Kevin Interdonato – IFQ Interview
By D.J. Parris
Hollywood had theirs, now we have ours…Indie Film’s new Badass
Charles Bronson, Ernest Borgnine, Charles Durning, Dennis Franz – these are just some of the men that served their country during wartime, and not only made the difficult transition back to life, but did so as well-respected talents in Film and TV. That era had seemed almost long gone … until now. IFQ heard rumor of someone on the same path, an award-winning actor making quite a name for himself in the indie film scene, who just happens to be a combat veteran of the Iraqi War.
Kevin Interdonato is turning heads for his raw and volatile performance in the award-winning, critically acclaimed feature film, “Blue Collar Boys”. This film saw success with its recent limited bi-coastal theatrical run in NY and Los Angeles and was highlighted by Kevin Interdonato’s stand out performance. “Blue Collar Boys” cemented Kevin’s role as a true breakout performer and captured the attention of several industry elite. No stranger to the Festival circuit, Kevin’s work has been recognized by film-goers and festival directors alike, such as Len Archibald of the Northwest Ohio Film Festival. “…his swagger and intensity remind me of all the things that made me so enthralled when I first discovered Robert De Niro”.
Aside from BCB, Kevin received Best Actor awards in 2011 and 2012 at The Indie Fest and the Accolades, among several other nominations, for various roles in film. He was also honored at the 2008 Garden State Film Festival, with the Robert Pastorelli Rising Star Award, in honor of the late actor.
Born and raised in Central New Jersey, Kevin was brought into the family construction business. “I knew hard work at an early age, and it never left me”. He grew up heavily involved with sports through high school as a varsity letterman, but also found his fair share of trouble through the years. Questioning him about this, he laughed and replied, “…enough to know how expensive it is”. Kevin’s tour in Baghdad, Iraq was in 2004-05, and although stoic and tight-lipped about his experiences there, he briefly mentions, “It changed me, changed all of us…wasn’t sure I wanted to be an actor when I came home, wasn’t sure about anything, really…but time passes, and I let myself breathe again, and found my stride”.
Ruggedly handsome and tough, yet extremely likable and humble (to the point of making him obviously uncomfortable when praising his work), the fiery talent seemed to reflect a bit before answering why he chose this business: “I can’t remember a time when I didn’t absolutely love movies and actors. I desperately wanted to be the guy telling the story; something inside was always tugging at me at a young age. Day one of my first acting class was a huge moment in my life. It felt so right and made sense to me, I just knew… He adds, “Ya know how a student can be so moved and influenced by that one special teacher, that they decide to become a teacher as well, to give back?…that’s how I can justify what I do. I’m not driven by anything else. I’m just grateful to be working, to meet other passionate people in this business.”
In a recent interview with CJ Perry of Film Slate Magazine, saying of his role in “Blue Collar Boys”: “His role as the ferocious Nick “Nazo” DiNaso in writer/director Mark Nistico’s drama ‘Blue Collar Boys’ has garnered him some recent and well-deserved acclaim…Interdonato imbues Nazo with a chilling reality.”
Next up for Kevin, feature films “My Friend Dick” and “The Projectionist” are both gearing up for Festival runs. He also stars in the upcoming Web Series, “The Jungle”, alongside acclaimed actor Peter Dobson, by Sundance and SXSW accredited Director, Will Lamborn.
He is managed by David Fletcher of American Iron Entertainment Group, Inc.
For further info on Kevin, go to www.kevininterdonato.com.