Rich West, of West Production Services and sheri ratick stroud, of It's Me - sheri!!, pooled their many years of entertainment experience to form Wonder Pictures.
Their focus is on film shorts with humanistic themes that shine a light on relationships and range from drama to comedy and all stops in between.
About
Rich West
CEO, President, Director, & Editor
Multi-award winning Rich West, president and CEO of Wonder Pictures, began his career as a Florida radio DJ in the early 1960's before earning a Broadcasting degree at the University of Florida’s College of Journalism and Communication. Professionally, Rich has been involved in media production including feature films, television and a variety of audio-visual program formats. He's been a producer, director and sound designer for local, regional and national productions of broadcast, corporate, government and industrial programs. For almost a decade, Rich served as president of Musifex, Inc. an audio post production facility in Arlington, Virginia. In 1989 he joined Henninger Video (Arlington, VA) as director of their newly formed audio division. Rich and his wife/partner Ellen formed West Production Services, Inc. in 1987. They co-produced the award-winning documentary "The Spirit of Punxsutawney: Groundhog Day" which has been broadcast nationally on The Discovery Channel and on PBS, "Chincoteague: Virginia's Island Treasure" and "Saltwater Cowboys: The Story of the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company."
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sheri ratick stroud
CFO, Producer, Actor
Multi-award winning sheri ratick stroud, vice president and CFO of Wonder Pictures, has over 40 years experience in the entertainment business. After graduating from the University of Maryland with a degree in Theatre, she performed locally in the dinner theatre circuit and around the DC area. She spent four years in the administrative offices of the Paper Mill Playhouse and upon returning to Washington, D.C., she worked at the Kennedy Center. Leaving there, sheri attracted local notoriety on cable TV as a segment of the Shoppers Club of Virginia. Sheri was also part of a traveling children’s theatre troupe that appeared, among other venues, at the White House and the old Post Office building. More recently sheri has been directing plays, winning the Best Director and Best Production awards for her production of Agnes of God. She is also active with Women in Film and Video, DC. Sheri has also served as a judge for the DC Shorts Film Festival, the American University’s Media That Matters short script writing contests, and the DC Shorts script writing contest, and has been on selection panels for grants for the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities.
Need a little levity?
We at Wonder Pictures believe that laughter can sometimes be just what we need during these challenging days.
In an effort to brighten spirits, we created THE PANDEMIC PLAYHOUSE, featuring the Isolation Players --
a series of brief comedy sketches about life under lockdown.
Please click on the following link and enjoy.
We are in this together!
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuPc3i8zRQi1-Zlc14f9OZQ/videos?disable_polymer=1
Projects
Click Titles for More Details About Each Project!
2025
An intrusive, but loving mother arrives unannounced on New Year’s Eve, forcing her withdrawn, struggling adult son to confront a night he was hoping to escape.
2024
In one whimsical evening, Nonna, a sharp-witted Italian grandmother, navigates family chaos,
confronts an unexpected visit from a Diavolo, and subtly orchestrates a romantic spark between her
granddaughter and a charming stranger—all under the roof of her cozy, slightly chaotic home.
2023
Esther Hayes, on the road fleeing an abusive marriage, stops for the night at the
eccentric StarTime motel. She’s told a room will only cost $1 a night, but she has to
agree to livestream her visit on the motel’s YouTube channel. Awkward and self-
conscious at first, Esther ends up pouring her heart out to her unseen audience, not
knowing it will change her life forever.
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2022
Wouldn’t it be great to have a neighbor
like Mildred. She solves difficult problems.
2022
Our First Documentary - Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of
Encore Learning, lifelong learning for those over 50.
2022
Meet Daniel Whittaker, a happily mediocre man who makes a modest living writing how-to-books. His agent has been after him to become a flashy social media personality, but Daniel’s content
with the way things are. Until the day he begins receiving text messages from a mysterious stranger.
2021
Julie knows exactly how her perfect wedding should feel. No one else in the wedding party has the same idea.
What could go wrong?
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This film was done during the Pandemic under strict COVID guidelines. A BIG thank you to cast and crew.
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2020
In October 1938, Burt Kempner’s parents set off on a bus headed for Niagara Falls for their honeymoon. It was the same night that Orson Welles made his infamous War of the Worlds broadcast, throwing America into a panic. It’s hard enough to embark on a new marriage – but when the world is ending, too? HEROES’ HONEYMOON is a love story and a comic fable!



HEROES' HONEYMOON had its biggest challenge in finding a period bus. Thank you to The Museum of Bus Transportation in Hershey, PA for their assistance in filming this project.
2015
An old SciFi tale with a new twist. Craig's new phone app gives him the ability to receive tomorrow's news today.
How will he use this new found gift?
2012
"Suspicious Densities" explores what happens in the doctor's waiting room after getting "the call" for another mammogram.
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Written by screenwriter Jane Barbara and based on an actual event, this film has resonated with women around the world.
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2010
The final day on the job for The Last Paperboy.
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This award-winning silent film touches on life moving into the technology age. It strikes a chord with all of us whose lives have been
changed by “progress”.
Though it is a silent film, it speaks volumes.
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2010
A short film that points out
the tragedy of cultural misunderstandings.
SPANISH LESSON was Wonder Pictures premier film!
"Rich West and sheri ratick stroud of WONDER PICTURES develop, create, direct, film, edit, and produce good stories well-told. They manage multiple complex technical roles and tell the story in a fascinating way. A fantastic job producing and directing every short film. On time. On budget. Award winning. And most importantly, from an actor's perspective, an absolute joy to be with."
~ T. Anthony Quinn ~
actor/voice over artist
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