THE STEVIE WONDERSHOW

114 MIN | HD 16x9 Color | NTSC | Stereo | 2009 | USA

SYNOPSIS
The Stevie Wondershow is a dark comedy about Stevie, a self-conscious
man who secretly creates audacious home videos of himself. When one
of his videos is discovered by King, a manipulative co-worker, Stevie
reluctantly becomes a reality TV star. King becomes obsessed with
sabotaging Stevie’s success at all costs and things quickly spiral out of
control as Stevie sees the dark side of human nature.
WRITTEN & DIRECTED BY
Mike PASLEY
PRODUCED & EDITED BY
Mike PASLEY Andrew TOMAYKO Ryan WEHNER
STARRING
Chris CORTESI ...........Stevie
Ryan FALCHECK ...........King
Lauren MAE SHAFER ...........Sara
Brian PAPANDREA ...........Andy
Jason BUCKNER ...........Lance
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER
Jonas STUDER
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY
Andrew TOMAYKO
ORIGINAL MUSIC BY
Alan FEARS
CONTACT
Mike Pasley
Producer - Smart/Dumb Pictures
12142 Oxnard St. #210 North Hollywood,CA 91606
319.883.9365
mike@steviewondershow.com
 WHATEVER IT TAKES:
the making of THE STEVIE WONDERSHOW
When we began making THE STEVIE WONDERSHOW the only two things we had were a script and a ‘whatever it takes’ attitude. That attitude
has always been the backbone of THE STEVIE WONDERSHOW. Not money or convenience or glory. We set out to make a feature film with
passion, talent, courage, and hard work, and heart, both on screen and off. We knew just enough to know we were in way over our heads and we
wanted it badly enough to sacrifice everything to finish it. We didn’t know how, but we knew we would make this movie, no matter what.
And then we did.

...Here’s how...

Ryan, Andrew, and I met for the first time in 2007 and a few weeks later took the first step on an amazing journey that has dictated the course of
our lives. That first step was making a pact one night in September, at Starbucks, that we would make this movie regardless of any
and all obstacles. We thought we could make the movie for less than $7000, putting nearly every penny ‘on the screen’, but even that amount
of money was out of reach at the time.

At that time Andrew and Ryan both lived in Michigan, about 9 hours from Waterloo, Iowa, where I lived. Early on we saw the importance of
technology in all steps of the movie making process, namely the internet. Because of the distance, most of pre-production was done via e-mail
and our website, which we used to post schedules, script breakdowns, pictures, etc. for cast and crew members , spread out from California to
Michigan, to view and access. Ryan, Andrew, and I only met in person a few times prior to the beginning of shooting, so this exchange of information
was instrumental in the success of the movie. We knew that the best way to save money, which was always necessary, was careful planning and
good pre-production.

When I wrote the script, I knew that it would fall flat without an amazing actor to play Stevie.
We would need someone that could carry a movie, capture the complicated emotions of
the character, and be comfortable doing some humiliating things. Chris Cortesi sent us an
audition DVD and we watched it the night before we started auditions. We watched the
DVD and knew immediately that Chris was Stevie. No one else ever even came close. Ryan
Falcheck, who plays King, and Brian Papandrea, Andy, auditioned together in Michigan. They
were so funny together and had so much energy that when they began reading, I thought a
joke was being played on me; they were amazing right away. Lauren Shafer literally ran into
the audition room at the last possible minute. Andrew and I had already left, so she read for
just Ryan Wehner. He called me and told me he found Sara and he was right.

By March of 2008 we had most of our cast, but still no camera, crew, money, or locations. We were beginning to dig ourselves a very large hole of
disaster, but we pushed on, believing, knowing that things would come together for us.

Through the spring of 2008 schedules were created, props found and many made, and locations were discovered. The apartments of Stevie, King,
and Andy were built in a warehouse and are actually all three the same set, but with an interior wall added for Andy’s apartment. ‘Recycling’ the
space saved us a ton of money, but like everything we did, cost us a lot of time and hard work, as we had to build and paint walls, and re-dress the
set 4 times overnight during production.

Ryan and Andrew obtained a camera late in March and at that point we could make the movie no matter what. We always joked all we needed was
a script and a camera and now we had both.

