Walid Chaya is a Middle Eastern actor, director, and writer based in Los Angeles. He is known for his breakout film “Driving Ms. Saudi,” for which he won “Best Comedy Short” from Dubai’s prestigious WOW Mid-East Film Fair and numerous festivals worldwide, including a special presentation at the World Expo in 2022. Walid can also be seen on television in “Madam Secretary” (CBS), “Blacklist: Redemption” (NBC), and Hulu’s “The Looming Tower”, based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning book, to name a few. He wrote, directed, and starred in “Driving Ms. Saudi” inspired by the #women2drive movement, and has several multicultural and gender-diverse projects in development. We had the opportunity to discuss his career, work, and aspirations.
Thank you for agreeing to catch up with Occhi Magazine. Congratulations on your career to date. For readers unfamiliar with your background, how did you get into the arts?
I have been passionate about performing since a very young age. I would often recite my favorite musicals in Arabic and as an immigrant kid growing up in the United States, I learned to speak English and later would recite Broadway musicals and movies. I was born in Lebanon and, at age three, my parents and I immigrated to the United States with only a few bags and barely $1K in their pockets. I would return to Lebanon as a child to spend summer breaks with my grandparents so my parents could work and save money.
One summer at age five, my grandparents took me to watch an Arabic musical adaptation of “Romeo & Juliet”. After the show, I was taken backstage. There I discovered the “behind-the-scenes” of a theater for the first time! It was a life-changing and magical moment; a cultural dynamic that has shaped me into the artist I am today. From there, I was in love with putting on plays and bringing people together.
Back in the USA, I would attend grade school and watch my parent’s journey as they attended various trade schools and found work, had my baby sister, opened and closed various businesses, put my mother through college…until it was my time to do the same and leave home for college. That’s when I began freelancing as a filmmaker and started my production company Moonlit Wings Productions (moonlitwings.org). When I moved to LA years ago, I opened the West Coast division, Studio For Performing Arts LA (studioforperformingarts.com).
I owe my entrepreneurial spirit to my parents and the “American Dream” that’s made my work today a reality, and for that, I am eternally grateful. My love for storytelling is constantly growing. I received my BFA degree in Performance with Magna Cum Laude Honors from VCUarts Theater and enjoy working in the entertainment industry. I am also a proud member of the Stage Directors Choreographers Society, a theatrical union, and an alumni of The American Theatre Wing’s, founder of the Tony® Awards, SpringBoardNYC directors program.
Recently, I wrote, directed, and starred in “Driving Ms. Saudi”, which won Best Short Film at Dubai’s prestigious WOW (World of Women) Film Festival, Best Comedy Short at the Asia South East-Short Film Festival, Best First Time Filmmaker from Cairo Shorts, among other official screenings at 20+ prominent festivals around the world. I am also a content creator and am grateful for the “Diversity Scholarship Award” from Upright Citizens Brigade LA for my work in original content, improvisation, and sketch comedy.
You earned your B.F.A. in Performance from VCUarts, ranked the #1 public university school of arts by US News & World Report. Please share your experience at the institute and how it shaped your approach to work.
I was fortunate to attend a very focused, conservative-style acting program at VCUarts.
One of my favorite courses that shaped me was “Ritual Poetic Drama Within the African Continuum” taught by the incredible Dr. Tawyna Pettiford-Wates. The methodology engages the artist as a creative entity or “vessel” rather than an imitative one. It taught me to “be” instead of “show” and has helped me shape authentic, natural performances on stage and screen.
Another course I enjoyed was “Acting Through Archetypes” with the immaculate Professor Janet B. Rodgers. This acting style uses a trifecta of emotional, physical, and verbal methods to mold a character using different character archetypes that are within each of us.
While most of my training is Stanislavski based, I also loved learning Chekhov acting methods from the impressive Professor Josh Chenard. Chekov’s acting method uses a ‘psycho-physical approach’, in which transformation, working with impulse, imagination, atmosphere, and gestures are central. This came naturally to me and to this day, I use a combination of all these methods when acting and creating characters and when directing actors.
In addition to acting, I also directed several productions while at VCU and shadowed several of our instructors as a director, including Chenard on productions of ‘Anton in Show Business’ and ‘Le Bête’. I also produced and directed an original titled ‘Facebook the Musical’ as well as a reimaged musical production of ‘Godspell’ during my time at VCU. Learning acting and directing has helped me better understand each field and makes me a well-rounded artist that can self-direct when necessary.
You’ve directed New York and Regional shows including the Off-Broadway premieres of Law & Order: NRU (2017), We Are Monsters The Musical (2015), and the DC premiere of Disney’s “High School Musical” Live on Stage (2008). How does stage direction compare to film, and which do you prefer?
While I love directing for both the stage and screen, there’s nothing like the magic of live theatre. The shared live experience is much more collaborative with talent and all creative departments. It’s also special to each unique performance and its audience. The theatre is also my stomping grounds and how I started exploring performing arts as a kid, so it will always have sentimental value for me.
Directing for stage and film both have their similarities although, for me, the main differences are the collaborative process and medium of being on stage vs on camera. For stage shows, the number of rehearsals is much more consistent and requires everyone together leading to the live performance. On the other hand, for film, scenes are directed with limited rehearsals and filmed right after a rehearsal or two. Then parts of the film process, like editing, are always done with certain individuals only and not the entire team together.
Nonetheless, the filmmaking process has a magic of its own, and the potential of films to reach a wider audience is also very special. Whether it’s for the stage or screen, I am grateful to work in either field. I love directing projects with gender-diverse characters and multicultural stories. I especially enjoy new works and immersive projects with musical components and mixed media.
