The Big Break Interview:
VINNIE POTESTIVO
MTV Manager, MTV/MTV2 Talent Development & Casting
by Alex Abrahantes

When you think of “bigwigs,” the majority of people probably envision someone in their mid-30s and older. You probably think of someone who works in a suit and tie and is the epitome of corporate. Even though MTV has always been about being trendy, I still had the perception that Vinnie Potestivo was going to be middle aged and conservative. What I got instead was a very hip 24 year old who was extremely cool to talk to.

BIGBreakNY: How did you get started in the business?
VINNIE POTESTIVO: I started out as an actor and model. I attended Wagner College in Staten Island where I majored in Business Administration and Theatre Management and minored in Spanish. I performed in many Off-Off and Off-Broadway theatre productions. I worked for a community access channel. I was also a computer consultant and built Wagner’s first homepage.

BBNY: I know Jimmy Floyd was instrumental in your career, can you tell me how you developed a relationship with him?
VP: Jimmy stopped me on the street and asked me if I would be interested in asking Whitney Houston a question for an MTV special. Jimmy was working on a music video that he booked me on. His next project was Whitney’s video for “It’s Not Right But It’s Okay” which didn’t have a role in it for me, but he needed a couple of strong ethnic girls, I had some friends who he typed into it perfectly and he booked about 4 or 5 of them for the video.
From there Jimmy would ask me if I could get him certain types, and that’s how it started. Jimmy called me one day and let me know that there was an opening in MTV. As Jimmy Hank Promotions grew we began picking up other people. We started working together in September of ’98.

BBNY: Did you always watch MTV?
VP: No, I actually started watching MTV my junior year of college...I was actually in the audience for the first ever Tom Green Show.

BBNY: What was your first project at MTV?
VP: My first project was a show called Choose or Lose. That’s actually where we found Gideon Yago. We were auditioning students at Columbia University. He had a look and knew a lot about music. He has been here for four years now.

BBNY: How did you find your other on-air personalities?
VP: Well, every day we receive about 10–15 videos of wannabe VJs. Jim Shearer (MTV2 VJ) responded to one of my ads from online. I found Abby Gennet at a local rock joint called Brownie’s in New York. She was in a rock group and I called the booker and told him I wanted a hot chick that knows everything about rock culture.

BBNY: Besides casting VJs, what else do you cast?
VP: Besides VJs, my department casts all of our game show hosts, news correspondents, and our original films for TV. I also deal with a lot of celebrities as well. Some examples are Mandy Moore, Tyrese, Christian Milian, Carmen Electra, Joey McIntyre, and the Osbournes. It’s exciting to create new talent; it’s even more exciting to help established talent take it to the next level. MTV is an amazing network to help advance peoples careers, no matter how ‘well known’ you are.

BBNY: MTV has always seemed to define pop culture. How is that?
VP: That’s the main reason I still work here. We provide our viewers with an outlet based on individuality and style. When casting a new host I try to find someone who’s got edgy style, a dynamic personality, and most importantly an opinion!
I live on pop culture. I like reading what our viewers are reading, like The Onion, the Billboard charts, In Touch, YM, and J14. They’re almost a casting catalogue for MTV. If we see someone like Christina Milian on the cover, we get a hold of her.

BBNY: It seems like you are extremely busy all the time. What do you do for fun, and how do you keep yourself organized?
VP: I love going to concerts; there is something amazing about a live performance in a venue that holds thousands of fans. And, no, I don’t always get backstage passes. I’m also a huge theatergoer.
As for my organizing skills: it’s all about time management. If you do one thing at a time, you’ll only accomplish one thing at a time. The greatest resource you have is yourself, so you must learn to use it efficiently.

BBNY: Where do you see yourself in the future?
VP: There are many different directions I can go after MTV. I would like to start my own production company someday; there’s just something amazing about creating and producing original work. So much out there is overproduced. I want to work on talent driven projects. As with any entertainer, you are out there to make a difference in life, and that is my payoff.

BBNY: It seems MTV has always had individuals with trendy looks. How important is a look?
VP: I don’t like to change looks. When we cast a host we are buying his personality, not necessarily his look. A good host will have a strong personality and a strong sense of style, that’s what makes them so cool. They might need some fine-tuning for TV, but that’s about it. The overall package is what we are looking for. It’s not what you are wearing; it’s how you wear it.

BBNY: How would someone go about getting work at MTV?
VP: In terms of working in production, interning is the best way to do it. About 75% of our production assistants are from internships; our current senior vice president began as an intern. Knowing someone just gets you in the interview, the rest is up to you. You’ve got to have the right attitude, be fun to work with, and you must be willing to put in some killer hours.

BBNY: What advice could you give aspiring entertainers?
VP: Have focus. So many people out there want to do everything which is just not possible, at first. Focus in on one trade and excel, then move on and expand. Your career is like a universe, you need something solid for the rest of your work to revolve around. Look at Jennifer Lopez, for example: she began as a dancer, then moved into acting, then singing, designing clothing, et cetera. I’m not saying success can be compared to Jennifer Lopez, there are many artists out there who are just as successful whom I haven’t met yet. I applaud them just as much.
Go to as many auditions as possible; meet as many people as possible; be sincere and honest with everyone; and let your talent speak for itself!

© 2005 BIGBreakNY, LLC. No material may be reprinted without permission.