We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Shiva Negar. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Shiva below.

Shiva, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?

I’m definitely happy to have chosen the creative field. I believe it was my calling and I pursued my passion, determined to go all the way and give it my all. However, this path does not come without its challenges, failures, heartbreaks, disappointments and rejections. It takes a lot of strength and perseverance to keep moving forward, and yes there are times when I think of what it would’ve been like, had I chosen the easier or more straightforward path. At one point, I did come very close to quitting and giving up on my passion and the whole creative world altogether. After I graduated with my Post-grad degree from college, I was presented with an opportunity to take a high level internship which would have eventually resulted in a very good, full time, safe corporate job. But I saw the signs and followed my intuition instead. So now and then I think about my choices and how different my life would be today if I had taken that internship. Though, I have to say, despite all its challenges, the ups and downs and the unknowns, I’m much happier to have listened to my heart and I can’t imagine doing anything else.

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 am an Actress, Producer and a Humanitarian. I was in Performing Arts from a very young age, starting with music, playing piano, guitar and singing to theater and dance. It was something that I really enjoyed and even after we migrated to different countries, I always found my way back to the arts. I started my career as an actor in film and television, while I was living in Toronto. I was studying and working full time and every dollar I made, I put towards acting classes, workshops, coaching, you name it.
After I graduated from University, I took a month off from my full time job and went to a film school in Los Angeles and got my acting certificate. I took professional photos and developed a reel from my classes and signed up on some of the main casting websites that were used by agents in Canada at the time. I was already modeling on the side and doing some commercials and eventually I managed to get myself a talent agent and that’s when my career officially started.
My very first audition was for Kelly Clarkson’s music video, to play the lead female for her song “Behind these hazel eyes” and I got the role. It was very exciting. After that, I started doing small roles in film and tv, episodics, guest stars to recurring and so on. I’ve never looked back since.
I guess what I’m most proud of is the fact that I didn’t give up and I didn’t let anything get in the way or be discouraged by all the negativity I had around me. I fought through it and just kept going.
I love telling powerful stories of women from around the world. Based on true stories of heroic women who need their stories to be told. I love to create awareness and inspire the world through the characters I play because we are all connected and I believe deep down we can all relate to each other no matter the lifestyle or circumstances.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

I think, looking at this from the root, one of the main conceptions we need to fix in our society, is to look at this creative field as a profession. Unfortunately many people don’t. They look at it as a hobby or just a fun side gig. Yes, this industry can be very different from the status quo and the norm of having a full time job or a career, because it’s not a Mon-Fri 9-5 type of job. However, it is still a profession, a very tough one in fact and all creatives including artists, writers, actors, musicians, they should all be respected and compensated fairly for the amount of time they invest, mastering their craft and for pouring their heart and soul into their work and simply for working hard and contributing to everything we call entertainment.
As an actor, I can say that most of the time I work much longer hours on a set, than the normal 8 hour shifts that most other jobs have. And what’s worse for creatives is that there is no long term job security. You go from project to project and if you’re lucky, your TV show can run few seasons or your film can have a sequel. If not, then once you wrap one project then you’re back to square one looking for other opportunities, auditioning, taking meetings to land your next role.
Some other ways society can support individuals and the creative ecosystem are:
Funding and Grants: Establish and maintain funding programs, grants, and scholarships specifically designed for artists and creatives. These can provide financial stability, allowing them to focus on their work without constant financial stress.
Affordable Workspace: Provide affordable studio and workspaces in creative hubs, fostering collaboration, where actors can do their audition self tapes, writers can get into their writing zone, artists can create…
Cultural Diversity and Inclusion: Celebrate and promote diverse cultural expressions, providing a platform for artists from different backgrounds to share their perspectives and enrich the creative ecosystem.
Arts Advocacy: Encourage public and private sector support for the arts through advocacy, awareness campaigns, and partnerships with businesses, foundations, and government agencies.
Fair Compensation: Recognize and compensate artists fairly for their contributions, whether through sales of their work, performance fees, or other means.
Supporting artists, creatives, and a thriving creative ecosystem is essential for cultural enrichment, innovation, and overall societal well-being.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

The book that changed my life and was the biggest inspiration for me to follow my dreams is The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. This book talks about the journey of a young shepherd named Santiago as he follows the signs or the omens that lead him to his destiny or purpose in life. That’s what motivated me to also follow my omens and let my heart and my intuition lead the way.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3078532/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theshivanegar/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theshivanegar
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shivanegar/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/theshivanegar
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@shivanegar
• Other: https://www.threads.net/@theshivanegar