In "A Man Apart," Vin Diesel stars as DEA Agent Sean Vetter, a man out for revenge after his wife is brutally murdered by drug dealers.
On casting Diesel as an officer forced to walk a fine line between good and evil, producer Joseph Nittolo says, "Sean Vetter is a man who's lost his wife as a result of a personal war against the drug cartels and is now not only seeking to enforce the law, but seek vengeance. And Vin brought the realism we were looking for and a whole lot of depth."
"A Man Apart's" director, F. Gary Gray, believes Diesel's special mix of blue-collar hero and movie star work to his benefit as Agent Sean Vetter. "He has the best of both worlds," says Gray, adding, "I knew I had a great opportunity to work with someone up-and-coming who is a great performer, with really gritty, raw subject matter."
Vin Diesel joined his "A Man Apart" co-stars for the World Premiere of the film at the historic Grauman's Chinese Theater in Hollywood. Here's what the hunky actor had to say about Diesel-Mania, upcoming projects, and, of course, "A Man Apart:"
VIN DIESEL ('Sean Vetter')
You completed this film a while ago. Looking back, is there anything you would have done differently?
This film was supposed to be exactly what it is. It's a dark film, an emotional movie, and that's what it is. I wouldn't do anything different. Other than - as years go by - as an artist or as a filmmaker, you always want to add something. But I'm real happy with this film.
What drew you to "A Man Apart" in the first place?
It's bizarre. I think I was looking at "A Man Apart" as an opportunity to go to a very, very different place. Everything about the movie was different. That was the draw. To get to play a character who has the best relationship with his wife, and then through the story, has to deal with that loss.
Can you relate to your character?
That's a good question. I haven't had the perfect marriage that Sean Vetter has had. I also haven't lost the perfect wife that Sean has, but for some reason I can relate to him. There's a part of every character that I can relate to, or I have to find what part of that character I can relate to. It's about loss, it's about frustration, and it's about choosing anger before tears.
You always take upon yourself these intense characters. How do you leave your character behind at the end of the day?
This character was the hardest to leave behind. I found myself, for three months, kind of living in a somber place. I know that veteran actors that are 20 years older than I have managed to find a way to leave it on-set. I hope when I'm at that place, I can do the same.
How do you cope with this Vin Diesel-Mania?
I think I lose myself in the work. If I have a day off, I train riding elephants for "Hannibal." So far, that's years away. I love being artistic and I love creating. I love creating these worlds on film. That's kind of where I lose myself. It's always a shock to me when I see this… A reception like today can make anyone feel amazing forever.
Are you getting used to screaming fans? Have you figured out how you got to this point?
I don't know, I'm still trying to figure it out. I know that I've worked hard to make it, but I've been so lucky that I'm trying to make sense of it all.
I consider myself very lucky because I'm able to be artistic; I'm able to do what I want to do. I consider myself the luckiest kid in the whole world.
What did you do to prepare for this role?
I worked with DEA agents and I worked with an incredible technical advisor named Richard Valdemar who kind of brought us along and exposed the world to us. I was lucky that I got a lot of gun training and weapons training on "Saving Private Ryan" that I was able to carry over. But after getting all that practical stuff together, it was about finding the emotional heartbeat of the character. That just takes some time alone, working it out and finding that place.
This movie shows your softer side.
I went to an emotional place for this character that the film allowed me to, that the film called for, that a film like "XXX" may not call for. But films are about setting a target and hitting that mark. That's what this film delivers.
What's it take to be a good action star?
I think first and foremost it takes an appreciation for the big blockbuster action-type films. Then it takes almost a childlike commitment to play that role. It's different than doing a movie like "A Man Apart." You have to buy into it, you have to allow yourself to believe the one-liners before you say them. It's really about being committed to whatever you do. If you're doing an action piece, commit yourself to it. If you are doing a dramatic piece or a performance piece, commit yourself.
What's your dream project?
"Hannibal the Conqueror," Carthaginians, 3rd Century BC. I wouldn't mind doing "Guys and Dolls," but don't tell anybody. We're going to work on it.
How is your voice?
I'm working on it. I'm not ready to do a whole "I Got the Horse Right Here" beat, but I'm working on it. I guarantee you, we're going forward.
Are you taking voice lessons?
Yes.
Any advice for struggling actors?
Find any way that one can to make a product. My philosophy is that product is the most important thing. I started acting when I was 7 years old and I didn't get famous from acting until "Saving Private Ryan," when I was 30. So there were many, many years of auditioning. What I learned later was that I had to have something; I had to have product regardless of how big or small it was.
