Who's Better Than Me?: The Vinny Vella Story

Great time, sure! Could they air it? Nah!!! Too greasy for T.V., with everyone’s records no one could get over the border to Canada where they ended up filming the series. Since then, every year, the guys get together on Mulberry Street to chew the fat. But for Frank151, he agreed to have an informal sit down, at his favorite joint, in his own territory, Elizabeth Street For any one who’s respected and connected, Vinny will always be protected wit’ us.

Vinny Vella: One day a guy calls me up, a little less than a year ago and says, ‘Hey can we get you to do a music video for 50 Cent?’ I said, ‘What are you a freakin’ wise guy? Get the fuck outta here!’ and hung up the phone. He called me right back and said ‘No you don’t understand,’ before he could explain himself I told him, ‘You know what? Why don’t you call up Vinnie Pastone, he’ll do it for a dollar!’

I thought they wanted me to do one for fifty cents! 
My son put the squeeze on me and I ended up doing the 50 Cent video. ‘Aye, who’s better than me?!’

Bonz Malone: When did you know that acting is what you wanted to do?
VV: I used to have those recreational vehicles you know, the big RV’s, the Winnebago’s? So I worked behind the cameras. We use to rent them out to the fashion industry. When I used to hear people say that they had an audition tomorrow, where?! They would say it and I would write it down, write down names and I would go there myself and drop off my head shot and resume and that’s how I got in.

One audition I went on she says, ‘You have to be submitted by an agent.’ I said, ‘My agent sent me. He told me to come here, but he’s in the hospital. He’s havin’ problems breathin’!’

I had no agent! ‘What’s his name? We don’t know him.’ I says, ‘Well he’s new in the business. He’s having trouble breathing and told me to come here.’ They all new I was bullshitting, but they took my headshot anyway. That’s how I wound up getting on all these movie sets.

I did a lot of movies before that, but my first big break was Casino. I happened to have the right look, the right attitude. They didn’t give a fuck about the agent ‘cause when they write a script, they say we need a guy that looks like this. This age group, the right attitude. When you walk in they don’t give a fuck who you are. They don’t give a fuck if you just came outta jail for fucking killing somebody. You got the right look they’re gonna use you! I read for a much smaller part, then they called me and said that they were gonna upgrade me. We’re gonna give you a bigger part. That’s how I got in Casino. I fucked everybody up in there. [Laughs] And I’ve been fucking everybody up ever since.

Ya’ wanna know somethin’? I was a helluva comedian since I was in first grade. I use to get all the kids in trouble in school. The teacher used to say don’t laugh at that imbecile and I hada stay after school. I would always be entertaining people. I was an actor since I was a kid. I never knew it. I always said, ‘I would love to be an actor,’ but I never pursued it. When I wound up working with the RVs that was my opportunity.

BM: Was it hard for Italian American actors back then?
VV: The 70s. That’s when all this Mafia shit, all this other shit started surfacing, you know? But you could be Italian, have that rough look on your face, but ya gotta know how to act. I’m no good if there’s no audience. Some people can’t do it with an audience. The more people the better I am. Some people are self-conscious. I can switch it on or off.
BM: Even the guys we know?
VV: You have a lot of Italians that never had jobs before. They’re what you call fuckin’ wanna-be wiseguys. They come outta their house everyday and if it’s a nice day they take a walk. They gamble, they play horses, they hijack whatever. That’s how they make a living. But when a friend of their’s gets  called, like say me; ‘Ah why would you play a part of a fuckin’ rat?! Ah, you’re a fuckin’ rat!’ Their mentality hasn’t went beyond their neighborhood. They never went to school. They were assholes all their lives, always thinking about how to make a fast buck. Not realizing I’m an actor, it’s only a part. You can’t do it, so because you can’t do it doesn’t mean that I can’t do it. I’m an actor. I’m not asking you for your opinion.

I’ve done rap videos. I don’t even want to use the word. They say, I had to fuckin’ do rap videos with these people. Lemme explain somethin’. I love this neighborhood that I grew up in. I grew up on Bleeker Street, top of John’s Pizzeria. It was like a melting pot. There were Jews, Blacks, Irish, but they were all professional people, fags. When I used to see two guys and two girls walking by in the street holding hands, I use to say, wow they must really like each other. It didn’t mean anything to me. Some like to swing on a tree, some like to jump in a bush. Do whatever makes ya happy.
BM: So you would never trade places?
VV: Nah. I like what I do. Ya wanna know why? All the time growin’ up as a kid there’s been a bunch of motherfuckers I’ve always wanted to choke, throw them around, put the motherfucker on fire. They say, ‘Vinny, you gotta baseball bat these guys!’ I’m doin’ all of this shit to ‘em and getting’ paid for it! In all the time that I’ve been an actor, I took care of everybody that I disliked. I don’t say hate ‘cause I don’t hate anybody, but I straightened everybody’s ass out. Fucked every woman I wanted to fuck. They tell me, ‘Hey, Vinny great job!  Here’s your pay!’ [Laughs] I’m happy! Who’s better than me?!