Multi-Facial (1999)

User Rating:

7.4/10   

Director:

Vin Diesel

Writer:

Vin Diesel (writer)

Genre:

Short

Plot:

A short film about the problems that accompany an actor as he auditions, due to his multi-ethnic appearance. |

Plot Keywords:

Directed By Star

Cast

Vin Diesel	...	Mike
Lewis Steidl	...	Lewis
Cara Gaffen	...	Wendy
Phillip Jones	...	Ivan
Ivan Jordain	...	Greg Thomas
F. Valentino Morales	...	Chico (as F. 'Valentino' Morales)
Erik Stephen	...	Rivera
Ruth Otero	...	Yvette
Kalimi Baxter	...	Pat
David Rainey	...	Alton
August Roc	...	Assistant
Emilie Daveyac	...	Misty
Colette Duvall	...	Silver
Barry Burns	...	Rogers
Cheryl Adam	...	Kate

Runtime:

20 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Company:

One Race Productions

Movie Connections:

References A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)

A great short film

This is what short, independent films should be like. This is the first movie for Vin Diesel, and it allows for tremendous insight in to the man himself. Vin, who's real name is Michael Vincent, wrote, produced, and directed this movie. It appears to be not only a slice of his life, but short biography. The title, "MULTI-FACIAL" is a play on the term "Multi-Racial." As, Vin Diesel explains in the movie, he is half white, and half black. And, despite his awesome acting talent and dedication to his craft, his racial mix stands in his way of getting work as an actor. The film follows Vin from one audition to another, where he nails each part, but is then turned down either because he is "too white" or ironically "too black." The message of the movie is summed up at the end in the movie's final line, as Vin sits in a cafe drinking coffee by himself, he listens in to the people sitting behind him. The girl orders coffee, but requests that it is served, "not too light, not too dark."

The movie is about 20 minutes long, the perfect length for an independent short. It is very well shot on 16mm film. The musical score for the film is music recorded and performed by Vin Diesel himself. Yet, further credit to this great talent. During one audition, Vin performs an original rap and it is really clever and well done. The film is simplistic, but extremely moving, and has a clear, concise story line and a powerful message. The strongest point of the movie is the brilliant, convincing acting job by all the people involved. Vin comes off as totally original and totally natural. Hollywood is lucky to have him and it is absolutely no wonder that Stephen Spielberg chose to contact him and offer him a part in Saving Private Ryan after he saw MULTI-FACIAL at the Caan's Film Festival. I wish I could make an independent movie this good myself!

I was already a Vin Diesel fan when I saw this movie. I own the DVD that this movie is on. Its a compilation DVD, with other short movies on it. BY FAR, MULTI-FACIAL is the best movie in the compilation. The other movies are almost totally unwatchable. And this serves as further credit to Vin's movie. The other movies are complete dribble, and those are the kinds of movies that RUIN film festivals. But MULTI-FACIAL is the kind of movie that saves film festivals. This is the movie that everyone is looking for when they pay those outrageous prices to attend various film festivals. They are all looking for that little gem of a movie, and MULTI-FACIAL is it.

This is definitely worth seeing, even if you have to buy the DVD with the rest of the crappy movies. Check it out, you will enjoy it.