Uncle Stanley

Create or get your
very own MySpace LayoutsStanley B. Herman plays ages 60-90 “Life is an art, the talent lies in the imagination. All of us possess imagination and it can take us further than knowledge. We tend to get stuck in knowledge, knowledge says this is it, and the imagination says let’s go further. If you imagined your dream and it feels good, go after it; don’t run from your instincts, your first instinct is usually right, more so than what you might be thinking is right. The instinct is an unprejudiced feeling you get about things, about yourself, about others, it’s a gift from creation. Following your first instinct in any situation can lead you to safety, fulfillment, and happiness in the long term. If you are inspired by your dream you will have harnessed a great source of energy to make your dream come true. . .a powerful means to try with. And if you don’t try, you’re already failing, and your dream will come back to haunt you…like it did me…if you want personal freedom, go for your dream now, and persevere. You’ll have more respect for yourself and the worst that could happen is you might succeed.”Stanley B. Herman grew up like many other little kids in New York. He was just a "Brooklyn kid running in the streets." Stanley was a good kid, a bit mischievous and adventurous, but extremely bright and outgoing. He had wonderful parents and was the oldest out of his sisters and brothers. As the years flew by, a vast array of Stanley's talents would be revealed, although many of them would unfortunately postpone the pursuit of his true passion. His first such talents that came to light were art and performing gymnastics and dance on stage in his public school. Stanley’s artwork represented his public school’s participation in a New York City event “50 Years of Progress.” While he wasn’t very much into his schoolwork, Stanley was so artistically talented that he was invited to attend the Pratt Institute, a prestigious Manhattan Art School. He turned down the offer and opted to go to Tilden High School in Brooklyn instead. His driving force was his inspiration to become a football player. Upon attending a Tilden High School football game against their rival, Thomas Jefferson High School at Ebbets Field, home of the Brooklyn Dodgers, Stanley was so impressed that he dreamt of being a football player for Tilden High School, having never played the game before. He envisioned himself as a Tilden halfback scoring touchdowns that helped him to win the game. It was just a dream, but he was inspired by it.Unfortunately, although Stanley was very strong and fast, he was a lightweight, standing at five foot ten and 127 pounds. His parents wanted him to become a commercial artist, but Stanley convinced them to let him attend Tilden High on a promise to major in art. Enrolling at Tilden High, Stanley immediately went out for the football team. Irving Weidman, Tilden’s devoted coach and ex-guard for the early professional Brooklyn Dodgers short lived football team, and Arnold Block, the outstanding fullback and captain of the team, both told Stanley to go home and come back next year after he put on some weight, at least 30 pounds, and that’s what Stanley did. With his dream, and new weight, he envisioned how he would run and hold the ball. His visions were so vivid that they were his driving force to make the first team. Coach Weidman took Stanley to a football specialist, a priest, Father Fenton who taught him a special technique for kicking a ball in a spiral row every time, so that when the ball hit the ground it rolled forward. Stanley ended up playing defense and offense, was able to run, kick, and pass, and became a triple threat. Coincidently, the backfield coach and play specialist, whose brother David was the star quarterback, was then a young Emanuel L. Wolf, an ex University of Kentucky football star who went on to be the president of Allied Arts Motion Picture Company. Wolf produced “Cabaret” among many other great films, and still remains in tough with Stanley today. Stanley was offered football scholarships from Universities and colleges throughout the country and accepted a scholarship from a progressive Defiance College in Ohio, whose Dean was President Eisenhower’s Secretary. “It was a very attractive offer,” said Herman. Thereafter, wanting to be closer to home, Stanley accepted a football scholarship to New York University. He majored in Business Administration. Not because it inspired him, but rather because it was the sensible thing to do at the time. Unfortunately, NYU dropped football, and so Stanley, no longer having much of a reason to be there, dropped out of school. He was then drafted into the Korean War during the “clean up” phase.The army ended up working out for Stanley for a bit; he made the football team in Ft. Lee, Virginia, and again unfortunately they dropped football, so Stanley found himself getting his first taste of his true passion. Stanley was stationed in Ft. Lewis in the state of Washington and accompanied a friend who was trying out for a play. The director happened to turn around and asked Stanley to read for a part and he did. Stanley was offered a role in the play Mr. Roberts, and he ended up in special services performing as an actor touring to other camps with the play. Stage struck, he dreamt of becoming a