THE MOMENT CHRIS FIRST SAW STEVIES APARTMENT SET

On MAY 16th, the day most of the cast arrived
in Waterloo for the first time, we began shooting. We had a back-breaking shooting schedule of only 16 days, and about 30 locations, with some
days as many as 16 pages to push through. We also had to schedule around Brian Papandrea only being available on weekends, driving 9 hours
each way over the course of 3 weekends, Lauren Shafer flying to New York for two days during production, and some locations only being available
for one day. We knew that to make this schedule, nothing could go wrong. Almost nothing did, except a near death accident for Chris Cortesi
before we had shot a single frame, an F-5 tornado that leveled near by towns, a scene that called for 1500 extras and only having 35, equipment
breaking, and our entire crew getting sick. Luckily, more things went right than wrong. We were able to feed our cast and crew everyday by working
with local restaurants to sponsor meals in exchange for advertising in a coupon book we put together. We even were able to get a business to make
the coupon books for free. We had a lot of people donate time and resources our project in a very selfless way. Mark Davis, our assistant camera
operator, and Lauren Shafer fell in love. It was a magical time that came and went and can’t be described properly with any amount of words or
anecdotes. Everyone involved came to set everyday with excitement and passion and dedication and the family we became was the reason we
were successful. There was no cast/crew divide. We were a harmonious unit of artists without egos or agendas. When we arrived at the set for
The Wooden Foot Saloon, it was not publicly open yet and construction wreckage was everywhere. Without a thought, everyone from lead actors
to grips began cleaning up, sweeping floors, running a vacuum, or hauling equipment. Everyone was there for the same purpose; to make a movie.
We lived a fleeting life together and made something together, and that can never be diminished.

Despite all of the hardships and unknowns, 9 people living in a small loft apartment for two weeks, sleeping 5 hours a night and working 18 hours
a day, we wrapped right on schedule on May 31st. We had our final ‘pow-wow’ in the cool night air and tears began to stream from relief and
exhaustion. We had shot a movie in 16 days on a budget of less than $7000 but not without physical and mental sacrifice. As much work as it
had been, we weren’t even half done with THE STEVIE WONDERSHOW.

After a few weeks of rest, we dove head first into post-production. Ryan, Andrew, and I only had a few weeks to be in the same place editing the
movie, so we worked long hours editing in rotation; Andrew, Ryan, Mike, Andrew, Ryan, Mike...scene by scene, through the whole movie. Just as
we had an assembly cut, our time together was over, and Ryan and Andrew left. That was the last time we worked on the movie all in the same
time zone, let alone room. We transferred footage, edits, project files, VFX, images, etc. all via FTP. The entire movie was shot using Panasonic’s
P2 technology so even the footage has always been just digital files. We embraced technology and all that the ‘digital age’ has to offer and used
every bit of technology that we could to make the process easier, and most importantly, cheaper. Throughout the post-production process, as
expected, there have been hang-ups, delays, and technical barriers, but we have overcome them without many casualties and finished THE
STEVIE WONDERSHOW in April of 2009.
As we begin to look back on the journey from day one until now, the spine of the project has been, as in the beginning replacing money with hard
work. We used what was available to us and the new technologies was often our sharpest tool. Just 5 years ago, it would not have been possible
to make this movie on a $7000 budget, but today, with advances in digital movie making tools, we have accomplished what so many hope to do,
but far fewer achieve. It has been a difficult but monumentally rewarding adventure. Along the way we made friends, shared laughs and tears, found
our limits and pushed past them, made a movie we care deeply about, and stuck to our promise to make THE STEVIE WONDERSHOW.

No matter what.
mike pasley
writer & director, THE STEVIE WONDERSHOW
THE FILMMAKERS MIKE PASLEY
Writer & Director
Mike Pasley graduated from the University of Northern Iowa in 2003 with a degree in photography. His short comedy PAVLOV’S
BATHROOM was accepted into the New York International Independent Film Festival in 2005.In 2008, his documentary about
the professional video game world, FRAG, premiered at AFI Dallas and received critical acclaim from indiewire, Cinematical,
and Filmthreat, as well as many others. Since then, FRAG has screened internationally from Canada to Germany.The Stevie
Wondershow is Mike’s first narrative feature which was written and directed by Mike and was produced on a nearly nonexistent
budget. Mike works as a filmmaker focused on storytelling and could be considered a ‘Jack-of-all-trades’ with experience in
writing, directing, producing, editing, and every step of post-production and has worked on nationally run television commercials
and music videos. This experience has allowed Mike to position himself as one of an emerging group of DIY filmmakers taking
full advantage of new technology and the internet to produce and promote projects.

RYAN WEHNER
Producer & Editor
Ryan Wehner has been working in the film and media industry for 3 years with a variety of recognized credits as a producer,
director, AD, AC, editor, visual FX artist and animator. In 2007, Ryan was contracted to complete thematic animations for the
documentary FRAG, that has since been screened at film festivals worldwide. The majority of Ryan’s work has been producing
music videos for artists around the country. His work can be seen on networks nationwide, including MTVu, The CW, Comcast
On Demand, Much Music and MTV Latin. Having produced several festival winning shorts on shoestring budgets, Ryan has
become familiar with the tools being developed in this new wave of independent filmmaking. THE STEVIE WONDERSHOW is
Ryan’s first feature film.

