Episode 5 – “Chiaroscuro”

The Lowdown

In this episode of Topaz & Stillman: An 80s Adventure, we jump between past and present as Maury’s first childhood deli heist with his kid sister Rosie sets the tone for a life of hustle—and trouble. In 1981, Willie and Lyric are literally tied together and accidentally abandoned on the Natyr Zane set just as Rhythm Mercy, posing as “Fire Marshal Eugene,” shuts down the Brock Gatling shoot with bogus safety violations, spectacular chaos, and a one-way ticket to jail.

With the production now at risk of being stolen by ruthless exec Gale “The Duchess” Lanzing and her powerful Dutch-backed studio, Willie, Maury, Kiff, Rosie, and slick attorney Chet Laskey team up for a desperate counterplay—armed with a stolen keycard, a tip from a burned ex–P.A., and an unexpected encounter with Freddie Balzac and his dangerously charming niece, Salem Minte.

The Roll Call

• Terry Briscoe as Willie Topaz
• Jim Fronk as Maury Stillman & Fire Marshal Eugene (Real)
• Damon Alums as Rhythm Mercy & Fire Marshal Eugene (Fake)
• Mitch Leschinski as Chet Laskey, Esq. & Audio Engineer
• Mike Cunningham as Show Announcer
• Shaun Scott as Freddie Balzac & Dallas Ames
• Marisa Conway as Salem Minte & Margie
• Diamandi Devereaux as Lyric Dorsey
• Samantha DeSuze as Gale Lanzing
• Katie Jostock as Rosie Stillman
• Lisa Stewart LeBon as Cleo Ames
• Leslie Grant as Abellonia Suni
• Derek States as Curly (Stillman #1)
• Mike Pelletier as Kiff Maxon, Robert (AD) & Silvio Provenzano
• Larry Oblander as Brown Derby Byron & Casting Director
• Brendan Wreay as Frank
• Eric Carlino as Dean (Producer)
• Robb Smith as Police Captain Drummond
• Melrose Johnson as Deputy

The Dream Team

• Executive Producers: Terry Briscoe & Jim Fronk
• Associate Producer: Andy Parkin

The Banger

"The Willie Strut" performed by Possum Bobby

• Producers: Robert Lloyd, John Pennington, Bob Harvey
• Composer/All Guitars, Bass Guitar: Robert Lloyd
• Drums: Marcus Graham
• Post Production, Keyboards: John Pennington
• Recorded and Mixed at Fahrenheit Studio by Bob Harvey and John J.P. Pennington

The Game

• https://www.patreon.com/c/ShoestringTV
• https://youtube.com/@shoestringtv7048?si=js5A-O
• https://www.facebook.com/ShoestringTV/
• https://x.com/ShoestringTv
• https://www.tiktok.com/@shoestringtv?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

Send us a text

Concept by Jim Fronk & Terry Briscoe

Created, written, directed & mixed by Jason Beard