Dorian Giordano is about to explode into pop culture’s consciousness with his role as “Gabe” in Disney+’s World’s Best, slated for release Jun 23rd, 2023. This amazing talent, who happens to have an IQ of 140 and was accepted into engineering school with an entrance scholarship, proves that brains can come with brawn and good looks. Just look at his pics below ladies, and pick your jaw up from the floor please : )
Apart from World’s Best, Dorian’s recent credits include a supporting lead in
REINDEER GAMES HOMECOMING (Lifetime), series lead on the mini series LOCKDOWN (The Family Channel), the film 13: THE MUSICAL (Netflix) and VR experiences including ELI ROTH’S: BE MINE A VR VALENTINE’S SLASHER.
We’ll let him add a bit to his intro in his own words before we get into the interview:
“Hi! My name is Dorian Giordano. I am from Mount Albert, Canada. I am Indigenous and Latino and I have been acting for 7 years. I am also a world champion professional freestyle BMX rider and growing up I actually never really considered acting as a career–I always wanted to be a professional Extreme Athlete or an engineer.
“I got into acting because I was actually hired by NERF to be in a commercial they were doing and they needed kids that did stunts on bikes. After the shoot the producer went up to my mom and suggested she get me an agent and the rest is history, lol. I’m involved in all kinds of extreme sports – basically, I love to chase the dopamine! I snowboard, surf, cliff dive, skateboard, dirtbike, paintball. I grew up with ADHD and on the Autism spectrum so I was the kind of kid that always needed to be kept busy either physically or mentally.
“I was accepted into college this year with a scholarship for automotive engineering and I was actually to go, but suddenly I booked 3 big roles back-to-back — so I decided to defer a year and really give acting a shot. And so far it’s going pretty good.”
Let’s find out more about Dorian in his Q&A with TWK!
Hello Dorian, great to e-meet you! Let’s first talk about your role in Disney+’s upcoming film World’s Best. What’s the movie about and why do you think people are going to want to watch it?
It’s so cool; it’s like a hip-hop musical comedy and it’s being produced by the same person who produced Hamilton so you know it’s going to be amazing! So Raj [Manny Magnus] is like this math genius and he is helping my character, who is way older, with math because we are trying to win the school math competition. I’m helping him to learn the ropes about life, so we are helping each other out, but then he decides that maybe he wants to be a rapper instead like his dad who died. Rapping is a way that Raj feels connected to his dad. So, I’m his older brother figure and I try to guide him to make the right choices.
Tell us about your character Gabe, and how he relates to the story?
Since Raj is the over-achieving super smart kid he balances out Gabe-my character- because mostly I’m just sleeping or not paying attention. Gabe’s grades are pretty bad and he really depends on help from Raj. Mercedes [Kayla Njeri] and Gabe are really close to Raj and need his help to win the math competition because Gabe’s grades depend on it. But, now that Raj has decided he wants to pursue rapping, Gabe is freaking out because who is going to help him with his math??
Would you say playing Gabe was a stretch for you—or was it easy to draw on your own personality and experiences to play him?
Gabe was pretty easy to portray for me because we both had that same chill attitude and did not really pay attention in class, because we were focused on other things. The only difference is I was more like Raj when it came to math because I wanted to be an engineer. I did work hard on my math grades. So, in that sense I was not as chill as Gabe was.
What was the best part about filming World’s Best?
The best part of filming World’s Best was being part of the Disney family. I think that is most actors’ dream. Also, the cast and crew were such an awesome group of people. We all got along so well and it was a really cool and fun vibe on set. Especially Kayla, Manny and me would always joke around.
You are a World Champion Freestyle BMX Rider. What has been your number one, ALL-TIME FAVORITE moment as a BMX rider?
My number one all-time favorite moment was when I won the FISE world Championships in Chengdu, China. I was only 14 years old, and it was such an incredible experience. I was even interviewed by the news channel. China was such an incredible country and to this day I will never forget how kind everyone was.
You are known as a bit of a thrill-seeker. What’s one “thrill” you tried that scared you or made you think “I’m not doing that again!”
I had a really hard time with this particular trick called “backflipping a spine.” It’s such a hard trick and I’m pretty sure my video went viral the first time I tried it because I was the youngest in the world to attempt it — and OMG I seriously almost died. I eventually did manage to do it a year later, only one time in a competition, but that is one trick I will never do again. I just did a double backflip this year, which is pretty crazy, but still not as scary as flipping a spine.
Tell us about your work with horror director Eli Roth on back-to-back VR projects for Meta Horizons World on Oculus Quest. First, how did you meet/connect with Eli in the first place?
OH Man Eli Roth — I don’t even know where to start. First, he is my absolute favorite director ever and honestly probably one of my favorite human beings. He is an actor’s dream to work with because he is such a collaborative director. He is so funny and seriously one of the most humble, down-to-earth people I have ever met. I feel I owe him my career because he has given me so many incredible opportunities and he has believed in me from the beginning.
