Steven Wiig

Steven Wiig
Born December 30, 1972
Ishpeming, Michigan
Occupation Musician, actor, songwriter, producer

Steven Ray Wiig (born December 30, 1972) is an American film actor, director, producer and musician. He appears in the films Into the Wild under director (and Academy Award-winning actor) Sean Penn, Some Kind of Monster, directed by Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky, Gus Van Sant's San Francisco-based film Milk and Paul Thomas Anderson's The Master. He is the drummer in the band Papa Wheelie, fronted by former Metallica member Jason Newsted.[1] Wiig is the primary songwriter in his band The Martichora (all instruments) along with Rich Doucette.

Close friend and longtime Executive Personal Assistant to Metallica's founder and drummer Lars Ulrich.[2] Wiig attended Northern Michigan University.

Currently resides in Sausalito, Marin County, California is working as a Producer to bring the novel U.P. (Ghost Road Press) to the screen based in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

Life and career

Wiig was born December 30, 1972 in Ishpeming, Michigan. He grew up in Negaunee and graduated from Negaunee High School in 1991, where he was voted "Most Artistic" by his classmates. Wiig attended Northern Michigan University in Marquette, MI, where he studied Psychology, Sociology & Graphic Arts, while working as a radio DJ and an in-house artist at KC Comics in Marquette, MI.

He relocated to Minnesota after college in the mid-nineties, where he performed with his band, The Martichora, and produced & acted in several student films, including All Praise The Electric Light. Soon after, Wiig began working on the road and in the recording studio with multi-Grammy award winning heavy metal band Metallica, producing and filming several 'on the road' documentaries in the late '90's for the band - as well as others, including Corrosion Of Conformity's tour home video "Seven Daze."

In 2000, Steven Wiig relocated to California to work with Metallica bassist Jason Newsted at his home studio and play in Newsted's band, Papa Wheelie. He continued working and traveling the world with Metallica for over a decade performing numerous duties—fan club writer, photographer, videographer, backline assistant, production, and band personal assistant. Wiig actually played bass for Metallica at The Playboy Mansion in 1998 (filling in for Newsted) and in 2003 he appeared in Metallica's award-winning documentary Some Kind Of Monster.

Encouraged by his friend, actor, writer and director Sean Penn to "start acting," Wiig was soon cast in Penn's Into The Wild in 2006 and Gus Van Sant's Milk in 2008. During this time, Wiig was spending numerous days on both sets immersed in 'film world'. He has assisted Oscar-winner Penn on several personal and professional projects and worked as a consultant for Social Capital Films for Ridley Scott's Tell-Tale.

In 2009, Steven Wiig teamed up with fellow Upper Michigan-native Ron Riekki to produce Riekki's novel "U.P." (2008).

In 2010, Wiig documented Faith No More's homecoming reunion 'trilogy' performances at San Francisco's Warfield Theater and directed Jerry Hannan's "The Bridge" music video for the motion picture "Guitar Man". In September of that year, Wiig & Riekki embarked on a tour of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, promoting Riekki's novel (U.P.) and announcing their intentions of turning the book into a film. During a homecoming event at The Vista Theatre, Mayor Paul Gravedoni presented Steven Wiig with a resolution recognizing him for his vision of bringing the City of Negaunee recognition through film and his dedication to the arts.

2011 saw Wiig return to acting in HBO's Hemingway & Gellhorn. Under Philip Kaufman's direction, Wiig portrayed Simo Häyhä during the Winter War, leading a group of Finnish soldiers to shelter where Martha Gellhorn (played by Nicole Kidman) is reporting on World War II. Keeping busy in July 2011, Wiig acted in three major films (including Paul Thomas Anderson's movie The Master, with Philip Seymour Hoffman, Joaquin Phoenix, Amy Adams, and Laura Dern), before returning to Michigan's Upper Peninsula to help promote "The U.P. Book Tour 2011".

In 2014 Wiig starred in "Dead Metaphors", a short film directed by Patrick Ford. He portrays a self-destructive, reclusive novelist who hasn't published in decades who is discovered and pushed to the brink of a complete mental breakdown. The film features songs by Tom Waits and was featured at the 2014 ArcovertLA Film festival.[3]

Steven Wiig continues acting, producing & directing and is actively working to bring more film projects to Upper Michigan's Marquette County.

Filmography

As Actor:

Appears in cartoon form alongside Neil Hamburger on The Amazing Adventures of Pleaseeasaur DVD (2006).

Discography

References

  1. ↑ "Jason Newsted's Papa Wheelie project". Blabbermouth.net. 18 February 2004. Retrieved 10 November 2012.
  2. ↑ "Lars Ulrich's assistant talks about upcoming Metallica album". Blabbermouth.net. 21 February 2008. Retrieved 10 November 2012.
  3. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/deadmetaphorsfilm
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