Hilarity ensues in this exclusive interview with filmmakers AMY BANDLIEN STORKEL and BRYAN STORKEL talking about the unique and uniquely funny documentary, THE PEZ OUTLAW.
SYNOPSIS: “An incredible fish-out-of-water story that follows the adventures of Steve Glew, a small-town Michigan man, who boards a plane for Eastern Europe soon after the fall of the Berlin Wall. His mission is to locate a secret factory that holds the key to the most desired and valuable Pez dispensers. If he succeeds, he will pull his family out of debt and finally be able to quit his job of 25 years. Steve becomes the hero of his own adventure, smuggling the rarest of goods into the U.S. and making millions in the process. It was all magical, until his arch-nemesis, The Pezident decided to destroy him. This is one of those wild stories that needs to be seen to be believed!”
Who doesn’t love Pez? I think at some point in our lives each of us has had some kind of love affair with the dispensers if not the candy itself. (My greatest joy was shooting the candy out of dispensers at my brothers.) And who knew that collecting Pez dispensers was such a big business? Well, as we see unfold in THE PEZ OUTLAW, one man certainly did; Steve Glew saw the potential in the business of Pez dispenser collectibility back in the 90’s and what a journey that obsession took him on.
In this very cleverly told documentary, Amy and Bryan show us the larger-than-life, yet very sweet Steve Glew, diving into his background, his supportive and loving family, and his fun-loving obsession with Pez dispensers. Taking us on a globetrotting journey with re-creations and interviews, as well as archival footage, we get up close and personal with Steve as well as his “archenemies”, and learn all about “The Pezident” (seriously, folks!)!
Thanks to the use of vibrant primary colors and whimsical visuals thanks to production designer David Pink and art director Lauren Shilling, all beautifully showcased by cinematographer Britton Foster, THE PEZ OUTLAW taps into the child within each of us while celebrating the fun of Pez and Pez dispensers. With a spy novel construct to rival the likes of John Le Carre and Tom Clancy we are swept into the wonder of Steve Glew’s world and quite honestly, will have you wishing you were a part of Steve Glew’s obsession in its heyday! The icing on the cake is a whimsical score courtesy of Michael James Lee. Amy and Bryan tell us all!
TAKE A LISTEN. . .
by debbie elias, exclusive interview 10/18/2022
