There once was a man named Vic Savage. You're probably thinking "So?" Well, he knew an Exploitation Filmmaker named Allan Silliphant (who would later direct The Stewardesses, the most profitable 3D movie with respect to budget of all time) that was related to Stirling "In the Heat of the Night" Silliphant. Vic bought a story from Allan, pretended he bought a story from Stirling, and pulled together some investors - supposedly by promising cameo roles. He took the money, made... a "movie," and disappeared with most of the investors' money.