We had the good fortune of connecting with Vincenzo Carroll and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Vincenzo, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
When I was little I had a series of dreams where I went on apocalyptic adventures with my friends. My grandmother told me to write it down and it became a novel. I was groomed to be an agent but hated it once I became one. Got an associates in business then took off to look after my gran. When the cancer took her, she and my parents wanted me to go back to school. I tried to continue the business tract but the advisor said I didn’t seem interested. We spoke of other things until my book came up. She said I seemed to have a creative mind and suggested the film program (this happened to be my school’s specialty) I signed on and never looked back.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I got where I am because when I got out of school I hit the ground running. Fresh out of school and home I was on a friend’s couch looking for gigs while driving Lyft to cover rent. It took about two weeks of searching when I found a spot for a script supervisor. I wasn’t qualified but confident I could figure it out. When I expectedly got a call I was asked if I knew Final Draft. I simply said “I’ll learn it tonight” and then I dropped 200 and bought the service on the spot. The producer likes my attitude and said it would take me far. It’d be another couple days before they made their decision. When I was next contacted they found someone more qualified but the producer likes my attitude enough that they added my spot to an already full crew. I became a floater PA and worked 300 a day in any department that needed me. I was always prompt and was noticed for being the first one on location everyday. I like being extra early to get a lay of the land. Eventually, though still a floater. I was trusted enough to be upped to Grip as well. Things have never been necessarily easy in fact they got harder after the strike. But I’d say I had an easier time than most of my peers in the beginning. I’d be asked how I kept finding gigs so fast (because the longest search was for the first one) I always seemed to be working. Simply put I never limit myself. I’m a writer and editor but those jobs aren’t super easy to get fresh out of school so I just focus on what gets me on set, what lets me meet more people. So I don’t go just for what I want I go for everything essentially. Because it all serves a purpose in the end. As my professor once said the more experiences I have the better writer I can become but also I now just enjoy learning new skills and seeing how all the different cogs come together to make the things we enjoy watching. I’ve been a writer, editor, sound guy, PA, Scenic, grip, props assistant, stunt double, testing coordinator, Covid PA, Casting Director, Driver, Actor and Voice Actor. Pay matters of course but I’ll accept lower pay if there is some other value in a gig whether that’s making connections, learning something new, or getting me through doors i otherwise wouldn’t have seen. So I always try to keep an open mind.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
This a little tricker for me as I commute from Jersey. But some spots I frequent every so often include The Tank. It’s a small theater dedicated to being a spot for rising creatives. Zinc is a cool Jazz bar in Manhattan. The Van Gogh experience was also a trippy sight. You’d see his paintings come to life and blend in and out of eachother.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d say I most owe credit to my grandmother. If she didn’t convince me to write I wouldn’t be were I am.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vince_rios?igsh=ZzRxeWYyc2Z2cGsz&utm_source=qr

Facebook: Vincent Pierce

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOaZ8vKgowGr2uS8QAjo45Q

Image Credits
Kamrin Dorsey Vincent Carol Sherronda Wormley Pimcomedy

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