Possibly Vin Diesel's Most Powerful Performance...
I just laid my eyes on the Diesel's very first acting performance - a 20-minute short film he wrote, directed and starred in titled Multi-Facial; a film produced in 1994 that played at the Sundance Film Festival, and won the attention of Steven Spielberg, who would later cast the Diesel in the award winning Saving Private Ryan a few short years later, based almost solely on his performance in Multi-Facial.
I'd heard a lot about this short, but couldn't find it anywhere online, until now anyway... thanks to YouTube! And I must say, it's a decent effort on Mr Diesel's part. It may actually be superior to much of what he's done since then - Saving Private Ryan aside.
In short, through a series of auditions, a young, bi-racial actor in New York City navigates the uncertain world of acting, in which his mixed racial make-up often determines the opportunities that he is presented with, regardless of his skills as an actor and obvious dedication to his craft. The film is based on real events plucked from Diesel's own life. It's an impressive debut, especially when compared to his other efforts, with a rather poignant overall message!
Watch it and share your thoughts below:
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I'd heard a lot about this short, but couldn't find it anywhere online, until now anyway... thanks to YouTube! And I must say, it's a decent effort on Mr Diesel's part. It may actually be superior to much of what he's done since then - Saving Private Ryan aside.
In short, through a series of auditions, a young, bi-racial actor in New York City navigates the uncertain world of acting, in which his mixed racial make-up often determines the opportunities that he is presented with, regardless of his skills as an actor and obvious dedication to his craft. The film is based on real events plucked from Diesel's own life. It's an impressive debut, especially when compared to his other efforts, with a rather poignant overall message!
Watch it and share your thoughts below:
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I know you didn't put that ad there, but from that to "Find Me Guilty" only underscores your point.
Where is he anyway? I almost wrote a Milk Carton Alert about him last week.
Wow... I can't say that I've every watched Vin Diesel in anything else except Boiler Room.
The poignancy of his last monologue and then the fact that they tell him straight aftwards that they're looking for 'types' is really disheartening.
Made me wonder why so many of us chase after dreams that don't really involve us and many more are willing to sell our souls in order to achieve those dreams... or why we are so hell bent on dreams that are reliant on the control of others.
This short should have been the beginning of an illustrious career that kept going along that same trajectory... but I guess trying to maintain that level of control and dignity with regard to ones career can't be easy, especially if Hollywood is the dream.
Wow. That was really good. His monologue at the end almost brought me to tears.
The scene with the white girl and guy in the diner was funny to me because she was complaining about things she could easily change. Hair color? Too 'bimboee'?
Vin Diesel, on the other hand, and other actors of color can't easily change their skin color.
Very thought-provoking piece.
@ IW - I just answered your Milk Carton Alert above this post :o)
@ Wendy - Yeah, films like XXX, The Fast and the Furious, and The Pacifier all stunk IMHO. Pitch Black actually wasn't too bad, and Find Me Guilty was a welcomed shift from his previous efforts.
@ Nic - yes, certainly more thought provoking than much of his othe efforts.
Yes; I had read about that film but never did see it.
Oh, I must have skipped that part... :-(
Does anybody know word-for-word vi diesel's last monologue in "Multi-Facial"???