professional actor as soon as he got out of the Army.Stanley was honorably discharged from the Army with his dream of becoming an actor but was again sidetracked. Instead of pursuing his aspirations to become an actor, Stanley got into the nightclub business down in South Beach in Miami, Florida. Although far from his dream, young Stanley was at least gaining experience, putting his creativity to use, making some money choreographing the shows, and having a lot of fun. But soon his dream caught up to him and he returned to New York City to begin his pursuit to become a professional actor.In New York City Stanley met up with actor Art Metrano of Police Academy, who convinced Stanley to study acting with his coach Burt Lane who was the private coach to famous deceased actor John Cassavettes. Stanley studied with Mr. Lane and was cast in an extra role for Mr. Lanes first film production “Cuban Rebellion” starring Lon Chaney Jr. During his pursuit of his acting career, Stanley met a wonderful lady, Janis and they married, in a few years she bore him a beautiful, Dara. Contemplating a family, Stanley opted his dream to become an artists manager, retail salesman, auto painting salesman, clothing salesman, junk business-buying and selling metal, and finally a real estate sales man to become a NY licensed Real Estate Broker. He entered into his own business with notable real estate investor Michael Becker. Stanley was one of the youngest real estate operators in New York at the time, with a staff of 25 salesmen working for him, whom he personally trained. Financially, Stanley did very well. Emotionally he was disenchanted. The work was not fulfilling, and his rooted desire to be an actor was haunting. Looking back, Stanley considered this to be one of the main reasons for his divorce.Divorced in 1967 and seeking a way to enter the entertainment business, earn money, and pursue his dream of becoming a professional actor. Stanley partnered with an Army buddy, Ric Castle who was a road agent for singer Tony Bennet in the 50’s and who had experience in the collection business. Stanley encouraged Ric to pursue his own dream of being a professional singer, and told him he had the talent to succeed. The two started a collection agency called Small Claims Bureau and a record production company for the purpose of recording Ric and other artists. Periodically, Stanley would go out on acting auditions. They had a common dream. Stanley helped Ric get a recording contract with another company, but the collection business grew quickly and required all their attention. So they sold the business for a profit and went on their separate ways.In 1970 Stanley partnered with Danny Jordan and Rupert Holmes, not yet famous artist-songwriter (Pina Colada), creator of a TV series and the best musical on Broadway 1986 Mystery of Edwin Drood. Rupert Holmes wrote Timothy performed by the Bouys, the longest playing 'hit single' in 1970; the lyric content was controversial, many radio stations refused to play it. But Stanley and his brother Jackie Herman who was known by Disc Jockey's as the "Phantom" personally visited radio stations across the country and influenced them to air it. Stanley assisted Rupert to his success. They sold 50% of their music publishing company Jordan Herman-Holmes to MCA Music. In 1972, having never written a screenplay based on his idea, he wrote The Buffalo Soldier, which was based on a screenplay about Blacks in the union army. It was a first of its kind and was picked up by Paramount. Stanley also created a musical oriented television series with partner Danny Jordan, starring Jesse Cutler, a multitalented music man from God Spell, and Stanley’s musically talented brother Roy. Twentieth Century Fox optioned the series, which brought Stanley to Hollywood as a writer and producer for 20th Century Fox but later everything got cancelled.Stanley remained active in LA. In 1977 he had a brainstorm, and formed a company based on the ever-existing problem actors encountered in trying to be seen, get an agent, get a SAG card, and ultimately get work. What existed was a “Catch 22,” you couldn’t get one element without the other. So he formed a company based on his concept, the Video Resume, and Stanley formed The Video Composites Corporation of America and introduced the program to the industry and it revolutionized casting for actors and industry and other types of performers. His first partner in this venture was Herbert S. Nanas, Sylvester Stallone’s agent, who went on to become his manager.Industry notables the likes of producer-writer Gary Marshall, actor-director Sidney Pollack, Sherry Lansing, CEO of Paramount Pictures, and a slew of others supported the Video Composites Corporation of America. The company produced a five-minute audio/video presentation of an artist, which best depicted their creative ability and was stored in an in-file service with the artist’s picture an biography printed into a directory comparable to the Academy Players Directory. The directory was then distributed internationally to key industry people, allowing artists to be available to anywhere, whether he was working, sleeping, vacationing, with our without an agent in their best live presentation. Now a person seeking talent would simply request the artist’s video resume from seeing their picture in the directory