Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jad Mallah. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Jad , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?
I first knew i wanted to take acting to another level is when I started doing comedy sketches on my instagram and noticing people enjoy it and are really having a good laugh and so am I! So i decided to take it more professionally and travel to the United States of America and learn the craft of acting at the well known Stella Adler academy Los Angeles, and be more professional at what I do and thru the journey I decided to act in movies as well because thru a acting technique you become more and more confident about your acting skills.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
Hello to everyone who is reading this! My name is Jad Mallah i’m 26 years old and I’m originally from Beirut Lebanon.
Since I was a kid I always loved to entertain people, throw jokes left and right and try to lift someones mood, so when I grew up and social media became a thing I started using my instagram platform as a comedy page, by doing some pranks on family members and having a laugh with few of my followers.
Improving with times i started to create comedy sketches that are focused on relatable scenarios in real life but I would film them in a exaggerated and funny way.
This took lot of success on the platform and my account started to grow and grow with loyal supportive followers who really enjoy my account, from the funny stories such as “ Poll game, funny stories etc “
To the well edited relatable videos!
Since that day i thought why don’t I go more professional and try to learn the real technique of acting and become a real actor and start acting in movies! So I got accepted at the Stella Adler academy of Los angeles in Hollywood I did my 2 years intensive program I grew alot as an actor there and because of that my confidence in my acting skills increased as well so I started booking films in the states such as “ F-Listers by Yeva lavlenski “ “ Hollywood Laundromat by Michael Baumgarten “ and when I went back home for a visit some commercial for well known companies in Lebanon.
Yes Living as a new actor in the industry is hard but if you enjoy it and draw a good smart plan you’ll be fine, and most importantly be patient!
How did you build your audience on social media?
Social media is all about engagement. People create pages business or personal and they barely engage with others.
What I did was I answer every comment, every dm, as i’m answering my close friends I make the audience feel as they are my real friends which indirectly they really are because I spend alot of time online with them.
Collaboration is very important as starters, do not be only money oriented, free collaboration that gives you exposure to your product or service is also an income as well, collaborate, create a specific theme to ur account ( Comedy, nails, animals ) whatever it is stick to it and keep on posting daily or every 2 day, and keep on searching for trending audios and create your unique video with the trending audio.
And of course at the end once again be close to your followers engage on their pictures as well, answer their comments even if its just a heart emoji, answer a heart emoji back to them, this will indirectly build a good loyal and supportive community on your page
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
To all my actors out there and specially people who go abroad to have a better career in acting keep your chin up everything is doable.
My story is that I came to the states as a student under a M-1 VISA. During my education year covid happened which affected all of us, i started learning from home not enjoying my acting classes virtually, and then my school needed to send me back home because I was the only international student left and they can’t afford to open 5 classes just for me which makes sense because i’m the only one taking these classes so by law if i’m not taking any classes I am not allowed to stay in the states and my visa is under the acting academy’s name. i felt all my dream is crumbling apart but i did not give up I found an alternative and while working on it and preparing papers, I had a callback from Stella Adler academy saying that some online folks joined and are taking some of the classes u need to take as well so I was fine. That gave me so much comfort haha, then financial hard times came along because as a M-1 student we are not allowed to work and earn money, so rent became expensive, food, uber everything so it was a really hard time but with some family support here and there I was able to stay and keep on pursuing my academic year and journey in the state. Graduated, and time to apply for my work visa which is every international student’s fear, and specially a O-1 Visa. Not to go deep into detail, this was the toughest battle, the hardest paperwork i have ever done in my life, whatever you apply they still question your achievements makes you feel so down and like you have done nothing as an artist! Hahaha but still with all the hard times the application gave me I thankful succeeded and got my O-1 visa for a 3 year duration thanks to my amazing Lawyer, Lea Nader Path Law group.
So whatever stand your way, break that wall and keep on walking because it is your journey, the goal will be achieved don’t you worry just enjoy the journey and what is in it and don’t you let small chaotic scenarios ruin your vision and path!
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