It all started for Gino Cafarelli when he landed a small role as a Pepsi vendor in Robert De Niro’s A Bronx Tale. Little did he know then that thirteen years later, his idol would personally select him for a much bigger role in his second feature, The Good Shepherd. It was a full-circle moment for Gino and proof that hard work does pay off. Since then, Gino has gone on to build an impressive career in front of and behind the camera with projects that include Blindspot, Ray Donovan, The Irishman, and most recently, Capone. Pop Culturalist caught up with the Queens, New York, native to chat about Capone and his journey as an artist.
PC: How did you discover your passion for the arts?
Gino: By watching movies and TV shows as a kid I discovered my passion for the arts. I loved going to the movies. It was like an event—same with TV. Sitting in front of your favorite TV show at an exact time, no streaming, and no binging. I miss the old-school viewing days.
PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
Gino: There are a few. Filmmakers like Sidney Lumet, Michael Mann, Barry Levinson, Martin Scorsese, Brian De Palma, and Quentin Tarantino. Actors like Sean Penn, Robin Williams, Al Pacino, Dustin Hoffman, and Robert De Niro. And my number one: “The Great One,” Jackie Gleason.
PC: You’ve had a lot of success in your career. When you look back, is there a particular moment that stands out?
Gino: Yes, for sure! I was an extra in A Bronx Tale. I think I got paid like forty bucks to be in the boxing match scene. I was a ‘60s Pepsi vendor. [laughs] I was so thrilled to be on that set and watch De Niro direct. I would daydream and watch him, wishing I was an actor he was talking to and directing. That was 1992.
Fast-forward thirteen years later. In 2005 I auditioned and was handpicked by Robert De Niro in his new film The Good Shepherd, which was the second film he directed. I was acting alongside Joe Pesci, Matt Damon, and being directed by Robert De Niro. I was like a kid in a candy store. Most scenes got cut, but one made it. I guess you can say I manifested it before I knew what that word meant. I would always get teased from friends and family. They would say, “You think you’re going to work with Robert De Niro one day?” I can now say not only one day but many films! This includes Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman, where I make a cameo and take a photo op as the mayor of Philadelphia—Frank Rizzo, 1973—with De Niro’s character.
PC: In addition to acting, you’re also a producer and director. How has your experience behind the camera made you a stronger actor and vice versa?
Gino: I’m a natural-born producer. I love connecting the right people together and connecting the dots. I’m also pretty intuitive, and I just love working with actors. I just directed a short film called Bricklayer’s Poet that recently won the audience award at VisionFest. I wanted to walk before I ran as a director. I truly believe that I am ready to direct a full feature. Being an actor behind the camera definitely helps. You kind of know how an actor is thinking. They say great actors make great directors. Look at Clint Eastwood!
PC: Tell us about Capone, your character, and what drew you to this project.
Gino: I was Capone’s enforcer back in the Chicago days. I’m now head of his security at his home in Miami, Florida. The director Josh Trank called and offered me the role.
PC: Gino was Capone’s right-hand man. How much pressure did that add heading into the project? How did you prepare?
Gino: I took the character of Gino and based it on a few of Capone’s loyal friends and associates. I did a lot of reading and watched a lot of documentaries.
PC: How does Capone differentiate itself from other gangster dramas?
Gino: The film is the last year of his life, so it’s never been done. It’s refreshing to see something different and unique, and that’s what I loved about Josh’s script. Most gangster films show the macho and glamorous sides of that world. There’s nothing glamorous watching a once-top guy deteriorating and falling apart. You usually see the rise and fall of a gangster. This movie is all fall.
PC: You’ve worked with Josh Trank in the past. How beneficial was it to have that rapport?
Gino: We worked on Big Fan together, so he kind of knew the type of actor I was. He knew exactly what type of performance to get out of me for Capone.
PC: Besides Capone, do you have any other upcoming projects that you can chat about?
Gino: I’m currently in Bad Education, with Hugh Jackman, on HBO. I wrote first drafts on two scripts, one solo, and the other with a cowriter. I have a children’s book that I’m really passionate about, coming out this fall. It is inspired by my daughter, and it’s called Athena Visits the Marina. I went from Capone to a children’s book. [laughs]
PC: Guilty pleasure TV show?
Gino: Golden Girls
PC: Guilty pleasure movie?
Gino: The Karate Kid with Ralph Macchio.
PC: Favorite book?
Gino: The Secret
PC: Favorite play or musical?
Gino: West Side Story
PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Gino: Depeche Mode
PC: Who would play you in the story of your life?
Gino: It kind of already happened. [laughs] Spencer Boldman loosely played me in the film Cruise, inspired by my antics in the summer of 1987. But if it were a biopic, I’d go with Ansel Elgort.
To keep up with Gino, follow him on Twitter and Instagram. Watch Capone today.
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