and it was forwarded to them. This system was a breakthrough for artist and industry to service each other. The innovation was the forerunner of today’s high-tech casting services. Stanley truly put a colossal amount of time, energy, and imagination into making the dreams of others come true, assisting several of today’s most notable actors and actresses in their own pursuits. One such as Marilu Henner of the successful TV series Taxi; Stanley assisted her in obtaining an agent. Unfortunately, the new video resume venture brought him nowhere closer to fulfilling his own dream. Doing everything but fulfilling his dream, Stanley became an early pioneer of singles television dating shows and home shopping shows. He executive produced a musical album of the original cast of the PBS children’s show ZOOM, and also produced Shelly Bruce, second star of the Broadway smash Annie, singing the them song “Tomorrow.” He was hired by an independent film company to write screenplays, and then hired as a publicist/promoter/film distributor and released a spoof on Brahm Stoker’s Dracula called The Coming of Dracula’s Bride, which broke Box Offices records for a film of its kind. He also managed Ike Turner, Tina Tuner’s ex-husband who came to his office to sell him his guitar to get money for his habit. Stanley turned him around, convinced him to get help, and brought him to his career again, drug free. Among many charitable events, Stanley was in charge of advertising and promotion to raise funds to help fight Retinitis Pigmentosa, an inherited disease that causes blindness.In 1980 during one of his many undertakings, Stanley suddenly had his legs temporarily paralyzed by stress. He was told that he would never run like he did before, but his will power overcame this temporary condition and he went on to compete in 26 mile marathons. This incident was a turning point in Stanley’s life and career, a blessing that put him on the dream track. So Stanley let go and went for it. He became a professional extra in hope of getting some lines to become a SAG member. At that time the only way to a Screen Actors Guild card was to speak in a union production.It wasn’t easy. After performing over 200 unspeakable roles and being turned down by people who he had helped get involved in the industry, Stanley finally caught a break. Marilu Henner was starring in the film Johnny Dangerously where he was an extra performer. At first Stanley was embarrassed at being an extra that he was about to leave. But then, he realized he was earning an honest buck, and instead put his hands on his mouth like a megaphone and yelled “Ms. Henner! Ms. Henner!” She turned around and saw Stanley. Her first words to him were, “Stanley, you know the agent that you got me, I still have him.” Stanley finally got his lines.Stanley was full steam ahead when two things occurred which Stanley in which he felt had some priority. In 1992, he received a call one evening from the Democrats For Israel, asking him to run as a Democratic Candidate in the 41st assembly district and seat on the Los Angeles County Central Committee. Stanley never was in politics before, or had an interest. However it was a serious situation, they needed a replacement for the candidate who passed away, a Jewish representative. Who would help spur other democrats in the party away from a housing plan that could eventually cause lives to be lost. Basically it was an inducement for free housing to those Jewish people who lived below the Golan Heights to move from this strategic area, and give it up to the Palestinians. If that plan had been executed many people living in Jerusalem would eventually be in jeopardy…as you can well see today. Stanley felt it was a higher calling then from the man who phoned, and conceded. He was told he had just six days to petition to campaign to become a candidate in the June 7th Primaries, normally you have months to do it. To qualify, Stanley had to solicit for 80 signatures of Democrats in his district to make his candidacy valid. To his amazement when he went to sign up to get the petition form at the City of Commerce he was told that he was not a Democrat, that he had forfeited Democratic standing by signing up for the Green Party the year before. At the time the representatives of the Green Party either innocently or purposely led him to believe he was signing a document to overcome air pollution. Stanley protested his new Green Party status, and they assured him that the error would be cleared up, in the meanwhile go out and pursue the names needed to gain campaign rights. Stanley went out and obtained the signature quota in one day, but had to do it twice, because the first time out he was not informed of additional requirements. He went again and secured what he needed the first time…it was a miracle. However to no avail, the department at the petition office informed him that they couldn’t clear up the issue, and told him that he would have to run for office next year, that he was not eligible as a democrat this year. Stanley, totally frustrated, and with two days till closing of the petition period sought legal advice, and was told by a bright lawyer who he hired that in view of the time being short, the court would consider his plight as an emergency case, and trial it. Stanley’s lawyer filed a Writ of Mandate for Stanley to