Mann Power?  Port Chester actor, author, business owner, and producer says he's Oscar bound -- but first he may fight in Iraq
by Cameron D. Martin

February 12th, 2003

Tonight in New York City, Monroe Man will play his first gig as lead singer of the band, "Crazy Morning."  But the band is just one path, artistic or otherwise, that the 25-year-old from Port Chester (N.Y.) is pursuing.  An author, producer, business owner, and actor, Mann has no lack of interests (or self confidence) and unabashedly proclaims himself, "Oscar bound" on his Web site -- www.MonroeMann.com, of course.

"I'm going to win an Oscar in three years," says Mann, whose only screen exposure to date includes a bit role in last summer's surprise hit, "Swimfan."

With such a small body of work behind him, claims to the throne of Olivier might be a bit presumptuous.  But that attitude -- call it cocky, confident, or arrogant -- is a means of accountability, says Mann, whose goals and commitments exceed beyond the stage and screen, to the soldierly and civic-minded.

"By saying Oscar-bound it says so much about who I am as a person," says Mann, who recently founded his own acting [business] school/production company, Unstoppable Actors Business School, in New York City.  "I know what I want.  Success at anything, you need that attitude."

Four years ago, however, after watching the acclaimed war film, "Saving Private Ryan," Mann had an epiphany of sorts -- not to become an actor, which he has wanted to be since high school, but to become a soldier.  Mann's father, Monroe Sr. served in World War II and is a retired lieutenant colonel in the United States Air Force.  Moved by the film's portrayal of sacrifices made by the soldiers such as his father, now 82, the younger Mann was prompted to put his acting career on hold in 1999.

So, several months after graduating from Franklin College in Switzerland, with a degree in international economics and French, Mann joined the Army.  Not entirely sure of what he was getting himself into -- a constant them in his life, he says -- Mann began basic training at Fort Benning, Georgia in the fall of 1999.  He chronicled his experiences in basic training and Officer Candidate School in his book, "To Benning and Back: The Making of a Citizen Soldier".

"I cried after watching 'Saving Private Ryan.'"  Not only because I'm so proud of those that died and fought for us in WWII but also -- I felt it is my duty to my country to join the reserves," he writes in the book, which is available on Amazon.com.  "I feel unworthy to live here.  I can't believe those soldiers died and fought and little Monroe is pursuing an acting career.  I almost felt like a sissy, a wimp, a softy."

More than three years later, Mann, a second lieutenant in the New York Army National Guard, says the military heped him liveup to his surname.

"I kind of feel I wouldn't be the same actor, artist, artist, without the military," says Mann, who believes the military was an invaluable primer for a career, acting, where so many people fail,.  "The military had a huge impact.  It's (the idea of) sticking with a tough situation.  If you want something, go for it 100 percent and don't look back."

As the possibility of war with Iraq looms, Mann realizes his Oscar aspirations might be put on hold for Uncle Sam.

"Everything is coming together with my career, and now I may have to go away for a year or more," says Mann, an Army reservist who may be called to active duty.  (He was first called to active duty on September 11, 2001).  "I have no idea what's going on."

Yet that sense -- flying the seat of his pants -- is something he is accustomed to.

Whether it was going to school in Switzerland, where the language and culture were foreign to him, or conning his way past security at the Cannes Film Festival -- "They bought (that I was a producer)" -- Mann has weathered storms by following what he describes as the three tenets of Break Diving, aka the Break Diver's Creed.

"No rules, no excuses, no regrets," he says, adding that the way to shrug off negativity and rejection is to "know in your heart you're the best."

Despite his limited acting resume, Mann has also published a book entitled, "The Theatrical Juggernaut: The Psyche of the Star," [the subtitle of] which he describes as "knowing where you're going before you get there, and preparing accordingly."

"You have to imagine," he says.  The book, also available on Amazon.com, has sold a few thousand copies, says Mann.  He's not sure how well "To Benning and Back" has sold, but he says he's not concerned.  Getting the book written and published was satisfying enough, he says.

"It was just something I needed to do," he says, quickly noting that he usually dislikes such pat explanations.  "But really, I'm not going to be devastated (if it doesn't sell well).  It was a way for me to capsulize this period in my life."

Mann willingly admits that his claims to future glory -- "Oscar bound"; "Unstoppable Actors" -- are mainly an act, a way of egging himself on.  But the confidence is not born of insecurity, he insists.

"Confidence does not mean acting without self-consciousness," he says.  "It means acting in spite of self-consciousness."

As for winning the Oscar, Mann is specific: "I'm going to win an Oscar in a dramatic role in three years."

Ask him three years from now when he will win an Oscar and he will say, "I'm going to win an Oscar in a dramatic role in three years."

"You get what I mean then," he says.  "People always make these goals.  It gives me that extra motivation.  And this business, God forbid, people tell you all the time you're not good enough."

Meanwhile Mann has co-written a screenplay about wakeboarding, "In the Wake of Identity," which is in pre-production.  he hopes his new production office in Manhattan will give the project credibility, which in turn will help attract financing for the film.

He admits, however, that he's flying by the seat of his pants again.

"Everything I've ever done in life, I've had no idea what I'm doing," he says.  "What do I know about running a production company?  Nothing.  What I do have is an incredible vision and the drive to make it happen."

He describes his band, Crazy Morning, as a R.O.M.P. (rock, orchestral, melodic, punk) band.  He likens them to Green Day or No Doubt.  The group has only been together for two-and-a-half months, but tonight's gig, at Le Bar Bat in New York City, is a coup for the fledgling outfit, he says.

"(The band) is different and better than I imagine it," Mann says.

For all his aspirations of stardom, though, Mann knows his next act may be with the military overseas -- but that doesn't bother him.  He figures he has his hand in so many projects -- singing, acting, producing -- that one of them will eventually pan out.

"If I put all my energy into acting, I'd be very depressed right now," he says.  "All of these different things I'm doing makes up for the disappointment.  One of them is going to take off."

Crazy Morning plays tonight at 9PM at Le Bar Bat, 311 West 57th St.