Last week [Friday 28th April] the cast of Reservoir Dogs, the iconic 1990s gangster heist movie, reunited 25 years after its release at the New York Tribeca Film Festival amid smiles and revelry. Much has been written about the hit movie with trivia, facts and oddities aiding its profile. But an episode that Quentin Tarantino, the controversial and outspoken director, would rather forget is an audition that went wrong with Ray Mancini, former world lightweight champion turned actor.
At the time Mancini was living in Santa Monica, California and had embarked on a film career.ย He was no stranger to the competitive auditioning process having appeared in numerous films and performed on television and in an off-Broadway play. On completing two successful auditions, Mancini was invited back by Tarantino at the Fox Studios lot in Los Angeles. Mancini exclusively described the fiery incident to Boxing News.
โI am sure youโre familiar with Reservoir Dogs. Now I went up for the role of Mr Pink. Third call back. He [Tarantino] said: โMan, you blew us away with that, but I canโt give you the role.โ I said: โWhy not?โ He said: โIt will take people right out of the movie. Theyโll say, โThatโs โBoom Boomโ Mancini and they wonโt be paying attention to the film.โ I said: โThen why did you have me come back?โย He said: โI gotta be honest with you I was waiting for you to fall. I was waiting for you to fail.โ I said: โIs that right? What about if I come over that table and fucking go for your jugular? How about if I kick your ass in front of everybody here? Thatโd be a story everybody would like. Let me tell you something, donโt you ever disrespect an actor like that! If I come across you again and I audition for you and I do the same type of job, youโd better give it to me or Iโm coming after you.โ [Mancini recalled a stunned Tarantino who could only say] โOh s***!โย I was leaning over the table. He was on the other side of it. You canโt go after a guy in a room full of people, but I said it in a serious and threatening way. [Then Mancini delivered his punchline] โHowโs that for acting?โย [Mancini recalled a shaky and relieved Tarantino repeating] โOh s***! Oh s***!…โ
Steve Buscemi got the part of Mr Pink, one of the main characters and whose speaking part included a memorable monologue on why he doesnโt believe in tipping.ย ย Mancini continued: โDonโt get me wrong. Steve Buscemi, who got the role, is a friend of mine. He did a great job. I have worked with him. Heโs a fabulous actor. People say: โSee, you couldnโt do a Steve Buscemi?โ I said: โNo! No! No! I would have done it differently but been just as good. We did different roles to get there, but I would have been just as good.โ
He added: โIn the entertainment business, if you get a second call back it means you did well enough to warrant it. If you come back for a third theyโre interested. Now, they want to see what you can do for the role. Very seldom you go past three auditions. As an actor you know when you stink the joint out and you know when you kick ass too.โ
Now, back in Youngstown, developing several film projects of his own, Mancini is no fan of the movie making machinations. โThis is a business where there is no remorse. They have little feeling for you. All they are worried about is the now. Itโs a today business. โWhat can you do for me today? God bless you, Ray! Iโm a big fan of yours what can you do for me today?โ It donโt matter who you were. None of it matters.โ
To date Mancini has starred in 18 films and produced and released five films through his company. Whilst Tarantino has gone onto become one of the biggest names behind the camera he wonโt thank us for reminding him of his close shave with โBoom Boomโ.