Giancarlo Esposito Tells LanceAround, “I Love That You Asked Me That!”
Every actor dreams of the moment when the film director says, “You’re gonna hear from me!” At last year’s Florida Film Festival Giancarlo Esposito made that promise to LanceAround about his upcoming movie, Patriotic Treason. In preparation for this year’s festival, we thought you would enjoy the tale and we’ll play a video of their interaction.
Most people know Giancarlo from his brilliant portrayal of Gustavo “Gus” Fring in the hit TV show, Breaking Bad. At the 2014 Florida Film Festival, he gave a talk and answered questions after the screening of the 1989 Spike Lee movie Do the Right Thing in which Giancarlo plays the role of Buggin’ Out. Giancarlo’s incredible career began in the Broadway show Maggie Flynn when he was only eight years old, through more Broadway appearances, then TV and movies and continues through present day where he is preparing to produce, direct and star as Fredrick Douglass in the movie adaption of Patriotic Treason; a story about abolitionist John Brown.
It was amazing to experience this wise, kind-hearted man with his hearty laugh and penchant for inspirational stories. He is so different from the stoic, hard nosed “Gus” he portrays in Breaking Bad. During his talk to the audience, Giancarlo was inspirational:
“Always provide yourself with the ability, no matter what you do, to be creative in what you do. That is the juice of life.” He exhorts.
Then he continues, “Ask for what you want!
“Why don’t we do that?” He continues, “I mean, I need 16 million dollars to make this next movie [Patriotic Treason.] I met Warren Buffet. You know what I did the day before yesterday? I’ve been thinking about this for days…I wrote Warren Buffet an email. I tracked him down. It was a great practice. And I said, ‘Warren, I’m making a movie about abolitionist John Brown. I met you here. Here’s the photograph. We liked each others’ hats…’
“When do we ask for what we want?” Giancarlo muses in the middle of his story about Warren Buffet, “It’s so simple and easy. You have to know and be empowered that you have the right and deserve to ask the Universe for exactly what you want; where you want to be; how you want it to happen; what you want to come of it. Because in life, there is intention. And whether you realize it or not, if you don’t make a choice the choice is made for you. You make a conscious choice–you move towards the intention of what you desire–and the Universe knows if your intention is inclusive of all of us…or if your intention is selfish. And I’m telling you, when you have the right intention for your life, for your children, for your family, for your film, for your work…there’s no door that will not open for you…We must change the world from inside out!”
Listening to his words of wisdom, LanceAround became inspired and emboldened. At the end of the talk, LanceAround walked up to the stage, with his family in tow. He introduced Giancarlo to his mother, wife and sons. Then, after taking a deep breath, he said to him…
LanceAround Family with Giancarlo Esposito
“Giancarlo, I was a theatre major when I was in college. When I got out, I met this woman,” gestures towards Mrs. LanceAround, “married her and went to audition for my first professional role. This guy,” gestures towards NumberOneSon, “was only six months old. You talk about being bold. I carried him into the audition and I said, ‘This is my inspiration.’ I got my first professional role!”
Giancarlo smiles at LanceAround
LanceAround continues, “And then I became a family man. Today you’ve encouraged people to ask for what they want…”
Pause… “I want to be in your next movie.”
Giancarlo has an amused look on his face and says, “Ahhh…”
LanceAround says, “I don’t care if I’m just an extra…” Another Pause… “You can make me a lead if you want!”
At this, Giancarlo breaks out in a hearty laugh as he replies, “I love it!”
“How can I do that?”, concludes LanceAround.
“Alright, give me your contact number,” begins Giancarlo, “and write, ‘I want to be in your next movie'”
LanceAround grabs his business card and a pen from Grammy LanceAround and busily writes, “I want to be in your next movie” on the card. He hands the card to Giancarlo and says, “Thank you so much. I look forward to hearing from you.”
Giancarlo looks LanceAround in the eye and emphatically says, “You’re gonna hear from me. I love it. I love that you asked me that.”
Mrs. LanceAround has a delighted look in her eye and says to Giancarlo, “That’s so wonderful!”
Giancarlo repeats, “Don’t be surprised, you’re gonna hear from me.”
“I’m not going to be surprised. I trust you,” replies LanceAround.
Magical moments like this happen every day at the Florida Film Festival. Just Click Here to see the video about the time LanceAround asked Cary Elwes to give a hug to one of his Team Members who was having a birthday. Or Click Here to read the story of how LanceAround and NumberOneDaughter wound up sitting beside Emma Stone and then interviewing her at the opening night of the festival in 2010.
The Florida Film Festival 2015 starts this Friday. Don’t miss your opportunity to meet a great filmmaker! Here’s a recording of the interaction between Giancarlo and LanceAround:
Lance Around Orlando 
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