Michael Stephenson (filmmaker) explained

Michael Paul Stephenson
Birth Date:1978
Birth Place:Galveston, Texas, U.S.[1]
Years Active:1983–present
Spouse:Lindsay Rowles Stephenson
Children:3[2]

Michael Stephenson (born 1978), known professionally as Michael Paul Stephenson, is an American filmmaker and actor.[3] He is known for directing the critically acclaimed documentaries Best Worst Movie and The American Scream. Michael made his narrative feature debut with Girlfriend’s Day, starring Bob Odenkirk. Michael's latest film, Attack of the Murder Hornets, is an original documentary that he directed and produced for Discovery+.[4] He is a member of the Directors Guild of America.[5]

Personal life

Michael Paul Stephenson lives in Los Angeles with his producing-partner and wife.[6]

Career

1983–2005: Early career

Michael Paul Stephenson's career in the entertainment industry started at the age of 8 when he was discovered by a talent agent while acting in his school's rendition of Peter Pan. When he was 10 years old, he auditioned for the horror film Troll 2, and got the starring role. Troll 2 was released in 1990 and is widely considered to be of exceptionally poor quality, and has come to be regarded by the public as one of the worst films ever made.

Michael continued professional acting into his early twenties appearing in various film and television productions. In 2005, he played "The Mummy" for Academy Award director Taika Waititi during a workshop of Eagle vs. Shark at the Sundance Film Institute. In this role, Michael was wrapped in toilet paper and set on fire by Taika Waititi. It was the last time Michael stepped in front of the camera as an actor.

Throughout his younger years, Michael spent most of his time writing stories and making skateboarding films. He has always been drawn to photography and is known to shoot on every film he makes. Early in his career, Michael worked with Oscar nominee Mel Stuart as a cinematographer. As a writer, Michael was a beneficiary of the American Gem Screenplay Award for his screenplay Orange.[7]

2009–present

Michael Paul Stephenson co-founded a production company with his wife Lindsay Stephenson, Magic Stone Productions, in 2009.

In 2009, Michael produced and directed the crowd-pleasing and critically acclaimed Best Worst Movie,[8] a documentary about Troll 2 and its cult status.[9] The film launched on March 14, 2009, at the Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar in Austin, Texas, as part of the South by Southwest film festival. Best Worst Movie won several awards[10] and ABC's Nightline ran a segment on Troll 2 and Best Worst Movie in May 2010, including interviews with Hardy and Stephenson.[11] On Rotten Tomatoes, Best Worst Movie holds an approval rating of 94%.

In 2012, Michael produced and directed his second feature documentary, The American Scream, for NBC Universal's Chiller network. The American Scream premiered on October 28, 2012, and was named a "Must Watch" by Entertainment Weekly. Michael Paul Stephenson is also the Executive Producer of Zero Charisma, a comedy directed by Katie Graham and editor Andrew Matthews. Zero Charisma won the audience award at the SXSW film festival in 2013.[12]

In 2017, Michael Paul Stephenson made his narrative feature debut with the dark comedy Girlfriend's Day, starring Bob Odenkirk. The film premiered worldwide on February 14 – Valentine's Day — on Netflix.

Michael Paul Stephenson's most recent film, Attack of the Murder Hornets, is an original documentary that he produced and directed for Discovery+.[13] The film was released worldwide on February 20, 2021 and has a 100% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Select filmography

As actor

YearTitleRoles
1998Before He Wakes (TV movie)as Jordan
1996The Paper Brigadeas Luke
1992The Bulkin Trail (TV movie)as Nick Jackson
1990Troll 2as Joshua Waits
1990Beyond Darknessas Martin
1990–1991Encyclopedia Brownas Deeter Cross
1990The Case of the Missing Racecar (1991)as Martin
1990–1991

1992

The Case of the Amazing Race Car (1990)as Deeter Cross

as Michael

Miracles & Other Wonders (TV series)
Pilot (1992)
1996

2001

The Paper Brigadeas Luke

as Jordan (uncredited)

Touched by an Angel
1996The Penalty Box (2001)as Luke
2009

2010

Best Worst Movie (documentary)Self

Self

That Movie Show (TV series)
2010Scream Awards 2010 (TV special)Self
2010Last Call with Carson DalySelf
2010Episode dated 13 May 2010 (2010)Self

As filmmaker

YearTitleCredit as
DirectorProducerWriterNotes
2021Attack of the Murder Hornets (documentary)YesYesYesDiscovery+
2017Girlfriend's DayYesNetflix
2013Zero CharismaYes
2012The American Scream (documentary)YesYesYes
2009Kids with Cameras (documentary)YesCinematographer
2009Best Worst Movie (documentary)YesYesYes

Critical reception

Best Worst Movie was an official selection of the 2009 SXSW Film Festival.[14] [15] [16] Best Worst Movie won Best Feature Documentary (as voted by the official jury), as well as the Audience Choice for Best Documentary Feature at the 11th annual Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival in September 2009.[17] On Rotten Tomatoes, Best Worst Movie holds an approval rating of 94%.

The American Scream won the Best Picture award in Fantastic Fest 2012 in the category of Documentary Features.[18] [19] On Rotten Tomatoes, The American Scream holds an approval rating of 100% and won the 2013 SXSW Film Festival Audience Award in the category of the narrative spotlight.

Girlfriend's Day received mixed reviews from critics, where in the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes the film holds an approval rating of 43% with an average 5.5/10. Paste Magazine gave the film an 8.0 rating (out of 10).[20]

Attack of the Murder Hornets holds an approval rating of 100% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Rotten Tomatoes: Movies | TV Shows | Movie Trailers | Reviews - Rotten Tomatoes. Rotten Tomatoes.
  2. Web site: ATTACK OF THE MURDER HORNETS Director on Reality Becoming Sci-Fi.
  3. Web site: Michael Paul Stephenson. 2022-02-15. www.netflixreleases.com. en.
  4. Web site: Michael Paul Stephenson - DT Interviews. 2022-02-15. Double Toasted.
  5. Web site: Michael Paul Stephenson. 2022-02-15. Peliplat.
  6. Web site: Michael Paul Stephenson HuffPost. 2022-02-15. www.huffpost.com. en.
  7. Web site: Michael Paul Stephenson news - The Wrap. 2022-02-15. en-US.
  8. Web site: Harley. David. 2009-12-25. Best & Worst of 2009: David Harley Picks His Top 10!. 2022-02-15. Bloody Disgusting!. en-US.
  9. Web site: Michael Paul Stephenson - Sitges Film Festival - Festival Internacional de Cinema Fantàstic de Catalunya. 2022-02-15. sitgesfilmfestival.com.
  10. Web site: Michael Paul Stephenson Biographie Filmographie. 2022-02-15. CinéDweller. fr-FR.
  11. Web site: Video Is 'Troll 2' the 'Best Worst Movie' Ever?. 2022-02-15. ABC News. en.
  12. Web site: Han. Angie. 2017-01-17. Girlfriend's Day Trailer Starring Bob Odenkirk. 2022-02-15. SlashFilm.com. en-US.
  13. Web site: The Fantastic Fest 2012 Awards!. 2022-02-15. Fantastic Fest. en.
  14. Web site: Meyer. Joshua. 2021-08-24. Curb Your Enthusiasm Season 11 - Everything We Know So Far. 2022-02-15. SlashFilm.com. en-US.
  15. Web site: Kohn. Eric. 2009-03-14. SXSW Snapshot: Michael Paul Stephenson's "Best Worst Movie". 2022-02-15. IndieWire. en.
  16. Web site: History SXSW Conference & Festivals. 2022-02-15. SXSW. en-US.
  17. Web site: Home Sidewalk Film Center and Cinema - Birmingham, AL. 2022-02-15. Sidewalk Film Center & Cinema. en-US.
  18. Web site: September 28, 2012. Fantastic Fest 2012 Awards. 2022-02-15. www.austinchronicle.com. en-US.
  19. Web site: 2013-03-16. SXSW: 'Short Term 12', 'The Short Game' Take Audience Awards. 2022-02-15. The Hollywood Reporter. en-US.
  20. Web site: The Fantastic Fest 2012 Awards!. 2022-02-15. Fantastic Fest. en.