You’ve received several accolades with “Driving Ms. Saudi,” for which you received the “Best Comedy Short” award from Dubai’s prestigious WOW Mid-East Film Fair. You were also awarded the “Diversity Scholarship” from Upright Citizens Brigade LA for work in original content. Of your many achievements is there one you’re most proud of?
I’m so proud of ‘Driving Ms. Saudi’, which is based on real events. I created the short film after performing the story as a successful comedy sketch on-stage at the prestigious People’s Improv Theatre in NYC.
Creating the short film meant I could reach a wider audience. I had no idea it would find the traction and success we’ve received to date. I believe most of the film’s success is due to the gentle and loving nature I approached the sensitive and timely topic at hand. I play a son who encourages his mother when she gets nervous behind the wheel for the first time. Supporting these basic human rights is very important to me. It was also important for me to create a film where Middle Eastern people are seen in a positive light beyond Hollywood stereotypes.
Congratulations on your founding Moonlit Wings Productions and Studio For Performing Arts LA, Please tell us more about the companies and their objectives.
I founded Moonlit Wings Productions in 2008. We create colorful content for the stage and screen as well as educational programs that champion multicultural, gender-diverse, and musical stories. The company offers full production services for theater, film, television, and new media. Our services are led by award-winning creatives working in the entertainment industry across the greater Washington DC area, Los Angeles, and New York City.
Our west coast division is known as Studio For Performing Arts LA. I designed our unique LA programs to help actors meet and learn from Hollywood experts with ‘real world’ training and tangible business tools. I mentor actors and draw from my years of experience in the LA, NY, and DC production markets. Programs are available online and in Los Angeles.
We support a diverse and inclusive film and television landscape with our affordable and accessible programs, most recently our studio was awarded WINNER of the 2021 BroadwayWorld Regional Awards for “Best Special Event” recognizing our MENASA Diversity Showcase. The production company is also known for SUPERnova Casting, our popular in-house casting division used to book authentic performers from the Mid-Atlantic and beyond.
Moonlit Wing’s educational division in DC produces performing arts classes and camps for kids and teens. These programs are winners of Washington Family Magazine’s 2020 “Best for Families” contest for the categories of “Best Arts Program” and “Best Children’s Theatre & Drama Instruction.”We bring visions to life on the stage and screen with quality production services and make performing arts training accessible for all ages.
In 2023 we will celebrate our 15th year in business! I’m very passionate about companies and enjoy being an entrepreneur. A special thank you to my friends and colleagues for supporting my small yet mighty, minority-run businesses.
What projects are you currently working on?
I am currently in development for several new and original projects, including two films. The first film, ‘Breaking The I.C.E.” is an action-drama short that follows refugees on the run from I.C.E. in Hollywood. The second film, ‘The Barent Trap’, is a feature comedy similar to ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ but with a Middle Eastern twist and a nod to ‘The Parent Trap’ starring Lindsay Lohan.
Additionally, I booked two big commercials this year, you can see me in one for Amazon Business with ads all over the web and billboards spotted in LA and beyond. And a second commercial for AutoNation. I’m acting in that will air around February 2023. When I’m not writing, filming, or coaching, I’m often auditioning and in callbacks for TV and film projects. I am very grateful for each opportunity and especially for bookings, which is always exciting.
Next year, I’ll be directing a couple of productions, including a show at The Zephyr Theatre in West Hollywood coming February 2023. The production is a comedy with a diverse cast and will be followed by a Hollywood creatives mixer.
I’m passionate about bringing creatives together, so directing shows with a strong but casual networking component is important to me. After the show, our mixers include simple icebreakers, drinks, and music. Many of our cast, crew, and audience members alike connect and have found their next industry opportunity because of these productions and community events.
I’m also acting in two films that are upcoming, one is a feature, ‘Magic Hour’ opposite Mariam Shor (TV Land’s ‘Younger’) and the second a short, ‘Slingshot’ starring Chris Mulkey. More coming soon!
Looking at your career to date, what would you have done differently?
This is a tough one because I’m a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. I also try to do my best every day, so I have no regrets.
Nonetheless, if I was to look back and start my career again, I would do one thing differently, which is to save money, write and produce my own original work and demo reels early on in my career. At first, I was intimidated to write. Taking improv and sketch writing classes, as well as having generous mentors, has helped bring out the writer and artist in me. I send a special heartfelt ‘thank you’ to my writing mentors, and friends: comedy director Sean Christian Taylor, writer Jimmy Monack and manager/producer Marilyn R. Atlas.
Writing and producing original stories as well as booking professional jobs was the key to gaining experience and developing my demo reel over the years. Starting my career without initial experiences and footage made it hard for me to move up in the industry at the pace I wanted.
I completed an incredible conservatory-style acting program and received a BFA degree, but no demo reel. Surprisingly, most university acting programs do not offer these practical and necessary tools. Having a portfolio with video samples is so important, especially in today’s time, and helps creatives like me have an online presence and bookwork.
Nonetheless, I hustled and used what I had at the time as well as my relationship-building skills to get into the room and on set whenever possible. I let my work ethic speak for itself and learned that making a positive impression on one project can help you book the next. While it would have been helpful to these experiences and reels earlier on in my career, I have learned a great deal through the process. I now use this knowledge to help creatives with coaching to reach tangible career goals, create original projects, and discover each’s unique artistry in the entertainment industry.
Where can our readers find out more about you?
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