Hustler's spirit. Underdog charm. Victor Rasuk's got both -- on and off set. Rasuk, the man behind powerful roles in "Che" and "Lords of Dogtown," stars as "Cam Calderon" in "How to Make It in America," HBO's new comedy about twenty-somethings trying to make names for themselves in New York City.

Another Mark Wahlberg production, "How to Make It ..." is like "Entourage" (crew of dudes living the dream), but with a few less hoes and a lot more humility and heart (crew of dudes, including rapper-turned-actor Kid Cudi, dreaming the life). Cam excels in street ingenuity, a loose cannon who's right on target. Above all, he delivers the laughs and keeps it endearingly and refreshingly real -- kinda like Rasuk himself.

Are you supposed to be the funniest guy on the show? Was it different for you to specifically be that guy?

Victor Rasuk: It was natural for me – those funny moments – to actually play them real. I feel like I've been in situations similar to Cam, so I kinda played it like that.

It definitely feels really real. The realness of the characters, and the realness of the New York that's being shown so far ...

VR: That's why I got so excited to do this. Being a New Yorker, I was like "this is real, this is real, this is not real -- I think I can change this." I said that in the back of my mind -- but [the creators of the show] were actually cool with it. When you work on other projects, you can't do stuff like that. And, of course, casting someone like Luiz Guzman, who's as New York as you can get. We're from the same neighborhood. I'm like the new school and he's like the old school.

You said you're a little bit like Cam. Who is Cam?

VR: Cam doesn't know what's going to happen, but he believes that their dream is gonna come true as long as you keep believing. Cam, in acting like he knows what he's doing but he really doesn't, is really the endearing part of the whole thing ... And anybody can relate to that no matter what city you're from, what background you're from, especially right now with what's going on with the economy.



Is this the recession-era "Entourage"?

VR: I think there are some similarities. [Entourage is] a male-driven show; I don't think our show's very male-driven. Vinnie Chase had a dream and it's all gravy. I think people who are not famous – which is most of us in the world [laughs], never really see the path and the journey [of the Entourage characters' success]. Our show shows that from the beginning. I think people are going to relate to that more. The trials and the tribulations and the bumps that we're going to hit along the way.

So, what drives Cam?

VR: I think there's a lot of things that drive him. I think he wants to be where Vinnie Chase is -- you know? [Laughs.] I love how inquisitive he is. Some people are really scared about the unknown ... and of failure. That's what I love so much about the role -- he's the opposite.

Does Cam live with his grandma -- or was he just visiting?

VR: No – he does. As the story goes along, you'll see why and what their situation is. ... [He tries to] front like he got it! I think, obviously, that's a huge motivator too, because he doesn't want to be there either ...

How do you feel going from film-fest darling to a big HBO role like this?

VR: I feel so fortunate in this situation, just the whole journey. I'm 26. And I've learned a hell of a lot. And one of the things that I did learn is -- you do projects and you just appreciate it. You always got to remember why you did it and then you walk away and it has a life of its own. In theory, that's how it is. I used to take it personally, like when people didn't see it and appreciate it the way I did. Now, I'm just like taking it all in stride.

I am really excited, but I'm not like, "Man, I'm making it!"

That was my next question ... Is there going to be any point where you think you'll have made it?

Victor: I think ... if you and I speak again in 60 years or something -- maybe.