What does it take to make it in Hollywood? A question that concerns millions of actors coming to Los Angeles and trying to break in the movie industry. We met with one young actor, who’s promised to become one of the hottest Newcomers this year. Actor Vic Bagratuni, 25, born in Armenia, raised in Germany, now living in Los Angeles has agreed to share his journey from a small child dreaming of Hollywood to his leading role in “Men of Granite”, where he stars amongst Academy Award Winners Shirley MacLaine and Wiliam Hurt and which is set to shoot end of 2016.
Tell us how “Men of Granite” came to you. How was the audition process?
“Well, actually it all started with a trip to Los Angeles while I was still living in New York. My good friend Mikael Sharafyan told me about this project in development called “The Boys of Lincoln Place” based on a true story in 1940 in Granite City, IL. I met the producer and asked if I could audition for one of the leading Armenian parts. I returned to New York, sent in an audition tape and almost a year later I received the news of being cast. I was determined to start my research as soon as possible and flew to Granite City, IL to meet with John Markarian, whom I will portray in the movie. It was an amazing journey into the past, because that city looks very old fashioned. Back in LA, we started to practice basketball with the rest of the cast members. Since we had to learn the 1940s style of playing basketball, it was quite a challenge, but a lot of fun. Can’t wait to start shooting.”
Vahag Bagratuni, short “Vic”, tells us that he always wanted to become an actor. Several of his family members were in the arts dating back to the early 1930s in Armenia and the former Soviet Union. His great-grand father Vache Bagratuni and grand-father Vahagn Bagratuni were both well-known actors and directors, but unfortunately he never got to meet them.
“My parents are musicians, so from the very young age I was exposed to the theater, opera and classical music. Later, I found out about the acting legacy in my family, which I honor and live up to.
Sometimes I think how it would’ve been to talk to them about acting, but one can’t turn back time.”
After graduating from high school you moved to New York to study acting at the prestigious Lee Strasberg Theater & Film Institute. Though you’re currently residing in Los Angeles, I’m interested in the theater experiences you had while living in New York where you received your primary training.
“My acting training prepared me for many areas of the media, be it TV/Film or Theater.
Being a young artist living in New York is a surreal feeling. The fast pace and energy in that city leaves a strong impression on you. My studies at Strasberg were intense and life-changing, and after graduating in the end of 2012, I started to audition for pretty much anything I could get. In contrast to Los Angeles, I did a lot of Off-(Off)-(Off)-Broadway plays, sometimes the venue was as small as a living room in Brooklyn.
In only two years after graduation, I appeared in ten theater productions, such as
“Killers and Other Family”, “White Sky/Black Sky” (both Off-Broadway), the critically acclaimed one-act plays “The Strasberg Legacy” & “Sunrise Surprises” performed at the legendary Actors Studio, “Widow Shylock”, “The Misantrope”, “Doon”, and “A Hatful Of Rain” for which we won the Bronze Medal at The International Theater School Competition in Warsaw, Poland.
What about Film and TV work? Or are you more interested in Theater?
“Quite the opposite, actually. One of the films I did, “Waiting For Train” still circulates in film festivals worldwide and is about to be screened at the “Festival Internacional de Cine Sordo de Argentina” in Buenos Aires, end of April 2016. Another film, “Favorite Things”, is also still around circling festivals. At the moment, I’m in the editing process of my first feature film called “Parallel Stages”. Beside these, I had the greatest fortune to get a part in Martin Scorsese’s “The Wolf Of Wall Street”, which was released in 2014. Without diminishing the upcoming project of “Men of Granite”, it was the best experience in my career so far. I learned so much working closely with Leonardo DiCaprio, which honestly made me a better actor. This part led to small parts in “The Amazing Spider-Man 2” and “Boardwalk Empire”. Furthermore, I appeared in “Inside The American Mob” as a young mafia protégé, Joey Calco. Moreover, people can catch me in the documentary OnDemand about the legendary actress Kim Stanley, called “The Needs Of Kim Stanley”.”
I heard the media say that you are one of the hottest Newcomers in Hollywood this year. How does the sudden spotlight affect you?
“Of course, I find my reputation and standing with the media very important, but I’m trying to avoid too much spotlight, if I can and if it’s not called for. I‘d rather let my work speak for me. Being humble when it’s called for is key to succeed in Hollywood.”
What are some upcoming projects we can see you in?
“I’m currently shooting a pilot for 20th Century Fox Television called “The Good Season”, with a pending order for six more episodes already, which I will shoot before and after “Men of Granite”. Furthermore, I will appear in a couple of other projects, which I’m not at liberty to discuss contractually. All I can say, is that there’s plenty of work for the coming years, for which I’m extremely grateful for and humbled about. Hard work pays off at some point.”
Sounds like someone who has a clear and sane vision of his promising future in this hard movie business. We think that pursuing acting as a career is a life choice for this outstanding young actor Vic Bagratuni, who is indeed an inspiring and extraordinary figure for the new generation of actors in our entertainment industry of today. He strives for excellence in his work and realizes the privileges and opportunities others have given him, as much as his own hard efforts which led to all these accomplishments. We hope that he will continue to flourish and blossom.
