Shot primarily in and around Wilmington and New Hanover County, North Carolina in early 2007, the film is centered on Marc Pease, a man living in the past, when he was the star of his high school's musicals.

In high school, Marc Pease (Jason Schwartzman) ran out on his performance as the Tin Man in a production of The Wiz, succumbing to his stage fright despite his mentor Mr. Jon Gribble's (Ben Stiller) encouragement.

Eight years later, he is dating Meg Brickman (Anna Kendrick), a high school senior who is bitter about being in the chorus and not having a principal role in Gribble's latest production of The Wiz.

After insisting that he should sing his Tin Man's song, he starts crying on stage, and is later forced to admit that Gribble has not yet responded to his request to produce the demo.

The Marc Pease Experience is Todd Louiso's second directorial project, having previously directed Love Liza (2002) and acted in minor roles in High Fidelity (2000), Thank You for Smoking (2006) and Snakes on a Plane (2006).

[1] Final funding from Paramount Vantage and producer Michael London was received in early February, with production slated to start in March.

[3] A number of student interns from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington's Film Studies Department were actively involved in The Marc Pease Experience's production as part of their internship program.

[13] Before the film's release, Alex Billington of FirstShowing.net dubbed it "the next Rushmore" — which also starred Jason Schwartzman in the lead — based on the similar character elements.

Club's Nathan Rabin, in a "D+" review, asked, "Who could have guessed a concept as promising and long overdue as a musical Jason Schwartzman vehicle would lead to such a regrettable little nothing?