appeal his Democratic rights in the Superior Court of Los Angeles. Stanley miraculously won back his Democratic standing. With very little time remaining before the City of Commerce filing office closed, Stanley rushed through jammed traffic to finally file his petition. It was the longest ride of his life, but it was worth the effort. To end the story, Stanley went on to win in the Primary by a ‘landslide’ and went to the Democratic State Convention and helped over throw the housing plan in Jerusalem. Which goes to show commitment does payoff, when you’re inspired. In 1994 the Citizen of LA elected Stanley again, and during both of his terms he went on auditions…with and without Agent representation.In 1997, Mr. Stanley Baron, a New York garment center magnate and childhood friend, approached Stanley to assist a successful young Bosnian gentlemen in the garment business, who happened to be a musician. He wanted to pursue a musical career by starting his own record company, but didn’t have the know how. Stanley met with him and agreed to help him. He took his one CD, wrote, produced and acted in a music video he created for it. Stanley then went to France and got an international record distribution deal for the company. Because of the immediate Bosnian conflict, Stanley approached UNICEF to sponsor the product with a commitment from the record company, Fearless Music, to donate a percentage of sales to children of Bosnia, and other war torn countries. Two years later, after putting the company on the map, Stanley stepped down from his presidential post and finally pursued his own life long dream, one hundred percent. According to Stanley, “It’s never too late to go for your dream.”Stanley B. Herman, compassionate, strong-willed, and brilliant has a concern for people that is admirable to say the least considering all that he has gone through. He is impossible to sum up, but to put it as simply as possible, Stanley is an extremely talented and successful individual who has had the opportunity to shine in a multitude of different fields and places. Even now while pursuing acting and producing, Stanley still finds time to assist others in the pursuit of their own dreams.“As an actor, I work a lot with the American Film Institute, the LA Film School, and USC. The students attend to become directors, producers, writers, and editors. It’s a great place to keep your craft horned, they are some of the most talented people that I have ever met.” Stanley has performed in many of these student thesis films, among other things. Stanley also helps these students gain connections by introducing them to current professional industry people who they might be able to connect with. As Stanley puts it, “I’m an old, new face on the scene.” He has done a variety of work, from the award-winning independent film Shadows starring Martin Ferrero (Get Shorty) and Pups starring Burt Reynolds to Back to the Future with Michael J. Fox and the current chilling Artisan Entertainment films PI and Requiem For a Dream with Academy Award winners Ellen Burstyn and Jennifer Connelly. He says that Director Darren Aronofsky is a genius, magical creative force. Stanley has appeared in MGM’s famous Television show Fame, Aaron Spelling Productions’ Hotel, and the Mary T. Moore Productions Hill Street Blues and St. Elsewhere. Last year, he had a role a PBS special Chasing The Sun, where he played Charles Lindberg in his last days. Stanley has been seen in a number of television commercials, and is proud of being an elderly runner in the 2002 LA Marathon TV commercial. He is in top physical shape for any age and gets a good deal of work because of it. Some of his print work can be seen in the trendy international publication Loaded. He was a principal model for the famous photographer David La Chapelle for Pioneer Audio, Details magazine, United Health Care Campaign, Travel America, and in the AT&T wireless print campaign. He recently modeled in February 2002 for the Sunday New York Times Magazine section, in an editorial titled Fashion of the Times, about architecture in “Old Hollywood” to mention some of his recent work.“Looking back now, the best things that I did came from inspiration, the rest for survival. Now I’m coasting on my dream with help from a great Agent, Vance Peyton of Advance LA and his terrific staff. I am about to produce two motion pictures, one with Director Phil Marshak, father of notable Agent Daryl Marshak, ex- agent of Leonardo Dicaprio and recently deceased Rod Steiger. One of the screenplays is written by Dan Gordon, who was the head writer for television series Highway to Heaven, and film, Murder in the First, and the other by me, a story about a heroic Black cowboy.”Even though Stanley went to his dream late in life, he say’s he’s “grateful for being exactly where I want to be now. And you know what, I still have many stories to tell, but they haven’t happened as yet, and this is what keeps me going.” Stanley’s advice to Actors is to “have faith in your instincts, let go of your fears, and stay in the moment, especially when your acting.”-------------------------------------------------- --------for more information check out: -----------------------------------------------------------w ww.stanleyherman.com ----------------------------------------------------------- and this is my reel: