LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Vin Diesel: Pitch Black
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Prior to appearing in these well-known features, Diesel wrote, produced, directed and starred in the indie short "Multi-Facial," which explored the issue of being multi-racial in today’s society. The film follows Diesel, where he is told he is either “too black” or “too white” for the part. Director Steven Spielberg created the role of Private Caparzo specifically for him in "Saving Private Ryan" after seeing the short. In addition, Diesel ... penned, produced, directed and starred in the full-length feature "Strays." The drama was selected to compete at the 1997 Sundance Film Festival.
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After his adventurous role in Pitch Black, Diesel was careful to not be typecast as "Mr. Action," he told Entertainment Weekly. In the next role he chose, he worked in an office rather than on an alien-infested planet. As a suburban Italian-American stockbroker involved in shady dealings in the 2000 film Boiler Room, Diesel appeared alongside Ben Affleck and Giovanni Ribisi.
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The sequel to cult sci-fi hit PITCH BLACK sees Vin Diesel enthusiastically returning to his role as Richard B. Riddick. Director-writer David Twohy is on board again, building on themes established in the first movie, and expanding his vision with some incredible special effects work.
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Diesel's first film role was an uncredited appearance in the 1990 film Awakenings. He then produced, directed and starred in the 1994 short film Multi-Facial, a short semi-autobiographical film which follows a struggling actor stuck in the audition process, because he is regarded as either "too black" or "too white", or not black or white enough.
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Pitch Black and Boiler Room were released on the same day in 2000, immediately marking Vin as one to watch. Critic Roger Ebert noted his potential in his review of Boiler Room, saying "Diesel is interesting. Something will come of him".
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