Michelle Danner Directs Anti-Bullying Film Starring Norman Reedus

Michelle Danner, Artistic Director at Edgemar Center of the Arts in Santa Monica and one of the most successful acting coaches in Hollywood, is director of the film version of John Buffalo Mailer’s “Hello Herman” starring Norman Reedus, Martha Higareda and newcomer Garrett Backstrom. The film, 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, is an adaptation of the play of the same name, also written by Norman Mailer’s youngest son. The film is currently available on OnDemand and iTunes.

"Ultimately HELLO HERMAN is not about violence. It’s not about a school shooting. It’s

not about bullying. It’s about connection and what it takes for one human being to

reach out to another human being and really see them for who they are.

I wanted people to watch the film and feel a responsibility to our youth. Many people in

test screenings told me “I’m going home to hug my children”. But it’s not just about

looking out for our own children. It’s about taking responsibility for all of the children,

especially the ones who don’t seem to have a voice." states Danner.



The director continues, "All the Herman’s of this world need to be heard. The need to be heard is a universal

experience and it’s the key to everything. Whether it is a kid that is psychotic or a child

simply pushed to the brink by unfortunate circumstances, they all need help. We as a

society need to keep talking and coming through for our kids.

Maybe we can’t protect them from all the things they are exposed to from a very young

age, but we can continue to have conversations and keep teaching them to be aware

and communicate. We can teach them from a very young age to speak up when

someone is being left out and picked on. We can teach them to reach out to each other

with compassion."