The Film Experience

I'm always curious about movie buffs on the West Coast. It's like another planet to me despite being such an origin spot for my life's obsession. So today we're chatting with Vinci in West Hollywood.

Nathaniel: When did you start reading TFE?
VINCI: I think it was about 2004/2005. I'm not sure. But I do recall questioning you on why you didn't consider Vera Farmiga as a Best Actress contender for Down to the Bone, so it was at least by then. You were one of the first Oscar sites I visited (the now defunct EverythingOscar was the other). I grew up in a small town before the internet and didn't have friends who were even casually interested in the Oscars, actors or even movies like myself. I felt a kinship with you. I stuck around because you write well and cover a lot of what interests me.

Do you remember your first movie or obsession?
A Yankee in King Arthur's Court, from what I can remember. The first moviegoing experience which I initiated was The Muppet Movie. I was four years old when I used my blueberry picking money to buy a Kermit the Frog doll with patches of velcro attached to his appendages. I also owned a Kermit the Frog watch.

But which watch did Vinci own???

I collected all four special edition McDonald's Happy Meal-issued glasses from The Great Muppet Caper. I loved the TV show and even checked out the short-lived reboot that had Michelle Pfeiffer hosting at one point.

You know I did, too! Also: blueberries are delicious. Okay, your three favorite actresses. Go.
Three? I think I'd rather be water-boarded. But, okay ... Nicole Kidman, Meryl Streep and Tilda Swinton.

I have to ask about the body as that's the picture you sent. Were you motivated to recreate an action franchise physique, maybe a superhero?

LOL! No. My motivation is mainly getting older and being a single gay male.

Well, it works for Oscar; I seem to recall you played our favorite naked gold man in a music video?

Good memory! I did play the Oscar, more specifically, Sandra Bullock's Oscar.

It was a lot of fun. I was with my very talented friend Elissa Rosenthal and good people, so we ate a lot and had a great time. I was laughing quite a bit, so the makeup artist had to keep repainting my face gold.

What kind of research did you do to embody The Hollywood Icon?
I didn't have a whole lot of time to prepare; I mainly focused on good posture and tapping into my inner stoic.