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Assante Now Driven By Creative Challenge

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By WALT BELCHER

wbelcher@tampatrib.com

Published: February 28, 2009

TAMPA - Armand Assante says that he is at a point in his life where the creative challenge is what drives him.

"I get joy out of working with other talented people and the work is the only thing that matters," he says. "An actor wants to be evoked by material that triggers creativity."

The 59-year-old actor is in Tampa this weekend to receive the Career Achievement Award for Excellence in Film at the Gasparilla International Film Festival.

It will be presented at a reception at 5 p.m. Sunday at the Dolce Vita Lounge, 615 Channelside Drive.
Festival officials said Assante is being honored for his wide range of work, including dozens of films such as "The Mambo Kings," "American Gangster" and "Rage of Angels," as well as numerous TV series. He has had recurring roles on "NCIS," "October Road" and "ER."

"I am shocked and I am gratified and very appreciative," Assante said during an interview at his hotel Thursday. "I have not had what you call a stellar career. I've been a journeyman actor most of my life so I'm terrified of taking this award too seriously."

Nominated for four Golden Globes, Assante won an Emmy in 1997 for best actor in a miniseries for HBO's "Gotti." He played crime boss John Gotti in the made-for-television film.

Assante, who has been in more than 70 films, co-stars with Val Kilmer and Eric Roberts in "The Steam Experiment," which will be screened at 7:10 p.m. Sunday at the Channelside Cinemas.

"It was a trip to do," he said. "Literally a year ago, it was just a concept."

"Steam" was directed by filmmaker Philippe Martinez, who directed "Citizen Verdict" with Assante and Jerry Springer, and "Wake of Death" starring Jean-Claude Van Damme. Martinez, who has offices in Largo, has produced more than 14 films.

The story involves six people locked inside a steam room by a madman (Kilmer) seeking attention for global warming. If he doesn't get results, his victims will boil. Assante co-stars as a detective who interrogates Kilmer's character.

"These are the kinds of films I make now," Assante says. "I so rarely work with a major studio anymore. I've been doing independent films for years. I did 'American Gangster' with a studio but it's like living under a government being run by committee and you don't know if you will be executed.

"I like the intimacy of working on small films where everyone is involved in the process," he said.

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