I remember for the first Trick VR Treat project I was auditioning for the role of Beetle Juice and I was all in, wig on, fully giving it during the callback. After my audition Eli said “Ok that was awesome — great hair…. Hey, can you put on an English accent and just act like Harry Styles?” So I did and boom I was hired as Harry Styles. And then Eli told me, “Dorian we are going to have you killed in the most gruesome way. Everyone is going to remember how Harry Styles got his arms and legs ripped off at the same time!” And then in his other VR project called Be Mine I was Peyton List’s boyfriend, Jake, and just as I was supposed to kiss her — suddenly an arrow goes through my eyeball, neck and chest.
Eli likes killing me. I’m in his upcoming Feature Film called Thanksgiving (TriStar Pictures and Sony Pictures). It releases worldwide on November 17th. Hopefully I won’t die in that one — I guess you will all have to stay tuned.
How can people watch them?
You can watch them with an Oculus headset or if you go to CRYPT TV Facebook page you can watch the shorter versions.They really are pretty amazing. They make the viewer feel as if they are actually immersed in the movie, so it takes horror movies to the next level!! I feel really honored to be in both of them.
How do you feel about social media? Pros and cons?
I’m going to be honest, I’m not huge into social media. I remember one year I went entirely without a phone. Actually, I was in LA for pilot season that year and I remember my mom kept getting messages because I would give any new friends I made her number to contact me. At the time I was 16 so that was a pretty bold move for a 16-year-old to give up their device. I did it because I felt I was so into my phone and social media that I was missing life and just watching the world and appreciating its beauty.
It does have its positive points as well. It is a way for people to promote their work and talents to a broader audience as well as helping people who are isolated connect to others. I just have to watch that I don’t become overly consumed and am able to keep a balance.
What’s the most effective and positive way you have dealt with trolls and critics?
Well to be honest I’ve always been a bit different, so I have been dealing with trolls and critics my whole life. I just stay focused on what I am doing and have learned to not let what others think of me affect me. I try to keep negativity out of my life. I have a small group of friends that have been in my life for a long time. If they call me out on something, I will listen to them because I trust them. Otherwise, I just don’t really let outside noise get into my head.
What’s one thing about being an actor that most people don’t realize or have a misconception about?
That acting is easy and you can just become a “movie star” overnight. Acting is one of the hardest things I have done in my life. You have to be emotionally invested in every character and that can be draining. The rejection is brutal. There are times when you have worked so hard and committed so much to a character and you think “oh man that audition was awesome” and your agent submits it and……crickets.
I know that behind every role I book I have probably been rejected a minimum of 100 times prior but others do not see the rejections, only the success, so no one really knows how tough it is behind the scenes. But once you do land that role and you get that phone call from your agent/manager it’s truly the best feeling in the world.
Who are your role models and inspirations?
Well, growing up my idol was Neil De Grasse Tyson. He is a physicist and I love math. Eli Roth is someone I look up to because of how genuine, humble and real he is. I hope to emulate those qualities. In terms of actors, Johnny Depp is an actor I admire because he can do any kind of character you give him and also Tim Burton has always been one of my favorites and he works with Johnny Depp a lot. Christian Bale, Ed Norton, Shia Labeouf, Rami Malek as well as Martin Sensmeir are actors I look up to.
What advice do you have for teens/young adults who want to book roles like you did? Many train and audition for years and never make it—so what do you think your secret is?
Oh, that’s a hard one. Honestly, sometimes I think luck has a lot to do with it. There are so many incredibly talented actors out there that I think part of it is I got lucky — that maybe my acting and look just fit the exact vision of the director and producer. I’m mixed Indigenous and Latino so my look is a bit different and that might have helped.
Definitely studying your craft is important, but also pushing yourself out of your comfort zone and not being afraid to be vulnerable. I think it’s really important to bring yourself to the character — that was when my career really started taking off. I just started bringing more of myself so there was more authenticity to my auditions. They felt more real and natural. I stopped thinking, “Well how would the character do this?” and more of “How would I do this?” and I made some pretty bold choices. Sometimes they worked, sometimes they didn’t but at least I knew I was real to the character and to myself.
Hang in there — if you love doing it your time will come, but I totally get the wait can be really tough.
If you could make one wild invention that was sure to work, what would it be and why?
A perpetual motion machine to provide infinite energy to the world at no cost to solve a multitude of the world’s energy, climate crises.
If we asked your friends what your best quality is, what would they say?
My best quality is my energy and my worst quality is my stubbornness
Favorite snack?
Vanilla Oreos, Nutella on anything.
Favorite city?
Favorite city I’ve been to: Vancouver
I want to go to: Japan
Tell me something people would be surprised to know about you.
That I love watching Anime.
Tell me ONE food you REFUSE to eat and why?
What else are you working on or have coming up next?
I just booked a lead role in a really cool film that is going to start filming in Montana at the end of June. It’s about skateboarding. I am really excited about it. Also, I have a TV series coming out on Netflix in 2024. I can’t wait till it’s released — I am not allowed to say what it is yet because I signed an NDA.
