Arts & Entertainment

Buffalo Grove Native Produces Hollywood Documentary

Stevenson High School grad Steven Feinartz is the producer of "The Bitter Buddha," which tells the story of standup comedian Eddie Pepitone.

When Steven Feinartz set out to create a documentary, he wanted to make sure the topic was one that he’d enjoy.

“I like documentary, but I want to do work that I enjoy and want to watch,” he said. “Comedy interests me.”

So when he had the chance to combine those two interests, he seized it.

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The result is The Bitter Buddha, which tells the story of standup comedian Eddie Pepitone.

Feinartz, a Buffalo Grove native and 2002 graduate, is producing the film in Hollywood, where he’s spent the past few years pursuing his filmmaking career.

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The 28-year-old, who runs a small production company, began work on The Bitter Buddha in mid-2011. As director and editor of the film, he conducted interviews, filmed and handled the finances for the production.

While the work has been demanding, “It’s given me opportunities to learn a lot about filmmaking,” he said.

“It’s been a lot of work, but it’s worth it. It’s been a very positive experience,” said Feinartz, who is putting the finishing touches on the documentary and hopes to introduce it at film festivals later this year. 

The Bitter Buddha, which is Pepitone’s nickname, “shows the juxtaposition of Eddie who is raging on stage but is also very spiritual,” said Feinartz, a longtime fan of the comedian. Plans for the documentary began when the filmmaker met with the Pepitone over coffee after a show.

“It was just an opportunity to document his life, the demons that he wrestled every day, from family to financial — the things that we all do," he said.

In addition to Pepitone, the cast of his documentary includes comedian Zach Galifianakis and actress Sarah Silverman. While working with well-known people is part of the Hollywood lifestyle, Feinartz seems to take it all in stride.

In previous industry jobs, he worked with notable people on the sets of Dancing with the Stars and Celebrity Rehab. The Columbia College graduate started his career in Chicago, where he was an associate producer for The History Channel’s Gangland.

Though he’s worked with a range of notable people, he has not encountered any Hollywood “divas” so far, he added.

“I think the stereotypes of people in L.A. are kind of blown out of proportion,” he said. “They’re like everybody else. They’re just people, like all of us. They are on the cover of a newspaper or magazine every now and then, but they are just people.”

Feinartz said Pepitone, the subject of his current project, already has a following as a comedian in Los Angeles and New York. He said he hopes the documentary helps bring even more attention to the comedian, whom he described as “underappreciated.”

As for himself? Feinartz said he doesn’t aspire to fame.

“I hope to just continue making films,” he said. “Fame isn’t something I’ve wanted, just success in life.”

“Just to work in this industry and do what you want to do in life is a rarity, so we’ll see,” he said.

Feinartz, who visits Buffalo Grove three or four times a year, said he hasn’t ruled out moving back to Chicago, and plans to submit his documentary to one of the city’s film festivals.

If the film is accepted to an area festival, there’s something Feinartz’s supporters should keep in mind before heading over with their families.

“It’s definitely an R-rated movie, no question about it,” he said.


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