We are back with Season 3! A new look, new sound, new style! All in the name of Independent Artists Breaking Hollywood in their own right! Today's special guest is WALID CHAYA, 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 Middle East Film Fair and numerous festivals worldwide, incuding a special presentation at the World Expo in 2022. He can also be seen on television in various shows like "Madame Secretary" on CBS, NBC’s "Blacklist: Redemption" and even Hulu’s “The Looming Tower” based on the Pulitzer Prize winning book of the same name. He has featured in several feature films such as Oscar-winner Guy Nattiv’s A24 feature “Skin”, and even performed alongside Tony-nominee Suzanne Bertish in the feature “Mad?”. Born in Lebanon and raised in the US, Walid speaks both Arabic and English, earning a BFA in Performance with honors from VCUarts and worked on award-winning productions in NYC and DC for several years before relocating to LA. Walid has directed New York and regional shows including the Off-Broadway premieres of "Law & Order: NRU", "We Are Monsters the Musical", and the DC premiere of Disney’s “High School Musical Live on Stage". He founded Moonlit Wings Productions in 2008, which was recently voted the Best Arts Program by Washington Family Magazine, and the company continues to produce new works for the stage and screen that champion multicultural, gender-diverse and musical stories and an educational performing arts programs for all ages, which he expanded into LA, launching the Studio for Performing Arts LA, which won the 2021 BroadwayWorld Regional Award for “Best Special Event” recognizing the “MENASA Diversity Showcase” that Walid directed in partnership with the MENA Arts Advocacy Coalition. So, as you can see, he is the perfect guest to kick off this season! Let's let Walid spill his own Hollywood chai!
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Lists & Links for Our Guest:
His official Instagram: @walid.chaya
Check out Walid Chaya's Official Website for more information on him as well as the Studio for Performing Arts LA Website for more information and when the next Showcase is. His official YouTube channel. His production company Moonlit Wings Productions has some excellent information on up and coming productions and classes for Theater. Some of the projects Walid has been featured in can be found in the links above.
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Official The Hollywood Chai Info:
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Questions or Topics you want covered? Email us: thehollywoodchai@gmail.com
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This episode is sponsored by:
Credits:
This episode was recorded in San Francisco and LA, produced and edited by Jon Akkawi. DOP: Mera Nino. Art Direction: Rosy Nino. Logo Design: Christina Raie. Theme Music: "Arab Trap" by Chef Elon. The Hollywood Chai is a BOUGIE ARABS ENTERTAINMENT production.