Actor And Filmmaker Vinnie Velez Discusses His Film Father, Forgive Me

Vinnie Velez is an American actor, writer, producer and director. Velez is also the co-founder of Hudson Valley Film Productions, a production company based in Hudson, New York. New York actor Gio Drasconi is the co-founder. Velez’s supporting and leading roles as an actor include his work on feature films such as Disencumber, Highlighters, Redville and Stroke of Luck. Additionally, Velez has booked lead roles in television productions as well to include, Down The Shore, Time Crunch, In Holding and Diabolical. Velez wrote, directed, and acted in his award-winning film, TempTasia (2022). TempTasia was his directorial debut. TempTasia won Best Short Film at the Cine Paris International Film Festival and Best Comedic Short Film at the Hollywood Gold Awards. His work as a commercial actor includes roles for New York State's Department of Health and Transportation for a crosswalk safety campaign, and a bilingual stop smoking campaign.

Vinnie Velez states, “I just wrapped post production on Father, Forgive Me. It is a dramatic short film, which follows four flawed characters on what I refer to as a 'spiritual collision course.'” Velez is the writer, director and a lead protagonist in the film, portraying Sonny Caparelli. Velez describes his character Sonny as a “man who has lived a life in the shadows of dangerous men, and it has cost him everything he’s ever loved. Within his story, he finds an unexpected friend and seeks answers regarding faith and spirituality.” “The film poses the question, as stated by Velez, “will the trappings of his current life ever allow a way out?” Father, Forgive Me is slated to be the second release for Hudson Valley Film Productions.”

Velez was nominated as an actor at the Hollywood Gold Awards, and won the award for his performance in the film for TempTasia. Velez stated, “It was selected and screened all over the world and made quite a few finalist lists as well. We couldn’t have asked for a better response right off the bat. Being that it was the first production out of our production company, we had no expectations of it being so well-received. It was a blessing, and very encouraging. We worked closely with writer/producer Jon Conover and Executive Producer Don Miller who both helped to bring our projects to fruition.”

Father, Forgive Me was filmed just north of the Hudson Valley in Fort Plain, NY. Velez discussed in a recent interview that the production itself was “a ‘big to-do’ so to speak, involving cooperation from the local police force, business owners, a local church, and many more people and organizations. Concluding, “We stepped up the scale, made it happen and we couldn’t be more excited to be wrapping up post-production on the film in the next week or two! We know it will spark insightful dialogue and help to further solidify Hudson Valley Film Production's presence on the New York Film Scene.” Summarizing both of our films, states Velez, “Our films deal with unreal expectations, and the ever-imperfect human always doing their damndest to hang on to what little control they might have in their life. We seek to portray fascinatingly flawed characters, navigating extraordinary circumstances. The best feedback that we received for TempTasia, in my opinion, was when a festival judge said that 'TempTasia is an impactful film that resonates on both an intellectual and emotional level, prompting introspection and meaningful conversations.'”

Commencing production in October of 2023, Vinnie Velez will be portraying the leading man Nick Alba in the Providence, Rhode Island based feature film titled Charles Street. The writer and director of the project is Nick Albanese (Brotherhood, The Last Sicilian). Velez states, “Nick is someone who I consider to be an incredibly talented actor, writer and comedian, and needless to say, I am very excited to portray a fictional version of him in his upcoming character based ‘crime-dramedy’ set for release in 2024.”

A forthcoming TV series that Vinnie Velez is very passionate about is Cuffed; as described by Velez, it is a dramatic limited series based on real life stories based on his father’s “absolutely insane undercover narcotic detective days in the 1980’s.” Velez continued, “After my father was drafted into Vietnam as a teen, just as he was about to enter art school in NYC, my father’s life changed forever. Upon returning home he found his way to the New York State Police Academy, and soon after graduating, he was forced (he specifically asked to not be assigned) into going undercover in Upstate, NY. Concluding, “My television forthcoming series Cuffed tells his story to a significant degree, combining the strange lawlessness of the 80’s and the very real struggle to free his young Hispanic family from poverty, while living in NYC’s Lower East Side Projects. This show becomes something that transcends modern cop drama. I am writing and producing the series and will be portraying my father.” Cuffed is currently in development and seeking a streaming or network home.

Wrapping up his interview, Vinnie Velez provides insight as to what makes him an actor that audiences want to see, “Finding the truth within a character and being able to experience and react subconsciously within that world, this brings me such a rush of joy that I can’t help but want to share it with the world. It doesn’t matter if I am on screen for seconds or two hours, whether I am playing a villain or a hero, I know it will be electric…because that is what I feel in the moment and anything less would be a lie.”

Relating to one of his goals or rather, dreams as an actor, which Velez said he must include before concluding the interview, it is a message to Greta Gerwig, stating "You see, the amazing Greta Gerwig is slated to direct two new Narnia movies for Netflix! What?! Let me be the first to say “Greta, if you’re out there…just as we must not run from who we are (-Aslan-), I believe that it is my calling to be a part of the Narnia family!” That type of role would be a dream worth fighting for.”

So Greta Gerwig if you are listening, please have your casting team give Vinnie Velez a call.

Vinnie Velez is represented across the US by the Eris Talent Agency (NY/LA) and Maultsby Talent Agency (New York, Atlanta). When not in front of the camera, Velez spends his time treasure hunting and managing his popular antiques/vintage shop, Antigo which is located in Hudson, NY. His shop Antigo was featured on HGTV. He has also lent his talents behind the camera to MAX (formerly HBO MAX). Velez is also a professional photographer.

Stay up to date on the film and TV projects that Velez is attached to as an actor, director, producer and writer at Vinnie Velez on IMDb. Connect with him on social media at Vinnie Velez on Instagram @theseekerofmagic.