THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, December 14, 1995 TAG: 9512130136
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 18 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 96 lines
Renee Humphries is slowing down - now working ``only 24 hours a day,'' she says.
The 25-year-old former Suffolk resident, known professionally as Renee Roland and living in Los Angeles, divides her time in Hollywood among acting, producing, running her own production company, writing scripts and preparing for her marriage.
It should be a model ceremony, seeing as how the bride produced ``How to Plan Your Wedding.'' It is available in video stores and bridal salons.
It is lovely, sweet, genteel - a big change from Humphries' first video venture, ``The Encyclopedia of Martial Arts (Vol. 1 - Hollywood Stars)''. It is ``the first video to combine informational martial arts with interviews and demonstrations'' by 12 Hollywood celebrities, according to Humphries' publicist, and future husband, Robert Lee, a producer and screenwriter.
Stars include ``Coach'' lead Craig T. Nelson; plus his wife, Doria, president of the Tai Chi Ch'uan Association.
Also featured are Danny Glover, Nancy Kwan, some former Power Rangers and others whose faces, kicking feet and chopping hands are familiar to action movie enthusiasts.
The film was produced by James Hong, who claims 300 television and 100 movie credits, including the chief bad guy of ``Big Trouble in Little China.''
Eddie Murphy's ``The Golden Child'' ``Blade Runner'' ``Wayne's World II'' and ``Chinatown'' are some of the other films in which he has appeared.
Humphries gives Hong a lot of credit for helping her achieve success.
``He really stood by me, pushed my career, believed in my talents,'' she said.
She also sends thanks to her parents and her sister, Linda Jean Humphries, who still lives in Suffolk and works for Dr. Herbert L. Weinberg.
``She was a tremendous inspiration,'' Humphries said. ``She's a strong girl.''
Renee Humphries was a bright girl who was in the gifted-talented class from grades 1 to 7.
She was also, by her own admission, a wild child.
``I was rebellious,'' Humphries said. ``I moved away when I hit personal bottom.''
After working for Kinney Shoes - managing several stores and teaching sales personnel the art of increasing volume - she headed for Los Angeles.
There she became Renee Roland, borrowing her dad's first name for her last.
``I started acting on the stage and got some small parts on television,'' she said.
She met Hong, who wanted her to help with marketing his martial arts video.
``I ended up co-producing the celebrity martial arts series,'' Humphries said. ``It will be on different cable stations and probably go on syndication.''
Next came the wedding video, which she produced under her newly formed company, Rook Productions.
Early next year, she will leave what she calls ``this wild town'' and go on a national tour sponsored by Modern Bride magazine to publicize and promote her video. Humphries will visit New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Chicago, Charlotte, Miami - and Suffolk.
She was born in Maryland, raised here, attended Thomas Jefferson Elementary, Booker T. Washington Middle School and John F. Kennedy High.
``I was always in trouble,'' said Humphries, who credits two teachers with trying to keep her on the straight and narrow - Janice Holland and Mary Braford.
She lived on Hill Street with her father, a marine engineer for the Virginia Department of Transportation, and her mom, Mary Ann, now in Fredericksburg.
Humphries returned to Suffolk 18 months ago to conduct a film seminar at Atlantic Film Studios.
The Hollywood studios are her current interest. She recently acted in a PM Entertainment family adventure movie, ``Little Big Foot,'' playing the villain's gal pal.
``It's a cable movie being filmed in L.A. and Sun Valley,'' Humphries said.
She is also producing two more films.
``When I'm not working, I'm working. Now, I'm working on a script at home,'' Humphries said. ``Some people look at your work and don't believe in it. Hang in. All that's supposed to happen will.
She said: ``I've been working my butt off. This is a tough town. You've got to keep your head on straight. It takes a lot of perseverance. You need the heart of a poet, the skin of a rhino. But you can make it.''
Witness ``The Encyclopedia of Martial Arts (Vol. 1 - Hollywood Stars),'' ``How to Plan Your Wedding'' and ``Little Big Foot.'' MEMO: For information on the video ``How to Plan Your Wedding'' call
1-800-BRIDE 2 B. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Renee Humphries just released her video production ``How to Plan
Your Wedding.''
by CNB