In episode five of The Young Entertainment Podcast, Daniella and Mordechai are joined by Gianni DeCenzo, a Disney Channel OG and a fan favorite from Cobra Kai, where he starred as Demetri Alexopolous for all six seasons. If you’ve ever wanted a podcast to learn from the stars and get the best masterclass tips and tricks for launching your own career, you’ve come to the right place!

Gianni has been in the TV and film industry for 15+ years, bringing with him a range of experiences and lessons he shared with us. Gianni revealed his parents even met in an acting class, and he followed in their footsteps by filming commercials at just eight years old. He has since had roles in Disney Channel shows including Liv and Maddie and Coop & Cami Ask the World. In 2018, he was cast in the role of a lifetime as Demetri in Cobra Kai and remained with the show until its season six finale.

Gianni: “I’ve been acting for 15 years, it’s my life, I love it.”

We even interviewed Gianni last August to talk all things Cobra Kai season 6, where he shared his favorite behind the scenes moments with the cast, preparing for the biggest fight scenes, and the growth of his character Demetri. If you haven’t checked that out yet, what are you waiting for!

Gianni shared his experience and the dream of working on Disney Channel at a young age, and he said he felt Disney really took care of its young actors and helped them manage both acting and school responsibilities. He revealed their crafty was top notch, and the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches were unmatched. While Gianni didn’t get to have his iconic Disney wand moment, we are manifesting this one day!

Gianni: “Disney really treats their young actors very well.”

Auditioning at a young age for Gianni was very different than it is now, and he said he did a lot of short films for free before finding an agent and being sent out on auditions. Now you can be anywhere in the world and submit self tapes, and the sky’s the limit!

Going from Disney to Cobra Kai on Netflix is a big jump, but Gianni said being silly and bold on Disney Channel gave him the confidence to not be afraid to make mistakes or be too hard on himself when he was cast as Demetri.

Gianni: “To be able to be a part of something that so many people everywhere can enjoy really is a treat.”

We love and miss all things Cobra Kai, but have no fear as Gianni shared with us the character he would love to play if he wasn’t cast as Demetri (Stingray) and the never before told behind the scenes of the big brawl at the end of season six and the preparation, or lack of, that went into it.

Gianni: “I really love goofy funny parts so [I would love to play] Stingray.”

We just know Gianni will continue to shine with his infectious energy, and he revealed he has a few projects in the works and would love to continue to explore the writing side as he is even working on his own movie! For anyone looking to try it out, Gianni’s best advice is just to get your ideas out there!

Gianni: “I have a lot of stories I’m enjoying and want to tell.”

Again, this podcast is for you, the fans! We want to know who you want to hear and learn from and have many exciting guests and stories coming up in future episodes! We’ll be releasing episodes each week so don’t forget to subscribe and stay tuned!

Consider this:

• Acting is often all about the long game – waiting to hear back about an audition, waiting to get on set, waiting while you’re on set to perform your scenes. It takes a lot of patience but if you really love it, it is all worth sticking it out for!
• The “Moment Before” acting technique is a great way to prep for a scene. It refers to a concept in acting in which actors consider the circumstances of their character or their situation before a scene begins. Using this technique can make a scene more emotional or truthful, hinting at the context of the actions and motivations of a character.