Stan Mann (Steven Chase), a new money multi-millionaire, whose life consists of ladies, gambling and booze, lives at a 5-star hotel where the staff tends to his every need. Known as “Stan the Man” for his extreme generosity, he gets mixed up in a casino gambling scheme with Russian Mobsters and in one fateful bet, Stan loses everything. Planning to drown his sorrows in a bottle, Stan is critically wounded in a liquor store robbery, where he takes the bullet intended for the store clerk, Kristi (Anne Leighton). During a near-death experience in the ER, a slightly resentful Angel gives Stan 30 days to change his ways and redeem himself, and find his one true love.
February sees the release of your film Stan the Man – which is best described as… well, why don’t you describe it for us?
Steven Mann: STAN THE MAN is a heart-warming story of second chances and love. I wanted to make a beautiful, touching story about love and fate, as inspired by the spiritualism with the Angel and the second chance “STAN” gets. It’s just as our Tag Line says; “Sometimes you just gotta bet on Love”
Let’s talk about what makes a good rom-com. Do you believe there are certain must-have ingredients for the product to work effectively?
SC: As in all films, the primary must-have is always the story. This is especially true for a Romantic Comedy; it all starts with a good story. In the case of, STAN THE MAN, we were going for a sentimental, heartfelt story of love and second chances. And of course, the chemistry between the cast is key.
Give us an example of a rom-com you think works brilliantly – if not better than most in the genre?
SC: Two examples are my inspirations ARTHUR and HARRY MET SALLY.
Some might say it’s because comedy is a harder sell – and that’s why the majority of the product out there are genre films now. Did you consider that?
SC: NO. I actually gave no thought to whether there would eventually be challenges at the point of marketing and potential sales. The making of “STAN THE MAN” was not a challenge at all because of my Team! From my Writing Partner, my Casting Director, my Editor, to a DREAM CAST, including Anne Leighton as Kristi, Katherine Kelly Lang as Elizabeth and supporting cast as well, such as Angelo Pagan and Orson Chaplin, it was the greatest film collaboration of my career.
How was your experience ‘selling’ the film?
SC: The landing of Distribution came from Avail Films after they saw the Trailer of “STAN THE MAN” on my Social Media. I met up with Avail’s Asif Akbar at AFM this past November and here we are! We are so impressed and grateful for the Team Asif has assembled, including the fabulous PR Team at October Coast. I had several other offers but went with Avail Films due to the integrity of Asif Akbar. He seemed to share our vision for the film, so it made it a perfect fit for us.
What was the motivation for wanting to do a romantic comedy over an independent thriller, horror film or sci-fi flick? Is comedy simply a genre you gravitate towards?
SC: I have acted in, written and produced films in all of those genres. I produced a Rom Com SHUT UP AND KISS ME in 2004 but STAN THE MAN while my 2nd Rom Com, is my Directorial Debut.
And are you determined to stick with the genre – a’la Paul Feig and Ivan Reitman?
SC: I want to continue to tell good stories which entertain no matter their genre.
Any comedy filmmakers you look up to?
SC: Yes. My inspirations are MEL BROOKS, BLAKE EDWARDS and JUDD APATOW.
Would you say there’s any intentional homages to any of them in your film?
SC: Some who have seen “STAN THE MAN” have said it is reminiscent of the films made by BLAKE EDWARDS.
How do you think the big studio version of Stan the Man would differ?
SC: I think the film would be the same no matter if it had been done at a studio because I was able to have everything I wanted to make “STAN THE MAN”, just as you see it now. Including the kiss in the rain scene between STAN and KRISTI, ala The Notebook.
Could you see this becoming a TV series at some time? It definitely has potential to be one…
SC: YES. I can envision “STAN” helping others in a weekly series along the lines of the Roma Downey series “TOUCHED BY AN ANGEL”.