THE STEPS is a one-of-a-kind modern day noir thriller about Charlie Madison, a Hollywood P.I. who used to bug the houses of the stars before getting into hot water with the law and setting out to live under an assumed identity in small town, USA. Shot on location in Chattanooga, Tennessee, the web series depicts a tortured, recovering alcoholic who is desperately hoping that his dark past will stay behind him where he left it. But Charlie’s troubles have followed him to his new home, and they’re not going anywhere.
The Steps is a noir mystery web series that tells the story of Charlie Madison, a lowlife private investigator from Los Angeles who’s forced to live under an assumed identity in middle America to escape his criminal past.
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A key player in the blackmailing enterprise of Dante Pelinsano (based on the infamous “P.I. to the Stars” Anthony Pellicano), Charlie has to split town when the Assistant D.A. who put Dante in prison seems to determined to bring all his associates to justice as well. Charlie takes on the name “Ron Harlin” and starts driving east, stopping when he feels he’s gone far enough, which happens to be the seemingly-quiet haven of Chattanooga, Tennessee.
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Charlie’s attempt to lay low would be a lot easier if he weren’t a recovering alcoholic who quickly sinks into a self-destructive drunken depression when he’s away from recovery meetings for too long. He finds a group in Chattanooga and attends the meetings regularly, where he’s obviously forced to socialize with the locals. Desperate for a little income, Charlie takes a job of a questionable nature, and quickly finds himself at the twin centers of a local drug ring and an unsolved homicide investigation, and his struggle to extricate himself from his increasingly dangerous situation is what sets season one of The Steps in motion.
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Shot entirely on location in Chattanooga, TN, using local actors and crew members, The Steps is about what happens when a tortured soul who wants nothing more than to make peace with his past, finds that his past wants nothing to do with making peace with him.
CAST (in order of appearance)
Charlie ………………………………………………………………………………………… Dylan Kussman
Bartender …………………………………………………………………………………….. Robert Bass
Pelinsano …………………………………………………………………………………….. John Hammons
Guard …………………………………………………………………………………………. Garry Lee Posey
Simpson ……………………………………………………………………………………….Joe McNutt
Doris ……………………………………………………………………………………………Maria Sager
Erin ……………………………………………………………………………………………. Dorcas Lewis
Lydia …………………………………………………………………………………………. Jennelle Gilreath
Daniel …………………………………………………………………………………………. John McLeod
Gary …………………………………………………………………………………………… Whit Davies
Landlady ………………………………………………………………………………………. Becki Jordan
Tamara ……………………………………………………………………………………….. Kim Jackson
Phipps ………………………………………………………………………………………….D’wayne Gardner
Guy ……………………………………………………………………………………………..Anthony Robinson
Other Bartender ……………………………………………………………………………….Terry Clouse
Jorge …………………………………………………………………………………………..Jorge Parra
CREW
Writer, Director, Creator ……………………………………………………………………. Dylan Kussman
Director of Photography ……………………………………………………………………. Tim Cofield
Executive Producer …………………………………………………………………………. Adam Paul
Script Supervisor ……………………………………………………………………………. Beth Neuhoff
Editor …………………………………………………………………………………………. Emily Bowman
Hair and Makeup Artist …………………………………………………………………….. Jill Clark
Sound Engineer …………………………………………………………………………….. Charles Allison
First Assistant Camera ……………………………………………………………………. Sahale Jensen
Production Assistant ……………………………………………………………………….. Megan Hollenbeck
Boom Operator ………………………………………………………………………………. Noah Collins
Set Photographer ……………………………………………………………………………. John O’Keefe-Odom
Gaffer ………………………………………………………………………………………… Jeff Hanna
Supervising Sound Editor …………………………………………………………………… Dan Jaspar
Post-Production Video ……………………………………………………………………… Bryan Fowler
Original Score by ……………………………………………………………………………. Joe Kraemer
SPECIAL THANKS TO: Michael, Kate, and Marisol at the St. Andrews Center; Dustin Choate and the staff at Tremont Tavern; Aaron Collier; Matt Davis; Darlene and Beth with Real Estate Partners, CHattanooga, LLC; Doris O’Keefe-Odom; Heidi Van Lier; Christopher McQuarrie; David Hayter; Allelon Ruggiero; John Lisiewicz; Garry Posey; Karl Gardner; Terry Cannon and the Loose Cannon Gallery; Deanna Duncan; Christopher Mosey and Ignis Glass Studio; Susan Paden and the staff at Good Dog; the Mud Pie Restaurant.
Made possible by a grant from CreateHere.
Produced in association with Giant Leap Industries.
