Stevie Bullets

Stevie Bullets chronicles the story of a prominent Cicero gang member turned devoted family man. Trading a life of violence and addiction for family, Stevie finds redemption instead of destruction.

  • James Enzo Forni
    Director
    Deadly Associates, Mr. Canoe, Swayed, Isi 46
  • James Enzo Forni
    Writer
    Swayed, Mr. Canoe, Isi 46
  • James Enzo Forni
    Producer
    Deadly Associates, Swayed
  • Steve Roden
    Key Cast
  • Lucia Roden
    Key Cast
  • Shane Roden
    Key Cast
  • Yeva Dashevsky
    Editor
    Deadly Associates, Isi 46
  • Yeva Dashevsky
    Director of Photography
    Deadly Associates, Isi 46, Swayed
  • Joshua Jones
    Director of Photography
    Deadly Associates, Swayed, Mr. Canoe
  • Michael Minaglia
    Producer
    Deadly Associates, Swayed
  • Christine Forni
    Art Director
    Swayed
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    30 minutes 50 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    July 6, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    120,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    RED GEMINI 5K Digital Cinema
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:0
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - James Enzo Forni

James Enzo Forni is an award-winning director, producer, writer and founder of Chicago-based studio, Octane Rich Media. A film director, and storyteller, James has directed over 2,500 short films, television commercials and feature documentaries. He has was worked with admired global brands and prominent personalities including Michael Jordan, Lenny Kravitz, Justin Timberlake and Steven Tyler. Official Judge of the Webby’s Film & Video 2005 - 2023. He co-directed and produced Britney Spears’ Stages documentary with Albert Maysles in 2002 launching his career in feature documentary film.

Films Selected Documentaries, Docu-series, Episodic
2023 Stevie Bullets Short Documentary Director
2023 Utopic: The Many Lives of Todd Rundgren (development) Director
2022 Swayed, Pilot Episode Director/Co-Writer
2021 The Incubation of Silence, Short Documentary Director
2021 Deadly Associates Docu-Series, Reelz Channel EP/Director
2021 Mob Adjacent: The Gangster Next Store Pilot Director
2020 PGA: The Vault Short Film Director
2019 Isi 46: Short Documentary Director/Writer
2018 Mr. Canoe: Ralph Frese Feature Documentary Director
2016 Alive: Short Film Writer
2014 The Floating City: Kristina Isabelle Short Film EP/Director
2012 Delta Goodrem: Holiday Special, Fox EP/Director
2011 Jaume Plensa: Grand Central Sculptures Director
2009 The ‘O’ Mission Pilot Director/Co-Writer
2006 Ashes & Snow: The Nomadic Museum Official Film Director/Writer
2004 The Sweet Spot: San Diego Padres EP/Director
2003 I Do: Achieve your Dream Wedding: Jessica Simpson EP/Director
2003 Real Beauty: Sonia Kashuk & Cindy Crawford EP/Director
2002 Stages: Britney Spears Feature Documentary Executive Producer
2001 Aero-Force One: Aerosmith Short Doc Producer/Director

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Director Statement

In Stevie Bullets I explored two main themes: surviving trauma and corruption and transforming your life through the redemptive power of love and family. We witness trauma as a generational cycle. We see abuse, addiction and criminal behavior passed down from parents to their children. Stevie Bullets’s story both supports this theory and refutes it as Stevie, after suffering the physical and mental wounds of his own criminal, addictive behavior, was able to break the cycle with his own family. He shows us that it is possible to find peace, but not without tireless commitment and the willingness to accept loss. Corruption is both a visible and invisible force that runs through gangs, the mob, law enforcement, and ultimately the judiciary. It is related to trauma because gangs depend on finding traumatized youth who are seeking a new family to fill the ranks. This new family is corrupt at its core - it presents itself as a protector but it is completely willing to sacrifice its members for money, greater protection or influence. Police, in turn, are equally corrupt, exploiting the criminal drug and prostitution trades for money and their own rapacious desires. Stevie Bullets is both a blunt instrument for these corrupt forces and a soldier for their causes. He ultimately escapes the many dangers of this corruption, including incarceration and near-death experiences, by linking his hopes to new responsibilities as a caring father and husband to Lucia.