ANDREW TOMAYKO
Producer & Director of Photography
Andrew Tomayko graduated with honors from the Pacific Audio Visual Institute in Vancouver, BC in 2007. Since then he has
produced and directed a number of short films, commercials, and music videos on nearly non-existant budgets. His experience
with ultra-low budgets and his background in Photography and HD Production were instrumental during the making of THE
STEVIE WONDERSHOW. Creating lighting set-ups that allowed shooting 17 pages in a single day was necessary to staying
on schedule. Andrew’s work as a Producer, DP, and Photographer can be seen in magazines, film festivals, and on networks
including MTVu, Comcast On Demand and MTV Latin. THE STEVIE WONDERSHOW is Andrew’s first feature film.
 THE CAST
CHRIS CORTESI
Stevie y
ia.  He attended the American Academ
Chris is a native of Northern Californ se. 
stage at the famed Pasadena Playhou
of Dramatic Arts and worked on the
ductions, a theater group that settled
After leaving he co-founded Genco Pro er,
r thirty plays including Night Maneuv
in Hollywood.  He has appeared in ove be
e, and Boys life.  Chris is very proud to
Picnic, Where Has Tommy Flowers Gon
a part of this amazing production.

RYAN FALCHECK
King
Detroit, Michigan native, Ryan is a 2008 graduate from Oakland University in
Rochester Hills, Michigan, with a B.A degree in Theater Performance and film
studies concentration. Since 2002,  Ryan has been in over 20 stage productions,
including A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Romeo and Juliet, The Boys Next Door,
Chekhov in Yalta, A Nightmare on Elm Street LIVE!, and many more. Falcheck has
also been involved in over 20 films, many in which he helped produce with little to no
budget. Some of Ryan’s associated films have been included in the GrizzDance Film
Frestval and Planet Ant of Detroit between 2005-2008, to which won many awards,
inluding best acting and screenplay. THE STEVIE WONDERSHOW is his first feature
film and he is very very proud to be a part of such a passionate adventure.
 LAUREN MAE SHAFER
Sara
Lauren Mae Shafer came from a strong theatre background prior to THE
STEVIE WONDERSHOW. She studied Chekhov Technique in both Detroit
and Moscow before receiving her BFA in acting. However, Lauren’s
experience on the set of THE STEVIE WONDERSHOW inspired her to
pursue a career in film rather than theater. She became SAG eligible
after her featured role in MEET MONICA VELOUR staring Kim Cattrall
and Brian Dennehy. She was also cast as Michelle Davis in INTENT
with Eric Roberts and Seth Peterson. Lauren has worked with George
Clooney, Drew Barrymore, Keith Bearden and Tim Crockett and her
favorite stage credits include: INTO THE WOODS, I LOVE YOU, YOU’RE
PERFECT; NOW CHANGE, EVITA, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, PROOF,
ROMEO AND JULIET, LITTLE WOMEN, THE WOMEN, ASSAGE MY ASS,
THE MIDNIGHT CALLER, and DAYS OF AWE.

BRIAN PAPANDREA
Andy
Brian is a graduate of Oakland University where he majored in Theatre
co-
Performance.  He also studied improvisation at The Second City, and has
s
wrote and performed in several shows at The Second City, Detroit.  Beside
acting on the stage, he also writes, edits, and directs his own short films with
film
his company FahKauffBono Films, which have gotten recognition at many
-
festivals around Michigan.  THE STEVIE WONDERSHOW is his first feature
length film.

JASON BUCKNER
Lance
Jason was born in Milwaukee, WI and raised primarily in Mequon, WI and
Irving,
TX.  He graduated from Indiana University in 2003 and has been working primari
ly in
event promotions and sports marketing ever since as an employee of the Univers
ity
of Louisville Athletics and Learfield Sports and by consulting nationa
l brands
(Anhuseur Busch, Diageo, Bad Boy Clothing, LRG) and event marketing compa
nies
(HiFi Marketing, Greenhouse USA). His experience on the business side
of the
entertainment field lent itself well to the role of Lance in THE STEVIEWONDERSHO
W,
his first feature film. Jason’s first, and only other acting experience, was during
the
Texas State High School Drama competitions at which he received recognition
for his
work by the judging panel and was named “All-Star Cast” in state competition.
THE DIRECTORS STATEMENT
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can als o pro mi se a lov e of ma kin g movies. We need
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energy.
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happen. We are inv
to meeting you.

Mike Pasley