“Hero Dogs” is based on the true story of Wilma Melville, a retired school teacher who created The National Disaster Search Dog Foundation (SDF) at the age of 62. The SDF set the standard for one of the most important disaster response resources in America. This heartwarming and inspirational movie is in the tradition of films based on heroic true stories such as: "Only the Brave" and "Eight Below. "Following the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995, Wilma Melville volunteers as a canine search-and-rescue handler with her black Labrador, Murphy.
2024
PRODUCER: Melissa Shevela
CO-PRODUCER: Julie Pacino
CO-PRODUCER: Sheri Sussman
WRITER: Sheri Sussman
On April 7, 1994, a disgruntled FedEx employee initiates his diabolical plan to hijack and crash Flight 705 into the main shipping hub potentially killing thousands and destroying the company. Three pilots from different backgrounds are brought together by fate that put their unique skills, courage and faith to the ultimate test. The pilots' improbable union proved essential in defeating the hijacker. They credit divine intervention for their fortuitous unity, recognizing its true power in their victory. HIJACKED is a gripping and inspirational true story of courage and faith in the face of adversity and discovering the true power of unity.
2024
PRODUCER: Melissa Shevela
PRODUCER: Autumn Bailey
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Tony Gusumano
WRITER: Sandi Jerome
A limited one-hour paranormal drama series inspired by true events and well-known IP.
Haunted by her inability to prevent her son’s recent suicide, an emotionally detached neuropsychiatrist struggles to keep her family together after she begins receiving messages from her dead son that they need to save a homeless shelter.
It is based on the wildly popular blog Channeling Erik, and Simon & Schuster book My Son and the Afterlife by Dr. Elisa Medhus and the follow-up, My Life After Death by Erik Medhus. Erik's parents were agnostics until their son died and began this journey.
2024
PRODUCER: Melissa Shevela
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Dr. Elisa Medhus
CO-PRODUCER: Paola Marino
SCREENWRITER: Michael Mahoney
ACTOR: John Savage (LOI)
CHANNELING ERIK WEBSITE: https://channelingerik.com/
YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@ChannelingErikOfficial
After Erik Medhus took his own life on October 6, 2009, at the age of 20, his family was left heartbroken. In the days that followed, unexplained paranormal events began to unfold, leading Erik's agnostic mother, Dr. Elisa Medhus, to wonder if these were messages from her son. "If he’s somewhere, where is he?" Fueled by a mix of hope and skepticism, Elisa turns to a medium for answers. Will Erik reach out from beyond to reveal the truth she longs to find?
2025
DIRECTOR: Paola Marino
WRITER: Paola Marino
PRODUCER: Paola Marino
PRODUCER: Melissa Shevela
A multi-season one-hour dramedy series, procedural, inspired by true cases from the optioned book, Cases of Nevada's Gaming Commission. A brilliant blackjack dealer enters a high-stakes tournament exposing the money-laundering scheme that imprisoned her father, leading her to buy the run-down casino and partner with a struggling gaming agent.
2024
PRODUCER: Melissa Shevela
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Alexia Melocchi
CREATORS: Melissa Shevela & Sandi Jerome
SCREENWRITERS: Sandi Jerome & Melissa Shevela
When a men's-only hunting trip is crashed by an unexpected group of women, egos flare, rifles clash, and a shady small-town sheriff takes aim at power.
In the remote backwoods of Eagle River, a sheriff covers up a fatal accident. Meanwhile, a long-standing "boys only" family hunting trip is about to begin—except 17-year-old Austin wants out. Hunting is NOT his thing. Then comes the real shot to the gut: Warren, the trip’s leader, discovers his land is facing foreclosure. Desperate, he secretly rents it out, only to find the new tenants are women, violating a long standing family hunting rule: NO WOMEN ALLOWED. Tensions flare as the hunters and newcomers clash in the wild, but the real betrayal is Max, the eldest woman, is buying the land, to build a casino. Just as emotions boil over, the local Yoopers attack, furious over a blocked shortcut to town. As hunting season closes, the women prepare to leave, but the battle for Eagle River isn’t over. With a final showdown looming, buried secrets come to light, and loyalties will be tested like never before. A high-stakes comedy with action, heart, and a fresh spin on the hunting genre.
Inspired by true events, the tone is a blend of comedy and suspense, filled with hilarious shenanigans as the hunters clash with their unexpected female counterparts. Expect laughs from exploding urine bombs, awkward moments between Austin (17) and bombshell Alex (29), and the revelation that James doesn’t even hunt! But don’t get too comfortable; there’s a murder to solve and a sheriff determined to keep his secrets buried!
2026
PRODUCER: Melissa Shevela
WRITER: Melissa Shevela
DIRECTOR: Paul Schneider
PRODUCER: Paul Schneider
ACTOR: Richard Karn
GENRE: Comedy
FORMAT: Feature
TIME: 90 min
The film is a satirical comedy in the vein of Robert Altman’s “The Player” and Charlie Kaufman’s “Adaptation”. The film follows Zak, a 35 year old struggling writer, and his 45 year old “has been” actor friend, Scottie, for literally one week as they try to raise money for an Indie film. They believe this film may be their last shot at success. So, with a commercial twist like “Risky Business”, the two try to impress investors by pretending that Zak is the owner of someone else’s multi-million dollar house. They plan a quick dinner party for the potential investors which inadvertently turns into a weekend party. The events of the weekend lead Zak and Scottie into an odyssey that peels back the curtain of the “fringe crowd” in Hollywood.
The movie, though set against the backdrop of the reality of one side of Hollywood, has a universal subject matter which is about people trying to achieve success as the film tests the characters’ convictions as to how far one will go to get it. It also shows Zak and Scottie at a point in their lives where the realization that it may not happen begins to set in. It explores the themes of what line we all have drawn for ourselves that we will not cross to get what we want, and when faced with it, what choices we make. Zak, the main character, is often the cause of his own failures in the quest to be “successful”. But, his uncompromising qualities that make him often shoot himself in the foot are balanced by Scottie, who has a Zen like attitude.
“Just Another Day in Hollywood” is a film that everyone can relate to no matter what business they have tried to climb the ladder of success in, and whatever dream they have followed. The movie is also a fun and self-deprecating look at the entertainment industry where “A-list” to “D-list” people all cross paths and collide in a classic satire with a tongue and cheek look at the world they live in.
TBA
DIRECTOR: Sheri Sussman
WRITER: Sheri Sussman
PRODUCER: Sheri Sussman, Charles Berg
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Melissa Shevela
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY: Justin Janowitz
ACTOR: Olivia Hussey (LOI)
ACTOR: India Eisley (LOI)
ACTOR: Billy Wirth (LOI)
ACTOR: Ian Buchanan (LOI)
Melissa Shevela is the founder of Helicopter Productions, a film and tv production company, which holds the options for HERO DOGS, HIJACKED and BETWEEN. She is also a producing partner for Vision Studios that is in development for projects such as: GOTTI 2: The Final Chapter starring Armand Assante. Melissa has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Central Michigan University. In 2006, Melissa bought a manufacturing plant in Metro Detroit, and after operating the business for twelve years and growing sales eightfold, she sold it in 2018. In 2020, she entered the entertainment industry bringing her business experience and success into her production company and projects.
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Melissa Shevela
helicopterproductions34@gmail.com
