We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Vinnie Langdon III. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Vinnie below.
Vinnie, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.
Around the age of thirteen, all my friends were playing sports or focused on getting a summer job. For me, I was wondering what my “thing” was going to be. I joined the local TV station in my hometown (Vacaville, California.) I began volunteering as a production assistant. I gained on-set experience of a variety of shows ranging from sports, magazine/talk shows, filming community events and live broadcasting local concerts and parades. I had a sense of belonging on-set. It didn’t matter if I was running a camera or conducting an interview. I loved every angle of it and craved more. Since then, one opportunity lead itself to the next. One day I’d find myself filming a local TV commercial then the next, I would be directing a music video for one of my favorite rock bands and then I’d be asked to play the role in someone’s independent film. After the first couple of years of getting my feet wet, there was no turning back and I wanted more IMDb credits. I wanted to play the unique roles. I wanted to make better films and keep going.
Vinnie, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I am an American actor and filmmaker. I started acting at the age of 5 in local theatre performances in my hometown of Vacaville, California. At 13, I became the host and producer of my own TV series, ‘The Vinnie Langdon Show’ from 2004-2020. My show was syndicated on 7 cable TV stations around the U.S. where I traveled the country interviewing emerging rock bands covering tours and music festivals. The show taught me a lot, I made many connections, and the experience of doing the show lead me onto acting roles on TV shows and independent films. I’ve directed over 60+ award winning short films. Filmmaking is like a sport: It’s both challenging and rewarding at the same time. Especially when you get recognized for the long hours you put in and sleepless nights strictly to entertain audiences. Currently I am in production of a psychological thriller film called ‘After The Beep.’ A feature film about a newlywed couple who flee from Upstate New York to Pittston, PA after a tragedy hoping for a new start both holding onto baggage from their past. The film has been really fun and challenging and I cannot wait for everyone to see it this fall. We’re hoping for a release date close to Halloween on a streaming platform. Playing the lead role and directing is exciting, challenging and fun to bring a story from my imagination to the big screen. When I’m not working on my own films, I’m probably supporting my friends who are fellow filmmakers or working on a film festival called ‘Staten Island Summer of Shorts International Film Festival’ I started in 2022 in Staten Island, New York. My role is the festival director.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
When I look at the best in the business now or even decades ago, and I see that they have dedicated their whole life to what they enjoyed doing. That’s exactly what I’m doing. I want to be at the end of my life, look back and say at least I achieved what I wanted to do.
The number of movie credits doesn’t matter. The recognition, awards, the red carpet events, sure they are fun in the moment but I want to be able to look back and talk about all the connections I’ve built. All the memories of having fun on-sets. The different people I’ve met along the way and was able to make a difference in their life big or small. To the audience who never met me and just sees me on the screen, I want them to be able to laugh and be entertained by the roles I play. My dream is for someday to have a family sitting at a dinner table one night, and my name is mentioned “Hey did you guys see that new Vinnie Langdon movie? It was really good!” That’s when I’ll know I’ve succeeded to my self-standard.
I suppose my main mission that keeps driving me to be an actor/filmmaker is how much fun I’ve have had already and know there is more to come. Every project is different. That’s what makes it interesting. Every projects leads itself to the next and I pray that one day, the right project will be impactful even long after I’m gone. Just think today there’s someone out there saying they want to watch an Elvis Presley movie or Judy Garland movie…100 years from now I’d love for someone to say “I wanna watch a Vinnie Langdon movie!” That’s the motivation right there to make it happen.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
Honestly, there’s been so many times where I’ve wanted to throw in the towel. Yes I love wholeheartedly what I do. However, like any other career field, you do have those ‘days’ too. You think it would be easier starting over with a complete different career. But I’ve already put in 25+ years into building up my career, so why give up now? But God’s timing is always amusing when it comes to that. As soon as I get frustrated, ready to say forget it, I receive an unexpected call, an e-mail or some universal reminder why I do what I do. There’s been a number of occasions where I say okay, I’m done. Then I receive a phone call asking for my help on a project or somebody requests me to audition for their movie, then it’s like okay, this is why I do it… or a fan reaches out telling me a personal connection where they watched my show or watched one of my films when they were having a bad day and it’s similar to a musician who writes a song that makes an impact with no intention of doing so. You’re doing it personally just to enjoy the moment, having fun, artistically express how you feel during a certain period. Then for your “art” to go out in the world and touch someone you don’t even know…? Man, that’s special! I hope some day as a filmmaker, I could have many more of the moments.
Contact Info:
Image Credits
Vinnie Langdon III, Eric Long Photography, Vinnie Langdon on set of ‘After The Beep’ feature film at Pit Stop Deli (Pittston, PA), Staten Island Summer of Shorts Film Festival, Vinnie at Josie Music Awards Nashville, TN.