We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Dan Shaked a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Dan, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?

My parents moved from from Israel to the US in the 70’s to study. They were part of a large group of immigrants, many of which they are still in touch with until today from all over the world, that lived in a studio dorm with a few kids and a culture shock and a big dream.

My father, in addition to knowing his business and financial skillset, loves to meet new people and generates interesting work opportunities. My mother, also a pianist, incorporated the arts throughout my childhood. A Mathematician herself, I learned piano, clarinet and was always involved in theater, dance and singing in various camps and organizations.

They were fish out of water who worked very hard to grow productive new roots in a foreign environment. Watching them do this has made my career dynamic and exciting.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’m a film/tv/theater actor. I have recently been working in Tel Aviv, Los Angeles and NYC. I wrapped a lead in an indie called WE HEREBY ANNOUNCE which I filmed in Jerusalem. Additionally, I recently finished filming a role in a movie called RONIE by Ron Rafe that was shot in Tel Aviv and ALATA by Tom Giat. This last year, I filmed a role in the feature GOOD GRIEF directed by Jaclyn Bethany in Los Angeles and THE INVISIBLE GIRL has been bought for UK and Ireland Distribution and started its film festival run with the 2023 Not Film Festival in Italy. In July of 2023, I was in New Jersey filming a role in the short THE DOUBLE ROOM by Martin Del Carpio.

I like rotating between all mediums and keeping myself nimble in terms of tones and genres.

I am a graduate of NYU Tisch Drama and studied at London’s RADA.

I enjoy the collaboration process. Working constantly feeds that sharpness my brain needs when it is artistic, and collaborating with others just heightens the quality of the work and the experience itself. Creatively solving and piecing together something unknown is exciting to me.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

For several years, I could not be seen for projects I wanted to be part in NYC. I couldn’t even get close to them. No representation. No way to get through. Most people told me there was no way to do something other than through that path of agents/casting directors. However, I remembered that shows and projects were filming outside of NYC. Why not look into the local ponds? I remember actors around me telling me that was a skeptical root, nothing serious will cast happen outside of NYC.

I decided to research local casting directors in that city. I came across one. Angela Peri. I saw a casting notice for a tv project she was casting. I got a notice back, telling me to come to the office in a day.
I was in NYC. The office was in Boston. I loved that she was open to seeing me. I took a bus to boston that morning at 5am, arrived in Boston before 10am. I came in the room. I auditioned. She was great and I felt like the trip was worth it just to experience that moment.

I took the bus back to NYC.
That week, I get a call. Come back. There is a role I want to see you for. I took the bus back to Boston right away, put myself on tape and landed my first tv role. This was back when local casting was still taboo.
This type of experience is a morsel of my journey to meeting people.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

Curiosity and Connection. I have a burning feeling inside that motivates me to turn every rock and leaf, to look around the corner, to take my chance on a cold email, to start up that conversation at Gate C6.

I enjoy creative swirling, meaning being involved in several projects at once and letting what I’m learning in one project enhance the other. I love it when new people in my life resonate with certain projects. And that starts a conversation, and then I get to meet that person again with this new layer of knowledge and connection I made with them.

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Contact Info:

• Website: www.danshaked.com
• Instagram: @DanShaked
• Facebook: Dan Shaked
• Linkedin: Dan Shaked
• Twitter: @DanShaked

Image Credits
THOMAS BRUNOT