tap a tier to see full benefits
Sponsorship with conditional payment
Qualified sponsors may add a contractual conditional payment opportunity on top of any tier above — a one-time, capped participation payment tied to defined project performance milestones, up to 1.5x the original sponsorship amount, with reporting provisions outlined in the sponsorship agreement.
Conditional payments are not guaranteed and depend on satisfying the conditions in the applicable agreement. The production may qualify for the Illinois Film Production Tax Credit based on eligible Illinois spend and qualifying resident labor, subject to approval and certification. All sponsorship and conditional payment opportunities are subject to written agreements and applicable eligibility requirements — tax benefits are not guaranteed, and participants should consult their own legal and tax advisors.
Support Peoria's Pulse — any amount helps.
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Donations support Peoria Pulse Films LLC directly and are not tax-deductible as charitable contributions.