We recently connected with Yas Modares Ghasiri and have shared our conversation below.

Yas, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

I would say I’m in the middle of working on my most meaningful project. I’m in pre-production for a short film I wrote and will be acting in about a Persian trans man who can’t afford top surgery. Through a book his grandmother left him, he ends up accidently turning to the occult. It’s a comedy called The Breastorcism we’ll be raising money for soon.

It’s meaningful because this representation doesn’t exist. I’m an advocate for both Middle Eastern and trans masculine representation in the media, and now I get to bring to life a story that never thought would see the light of day.

It allows me to advocate for the trans community during a critical and scary time while centering my Persian heritage through spooky humor. Already so many people, including people on our team, are excited to finally be seen.

Yas, 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 fell in love with acting long before I knew that’s what I wanted to be. Like most, I started off in theater, but I quickly realized there wasn’t space for someone like me pre-transition, especially in musical theater which I love dearly. I’ve been through many letters of the alphabet, and realized I needed to write myself roles in order to act.

I feel in love with writing and then eventually producing. Since transitioning, I’ve also been back in the world of musical theater, getting to sing as a tenor in First Date The Musical, Cannibal! The Musical, The Producers, and currently Urinetown.

I’m in the middle of post production on a web series that follows three LGBTQ+ roommates, have quiet a few scripts in the pipeline, and have also been involved in advocacy work for Middle Eastern and trans masculine representation.

I’ve been on a MENA Representation in Arts and Entertainment panel at various conventions like San Diego Comic Con, and put my own Trans Masculine Representation in Entertainment panel together. I actually worked with GLAAD for our panel last year in SDCC.

I also co-host film screenings with 1001 Film Nights, where we bring Middle Eastern films to broader audiences.

As if I wasn’t doing enough, next on the pipeline is a podcast called In Full View: Focusing on Trans Mascs in Media, which I’m co-creating with Avi Roque.

Whether it’s film, shorts, podcasts, or theater, I love producing and creating.

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

We need people to show up. See films, watch shorts, go to festivals, see live theater, etc. Invest in the content you want to see and pressure the government to get better tax incentives and fund the arts. Realistically, artists don’t make a lot of money, but it takes a lot of money to make the arts. If you don’t have money share, promote, and support in whatever way you can, whether it’s by donating a space or sending a crowdfunding link to your rich uncle. Times are really hard, especially in Los Angeles. In order to make art we need resources and you’d be surprised by how something small as just letting people borrow your office can make a difference.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

That I can’t bring my authentic self to my acting, not truly. I was always told I didn’t look Persian enough, or I had to embrace certain gender expectations in order to make it. Being who I am isn’t just enough- but its my creative edge that helps me stand out. Sometimes I still get imposter syndrome.

A lot of people drill into actors they have to be a certain way and when who you are doesn’t exist in media, it’s easy to believe that. The right projects, roles, and opportunities will come along, and it’s trusting that I’m enough for when they do.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasmodaresghasiri/
• Other: Film Screening IG: https://www.instagram.com/1001filmnights/
  Podcast IG: https://www.instagram.com/infullviewpodcast/

Image Credits

The stage / theatrical photo – Gloria Plunkett