We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Eyas Younis a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Eyas , appreciate you joining us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?
After my MBA, I pursued a corporate career for years, finding financial stability, but my true passion lay in acting.
About a decade ago, during my tenure as a senior manager at a renowned multinational pharmaceutical company in Jordan, I yearned to break free from the corporate routine.
One day, I stumbled upon a Facebook post advertising what appeared to be an acting workshop. Driven by my passion for acting and movies, I attended, only to discover it was an open AUDITION.
That day marked the beginning of my Hollywood acting journey, a path I might have missed had I not seen that post.
Driven by the belief that self-fulfillment should be within reach for all, I created Casting Arabia—an app and website casting platform. It aims to empower individuals with talent, like me, to seize opportunities and pursue their artistic passion conveniently, all at the tap of their fingertips.
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.
Well … here’s how it all happened ….
In 2005, I completed my MBA and financed my education by teaching Martial Arts and Ballroom dancing. My journey then took me to various corporate roles in New York City and the Middle East, yet my true passion was always in acting and writing.
Around a decade ago, while working in Jordan in a senior managerial role at a multinational pharmaceutical company, I yearned for a break from corporate routines. One ordinary day, a Facebook post caught my eye—it appeared to be about an acting workshop. Driven by my love for acting and movies, I decided to explore further. I arrived at the location and asked about signing up for the “workshop.” To my surprise, the hostess exclaimed, “What workshop?! This is an open AUDITION!” That day, a decade ago, marked the beginning of my Hollywood acting journey. A random chance, a Facebook encounter had altered the course of my life!
This realization led me to drama studies and auditions for film roles. The thrill of being on stage and in front of the camera gripped me. In 2012, I took a leap of faith, leaving behind a successful corporate career to pursue acting in the United States. My debut year welcomed me into SAG/AFTRA and blessed me with multiple roles in movies and prime-time TV shows.
In 2019, I delved into screenwriting, a world brimming with creativity. My first pilot script created waves, becoming a semi-finalist in the prestigious Atlanta Film Festival Screenplay Competition. The joy of writing inspired me to mentor aspiring screenwriters, paying forward the knowledge and passion.
A strong belief propels me—self-fulfillment should never be left to chance. This belief fueled the creation of Casting Arabia, a platform uniting Talent Seekers with the gifted individuals they seek. Casting Arabia is not a casting agency; it’s a comprehensive casting and auditioning management software (system) available as an app and website. The platform is tailored to streamline the casting process for both talent and seekers, creating a seamless connection between them. It’s about talent showcasing their skills and seamlessly connecting with potential opportunities.
This journey isn’t merely about acting; it encompasses all forms of talent in the entertainment industry—singing, dancing, writing, modeling, TV hosting, voiceover, directing, and the incredible camera crew. Casting Arabia offers a global stage where passion meets opportunity, transcending geographical boundaries.
As the Arab world undergoes a transformation, the need for efficient casting solutions grows. Casting Arabia aspires to lead this transformation, pioneering a revolution in the entertainment industry by creating a robust system.
The journey has just begun, and every step is driven by the belief that every talent deserves their moment under the spotlight.
See you on the big screen!
Eyas Younis
Have you ever had to pivot?
I distinctly remember the moment I decided to quit my job to pursue a career in acting. It was on the set of a short film that I loved. Some of my scenes were challenging. I was sick; I even remember I had an inhaler in my pocket! We were shooting on a highway at night in the cold desert. I was freezing, and yet, paradoxically, I had never felt happier. During this shoot, I watched the crew as they set up the shot for a scene. Envisioning it based on the camera angle and lighting, I turned to the sound guy beside me full of excitement and told him “They are setting up to shoot that scene!”. With a stoic face, he turned to me and said “Yeah, man That’s what they do, they set shots.” He didn’t quite grasp the reason behind my excitement, being accustomed to such a sight. When you spend all day at a desk or a cubical, then you get the chance to become part of a unique moment, a piece of remarkable writing, and exceptional art, it’s beyond invigorating.
Having worked in different industries—the financial and pharmaceutical sectors—I encountered individuals who surpassed me in dedication and passion for their work. They possessed an incredible drive, a level of dedication I didn’t have in either of those industries; Acting was different.
In that short film, I talked about earlier, there was a scene near the end where I had to choke my best friend to death with a seatbelt in a car. I meticulously prepared for this scene throughout the entire day. After the second take, the director said that he was very happy and that we are moving on to the next scene, but I asked for another chance to perfect it. We repeated the scene a few more times, my persistence fueled by a desire for excellence.
Ultimately, after the eighth take, I acquiesced, realizing the need to balance perfectionism with the demands of the shoot. He used the eighth take.
This level of dedication and the urge to refine that particular moment was something I had never felt in any other industry. It was a profound realization, cementing my belief that this was the world I belonged to and that I should pursue a career in performing art.
On that day, March 15, 2011, at 2 AM on that very film’s set, I made the life-altering decision to quit my financially rewarding job and wholeheartedly pursue acting as my vocation.
Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?
Plenty! Since I decided to delve into the startup world, I’ve been finishing a book every 2-3 weeks. Some of the books that have benefited me are “The Lean Startup” by Eric Ries, “The Cold Start Problem” by Andrew Chen, and “Contagious” by Jonah Berger. However, the one that changed my perspective on several things is “David and Goliath” by Malcolm Gladwell. It presents several real examples of what might seem like a weakness but turns out to be a great strength!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.castingarabia.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/castingarabia/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?viewas=100000686899395&id=100093617637631
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/castingarabia/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/CastingArabia
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@castingarabia1509/videos
- IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4672387/
Image Credits
Matt Stasi