Alki David’s action film “Guido,” starring David as well as Gary Busey, Lupe Ontiveros, Billy Zane and Armand Assante, will soon be out on DVD this month! The film will also make its premiere on David’s FilmOn.com. ShockYa was happy to get the chance to speak with Assante about his role in the film, working with the cast and the film’s online presence.
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Armand Assante: I did this film over three years ago, and what I can remember about it is that it was a very smart, exceptionally clever little script…What impressed me very much was how Alki had kind-of written a wonderful little film noir adventure of this character that I thought was so unique–this Iraqi immigrant looking for a life.

In the film, you play Agent Rivers. What was it like playing that character?

Armand Assante: I’ve done a fair amount of research…it’s all about homework and finding something workable and, hopefully, interesting, not only to watch as entertainment but also lends something credible to the role. I’ve done a fair amount of homework and..I’ve worked alongside some [federal agents]; I’m developing a show of my own; it’s going to be a reality-based show about federal agents, so I’ve spent a lot of time with these types of guys. Probably from the public standpoint, it probably has overtones of Dick Tracy and…high adventure, but actually, its quite methodical and slow, deliberate, deductive reasoning all day long. It’s not like it’s a joy ride.

This film is going to make its home release premiere on FilmOn.com. What do you think about the fact that this film not only has a physical presence but also has a big online presence as well?

Armand Assante: …I think it’s fantastic right now for film and television that the internet is available for audiences because there have been many, many worthwhile projects that have been thrown under the bus for economic reasons…There’s a lot of good product out there…When I was the [head of the jury] at a film festival in Ukraine few years ago [2008’s 38th International Film Festival Molodist], I watched 64 films in one week, 30 of them were shorts. The point is that of the 64 films, 50 of them deserved, unequivocally deserved to be among an audience. Not one of those films has surfaced…

What was it like to work with the cast?

Armand Assante: They’re all consummate professionals. We had a limited budget, Alki wrote the script, and we made it under limited circumstances. The spirit of the film was one of good will and an independent spirit…and that was the force that drove the film. There was a lot of synergy among all of us. We worked very quickly and efficiently. I don’t think anyone signs onto a small independent film unless they feel the script is worthy of their energy. That was the consensus among all of us, that it was a lovely, lovely project…We’re very lucky to have that experience to do a project and launch it and I’m thrilled that it has a presence now online and I’m sure it’ll be all over the internet globally and DVD stores around the world.

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Assante has been very busy as of late. Assante won the award for Best Documentary Short from the Gasparilla International Film Festival for his short documentary on Kazakhstan, “Dialogue from the Steppes.” The film was a culmination of Assante’s travels to the country over a period of four years. Assante also produced a feature film in Kazakhstan called “The Whole World at Your Feet.”

Assante has been involved in two international films that are heavily anticipated. First is Argentina’s “Ley Primera” (“First Law”), written and directed by Diego Rafecas. The film is based on real events about the ill treatment of the rainforest and the indigenous Chaco Indians. Second is Serbia’s “Montivideo Taste of a Dream,” the sequel to the acclaimed and award-winning “Montivideo,” which tells the story about the origins of the World Cup in Soccer.

Assante will also be featured in Lionsgate’s upcoming “Once Upon a Time in Brooklyn” along with Kevin Breslin’s upcoming “Blowtorch.”

You can learn more about Assante at his website.