Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Christine Solomon. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Christine , appreciate you joining us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?
When I was a little girl, I used to imitate and sing the songs of two of my favorite Egyptian actresses, Sherihan and Feyrouz who were performing in musicals. I had no idea at the time that those people were actors, much less that this was a career. All I knew was that I wanted to look and feel just like the folks I liked to watch in movies and on TV.
I am grateful to my amazing parents for exposing me to a wide range of cinema genres and culture, including Amitabh Bachchan and Jackie Chan productions. I used to watch American, Indian (Bollywood), Chinese, and French movies in addition to Egyptian ones.
Christine , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I was fairly small when I made my stage debut. I had the most amazing experience. While still in school, I started going to auditions and working — minor roles here and there. As I grew older, I followed the advice of my college drama professor to try out for Dawson College’s theatrical program. I was shocked to hear that I had been accepted! Theater school was amazing; it was like being in the film “Fame.” It was a dream come true, so I gave it all. During training, I discovered a lot about the world, myself, and the craft itself.
I started working and traveling after theater school, which led to a lot of opportunities for me.
In 2010, I launched Muze Consultancy, an acting career consultancy, with the goal of offering professional guidance and artistic support to aspiring and professional actors. We started by helping not just professionals in the field but also children and parents, teenagers, and adults who were interested about learning more about the entertainment industry. In addition, we provided workshops, private coaching and self tape and writing services. As of late, we have added a new service: helping people in the entertainment industry who require help acquiring US visas and green cards.
We will shortly be offering an online course to assist those who are applying for an EB-1A (green card) and O-1 Visa. The course will teach applicants how to put together their package when working with an immigration lawyer.
The course will cover all aspects of both types of visas, including advice on how to complete tasks that are more difficult than others. In order to assist participants see how this process operates, the course will provide them access to downloadable materials, checklists, sample letters, and presentation slides. Everything from the process of writing their letters of recommendation to the acquisition of deal memos and sponsorships. The online course will be available online at Muze Consultancy next year. Sign up at this link to receive more information: https://christinesolomon.com/
We continue to work hard and provide our clients with the greatest service possible, and I don’t think there is any acting school or company that offers all these services, education, and respond to the demands of our clients as well as those that emerge in the market. We need mentors since this profession presents numerous challenges, which is why Muze is so vital—we have assisted thousands of people and are still going strong.
Moreover, my passion for writing led me to found Hill Weiser Publishing in 2021, where I published my first children’s book, Odd Ed, and my most recent book, Wishing Upon a New Moon, with illustrations by the incredibly talented Nataliia Mazepa (yes, that is two i’s in her first name).
“Wishing Upon A New Moon” is a story about a girl named Pepper who’s obsessed with perfectionism and control. An incident occurs in the story that pushes her to work on herself and learn new life lessons.
Book is available at Barnes and Noble, Amazon, Book Soup and Hill Weiser Publishing.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
My resilience is something that my friends have always observed about me. I don’t believe in giving up. In my life, I have come across a lot of people who have underestimated my capabilities. I have quite a few stories to share, but for the purpose of this interview, I will keep it short in the hopes that it would encourage someone to pursue their passions and never give up.
The course will cover all aspects of both types of visas, including advice on how to complete tasks that are more difficult than others. In order to assist participants see how this process operates, the course will provide them access to downloadable materials, checklists, sample letters, and presentation slides. Everything from the process of writing their letters of recommendation to the acquisition of deal memos and sponsorships. The online course will be available online at Muze Consultancy next year. Sign up at this link to receive more information: https://christinesolomon.com/
Here’s another story. It has always been my dream to write and publish a children’s book. However, some told me not to bother, saying that I am an actor and not an author, that I had no experience in this field, and that it would be a waste of time because I would face resistance from well-known children’s book authors. However, I ignored advice and went with my instincts. I really believe in staying true to who I am, therefore even though I had no prior experience in this industry, I didn’t let that stop me from following a dream of mine.
While publishing this book, Odd Ed, I ran into a lot of challenges, but I never gave up. I understood that those difficulties were teaching moments that would enable me to advance in my life. That kind of thinking, in my opinion, enables you to move forward and broaden your imagination to come up with ideas.
Writing this book, in the end, is a lesson in never underestimating your abilities. Those who advised me against publishing a children’s book were taken aback when they saw that my book was featured on Global TV Montreal and sold in a number of big bookstores, including Barnes and Noble The Grove flagship store—one of the hardest stores to get your book into and Chapters Indigo—the largest bookstore in Canada. My belief to always follow my heart has been strengthened by my experience publishing this book. Never allow anyone tell you what you can’t achieve, and more importantly, have confidence in yourself.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
I was not much of a team player when I was younger and I enjoyed working alone as I was also a perfectionist. I guess I was never paired with kids who shared my work ethic, and I lacked the courage to talk to my teachers about it at the time. Had I done so, perhaps they would have been able to match me with other children who shared my passion.
As I grew older I realized that being a perfectionist was holding me back and that working alone doesn’t get you that far. You can accomplish far more when you surround yourself with a strong team rather than working by yourself.
At the conclusion of my second children’s book, Wishing Upon A New Moon, there is a phrase that reads, “Even superheroes don’t fight alone; they always have helpers so they’re not on their own.”
Why shouldn’t you have helpers if superheroes do? The moral of the story is to ask for help when you need it, have courage, build a solid team and don’t wait for everything to be perfect before beginning or finishing something. Just go for it — don’t wait.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.christinesolomon.com
- Instagram: @christinesolomon
- Facebook: @ActorChristineSolomon
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christine-solomon-5967a520a
- Twitter: @MsChrisSolomon
- Youtube: @christinesolomon
- Other: www.HillWeiser.com www.MuzeConsultancy.com www.imdb.com/name/nm2555010
Image Credits
Alberto Ruiz Photography, Efren Beltran Photography, Camille Fadl Photography.