The multi-talented Michelle Danner drops by Movie Addict Headquarters on May 24th to talk about her extraordinary career as a director, actress, producer, and acting coach for such stars as Gerard Butler, Chris Rock, Penelope Cruz, James Franco, Salma Hayek, Christian Slater, Zooey Deschanel, and  Marcia Cross. Michelle is currently directing Hello Herman, a film based on a play by Norman Mailer’s son, John Buffalo Mailer. Her other movie credits include How To Go Out on a Date in Queens, Dos corazones, and Death at a Funeral.  

Michelle, who is also the Artistic Director at Edgemar Center for the Arts, was featured coaching Andy Richter on “The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien” in 2009 and is currently writing two books on acting, The Golden Box and 100 Most Asked Questions About Acting. In 2000, Michelle and acting coach Larry Moss raised $1.5 million from donors including Steven Speilberg, Tom Hanks, Kate Capshaw and Neil Simon to build and open the Edgemar Center which houses two theatres and an art gallery.

Hello Herman, Michelle’s latest film project, is an unflinching examination of today’s society through the eyes of a young copycat killer and the journalist who sees the tragedy as a potential boost for his own career. “This is a story of prejudice and isolation,” Michelle declares, “as well as the racism, bullying and violence that our youth encounter in schools… As the mother of an 8-year-old boy, the themes resonate with me.”

This timely and disturbing film offers no answers, but Michelle hopes it will spark a much-needed dialogue between our nation’s youth and their peers, parents and teachers. Hello Herman is Michelle’s second feature film as a director. For her first directorial effort, How To Go Out on a Date in Queens, Michelle was named Best Director at the LA Film Awards, and she has dozens of stage directing credits in Los Angeles and New York.

Michelle Danner’s interview airs Tuesday, May 24, at 1 p.m. Pacific Time (4 p.m. Eastern Time) on BlogTalkRadio. During the live show, listeners are invited to call in and to participate in a chat. An archived segment will also be available. 

HOST: Betty Jo Tucker

CO-HOST:  Jazz Shaw

PRODUCER:  Nikki Starr

LINK TO LISTEN:  Click here on or after May 24, 2011. 

(For more information about Michelle Danner, please go to www.actingstudioatedgemar.com.)