To put it simply, Stan Winston was a genius. He was often an unsung hero, a behind the scenes magician who brought things to life. Things that only existed in the imagination. I had two projects in development at Stan’s production studio. I only met Stan a few times briefly, but he was warm and affable. I did spend some time in his office and talking to his development execs. When one of them told me Stan “loved” my television show it was almost like a badge of honor. Here’s a guy who worked with Spielberg and Cameron, and created the most memorable cinematic monsters ever seen. Like most things in Hollywood, my TV show and feature never got made. But meeting Stan and developing my ideas with his company will be something I will always remember. When you first walk into Stan’s conference room, your jaw just drops. Most of his creations surround the table, on two levels and basically distract you from your meeting. Everything from the Aliens, Predator, Terminator, and raptors from “Jurassic Park” all stare down at you and say “Welcome. Please leave your reality at the door.” When I went into the conference room, it was as if I was stepping into a dream. Being in that conference room and walking through Stan Winston’s studio was the epitome of what Hollywood was for me. There were robots, aliens, dinosaurs and even a giant two story baby that was being made for some Asian commercial. Essentially, it was like being in a dream factory where the magician pulled aside the curtain and showed you the wires. But even after seeing them, you were no less amazed. Nobody did what Stan did, nor inspired and entertained so many people the way he did. Stan Winston will be sorely missed, both here in this world and in the imaginary worlds he created.
Chris Mancini
