Meet Romaysa Malik

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Romaysa Malik. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Romaysa, we are so happy that our community is going to have a chance to learn more about you, your story and hopefully even take in some of the lessons you’ve learned along the way. Let’s start with self-care – what do you do for self-care and has it had any impact on your effectiveness?

As artists, our bodies are our instruments and therefore it is paramount that we look after them. Therefore, self-care for me comes in the form of exercise. Almost 2 years ago, I started going to the gym consistently and it has had a huge impact on not only my physical health but also my mental health. Working out has helped me develop self-discipline, a key part of our trade. As actors, we must be accustomed to striving for perfection and providing a consistent product whenever called upon. By going to the gym even on days when I don’t feel like it, I feel that it reflects in my artistic work as well where I develop a resilient mindset that strives for excellence. At the same time, sometimes you need to listen to your body when It’s telling you it’s tired. Resting (both physically and mentally) is important to recharge back to your optimal level of output when it comes to exercise as well as acting. Now you might be thinking, how does this all relate to my work as an artist? It trains my mind to be stronger so that I can apply a proactive, solution-oriented mindset when faced with difficult tasks in pressure situations.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

Hi, my name is Romaysa Malik and I’m an actor and filmmaker who aims to one day write, direct and act in her own stories on the big screen. Although I was born in Pakistan, I also grew up in the Philippines and Singapore. ⁠My identity has been primarily formed by my experiences as a Pakistani woman growing up in a multicultural, foreign environment and I aspire to use my artistic abilities to share more stories regarding my background. I feel that the Western film industry has recently started to explore diasporic ideas and I would love to have the opportunity to contribute to these developments by executing some of the ideas that I bring to the table.

⁠At the moment, I’m in my third year of a Bachelor’s in Fine Arts program in Film & Television Arts at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in Los Angeles. Before college, I didn’t accumulate many experiences in film due to a lack of opportunities available. Instead, I studied Drama and Theatre throughout middle school and high school, and participated in many productions organized by the Drama department. Like any theatre kid, I loved the idea of getting to play characters vastly different from myself in fun and exciting costumes. It was my creative outlet and a safe space, free of judgement.

As the first person in my family to fully pursue a career in the performing arts, I’ve always been determined to make it far. I come from a culture and community which tends to look down upon this pursuit, especially as I am a woman. It’s seen as a career path with a lack of seriousness as compared to traditional careers which provide stability. Conservative mindsets back home also dictate that this is an immodest industry, but I believe that this is a narrow-minded look at filmmaking that fails to acknowledge the various ways in which one can be involved from acting to editing or even writing among other subsections of the industry. One of my goals is also to prove these conservative misconceptions to be incorrect. Despite these barriers, I’ve always turned to the people who have supported me from the beginning such as my parents and my brother, among others, as they ground me when I express feelings of doubt.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

One of the most difficult parts of creating a project is coming up with an idea. A while back, one of my improv teachers gave me a piece of advice that has stuck with me ever since. He said to keep a journal and write down a thought for everyday of the year so that by the end you have 365 different ideas. Although I haven’t quite stuck to it everyday, in the notes app on my phone, I have a note in which I write down anything that comes to my mind relating to film. It ranges from small moments I observe in my everyday life, to potential ideas for short films and feature films. To me, a lot of storytelling is built in truth, which is rooted in our individual experiences. So the next time you go out and see something that made you smile, laugh or even cry, write it down. You never know where an idea could emerge from.

Many artists want to come up with an idea that has never been done before, which is difficult when there are so many works out there. There is nothing wrong with that but as creatives, we tend to overcomplicate things in the process. I am guilty of doing so. Many times, my teachers and mentors have told me to keep it simple. I’m an over thinker so I struggle with this quite a bit. Sometimes it’s alright to make things easier for ourselves so we can understand it first before adding more layers. This can apply to character work, script writing and even editing. Every so often, go with the cliché, it’s there for a reason.

Be specific. Two words I’ve constantly heard throughout my time studying film. This applies to all areas related to film. Writing, acting, directing, wardrobe, you name it. The clearer you can paint the picture for the audience, the better they understand your story. An example of this can be with your writing. You should be able to see the exact setting and location of your story down to the sounds, smells and tastes. It might sound crazy, but as humans we rely on our senses in the way that we perceive the world, so these specifics help narrate your story.

What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?

I am beyond grateful for the support my parents have given me in my journey so far. If it weren’t for them, I would not be where I am today. As mentioned previously, this career can raise many objections from people in my community which caused me to have several moments of uncertainty. It generated a huge fear of judgement for me. I constantly cared about what other people would think and let it affect my drive and passion for the craft. Although my fears have not completely diminished, I have more confidence to be able to work past them as my parents have always been there to reassure me, providing a constant source of encouragement to this day.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @romaysa_malik
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@romaysamalik
• Other: Backstage: https://www.backstage.com/u/romaysa-malik/

Image Credits

Matt Simpkins
Kristina Bumphrey