Production for Boardwalk Empire's fifth and final season may be over, but star Vincent Piazza will never forget the things he learned during his time playing the infamous Lucky Luciano on the HBO series.

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In a  recent interview with Associated Press (featured below), Piazza remembered when he got the big call about having landed a role on the prohibition drama. "It was a 'wow' moment," admitted the actor, "And then I had all this energy and excitement to begin."

That "excitement" was quickly thwarted when Piazza discovered that production would not start for another six months. Instead of quietly fidgeting over those weeks, the actor got his hands on as many documentaries and biographies as could, reading up on his character as well as America during the 1920s.

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When at last production began, Piazza found himself intellectually prepared, though he had no idea what he was in for in terms of shooting for television. It was, after all, his first series.

"I don't know the hours, I don't know the TV schedule that well," Piazza recalled of his first day shooting Season 1. "So I was just getting to know everyone…" After the "sixteenth hour" on set, however, the actor found himself struggling and drinking a ton of coffee to keep himself going.

He watched costar Steve Buscemi (Nucky Thompson) calm and sure on set and began to learn a thing or two about keeping up with the schedule.

"Steve has been so gracious to me and all the actors that I get to see him interact with and is such a great leader," explained Piazza, who at times saw Buscemi sitting quietly in an attempt to prepare for upcoming scenes.

From this, Piazza learned you have to "conserve your energy and stay focused" in order to make it through the rigorous production schedule.

Five seasons in now, the star could be considered a pro, landing film roles and having received critical success of the HBO drama.

Boardwalk Empire continues on HBO with its fifth and final season Sundays at 9 p.m. ET/PT.

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