We recently connected with Yaser Salamah and have shared our conversation below.
Yaser, so good to have you with us today. We’ve got so much planned, so let’s jump right into it. We live in such a diverse world, and in many ways the world is getting better and more understanding but it’s far from perfect. There are so many times where folks find themselves in rooms or situations where they are the only ones that look like them – that might mean being the only woman of color in the room or the only person who grew up in a certain environment etc. Can you talk to us about how you’ve managed to thrive even in situations where you were the only one in the room?
This is something I speak often about with my friends of color. We all do it–we walk into a room, look around, and count. How many of us are there? I generalize as “people of color” here because I have almost never *not* been the only Arab in a room. Unless it’s an Arab or Muslim-run event, I am usually the only, or one of two, Arabs in a room. And I’m sure that many people of color, regardless of ethnicity, will relate. There’s an added pressure when it’s just you. I’ve described it before that I feel like I have to represent my whole people when I enter a space. This pressure, while incredibly unfair, makes me that much more attentive, that much more determined, to leave the best impression possible. To be so undeniably the right choice, the right pick, the right look/actor/person. It’s absolutely exhausting, to be sure. But it’s worth mentioning, in high school and college both, I was among the first Arabs and Muslims to perform on the stages I acted on. Before I graduated from either school, Arabs and Muslims were popping up more and more. I’ve learned that when I’m the only one in the room, it may be because other Arabs and Muslims don’t know we *can* be in the room. So it becomes my responsibility, as the only (and maybe even first) one here, to make the space as welcoming as possible for the next group. Because next time, it won’t be one. It’ll be more. Then more, and more, and more. The world is changing. I genuinely believe if you stand for who you are, if you are unapologetically yourself, if you insist on being seen and represented as yourself, and shamelessly move through the space with authenticity and love, not only will you find success in that space, you will inspire others who look like you to follow in those footsteps. I’ve always said I want to be one cog in the wheel that changes representation for Arabs and Muslims in Hollywood. I believe this is how we do that. One gig, one job, one set at a time.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
Yeah absolutely! Salaam! My name is Yaser Salamah. I’m an Arab and Muslim actor who did the most stereotypical sitcom thing you can imagine, and moved across the country to LA with little money, no job, no connections, and a dream, and by some miracle is making it work. Having just crossed the two year mark of living here, I’ve done short films, music videos, voice-over work, motion capture, a TV pilot, and a ton of immersive and live theatre jobs, some of that work even taking me to different venues across the country! As of one month ago, I started work at The Little Mermaid X CAMP Immersive Experience, adding Disney to my infinity gauntlet of industry giants I’ve been grateful to work with, having Universal Studios and Netflix on that list as well. While singing at Mermaid, I’m also touring around LA county elementary schools performing in assemblies about protecting the environment, and I just started touring the country periodically with the social theatre company Pure Praxis, dedicated to changing the world for the better–we focus on leading intervention workshops on how to stop violence and aggression, and how to support victims and survivors. I also wrote and will direct a short film, and as of this writing, just sent out the production schedule to my cast and crew! The film, “Insha’Allah,” is a story centering Palestinian joy, and is in production as of this writing!
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
You have to be willing to learn. Every single day, in everything you do. Even if you’re an expert at the thing you’re doing, if you approach it with the beginner’s mindset (“shoshin”–shoutout to Alex Vaughan), you will grow exponentially in ways you didn’t realize you could. For everything you know, there are a million things you don’t know–and that’s okay. Not knowing is not a bad thing–it just means you know what you get to learn next.
I’ve always been notorious for not knowing how to say no to opportunities. In my opinion, this is the most double edged sword in this industry. On the one hand, an extreme willingness to work and to try new things and to do things outside your comfort zone could be what gets you in the door, on set, in front of a camera, in front of a casting director–it could literally be the start and birthplace of a very successful career. On the other hand, not standing your ground can lead to toxic work environments, problematic media being regurgitated, or just negative experiences in general. So while I think my willingness to cooperate and to be flexible with an industry that doesn’t look the same day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute has absolutely helped me, I also have had to strengthen the muscle of saying “no” to certain things. Nothing is worth sacrificing your morality over. Have a line of what you’re not willing to do, and stick to it. Don’t let money or experience blind you to why you’re out here in the first place. In these two years I’ve been offered roles in shorts, TV shows, animated projects, and even feature films perpetuating harmful stereotypes about Arabs and other folks of color. I’ve turned every one down, and I regret none of it.
In my opinion, most importantly, just be a good person. The acting industry is a tiny microcosm of the city of LA, which is already the smallest city of 4,000,000 people ever. Every single time I meet someone new for a job, whether we’re on set or backstage, without fail, we have a mutual friend. *Everyone* knows each other. In a similar vein, make friends. Not connections, but friends. Living life in LA is hard, this city is brutal (but also beautiful once you learn how to navigate it), and having friends makes it so much better. Those friends, if they’re in the industry, will somehow find you work. And eventually, you will find them work. Keeping track of it, literally 1/2 of all of my acting jobs I have worked since moving to LA were because “I knew a guy.” Not a nepo-baby type of know a guy, but friendships and connections I built since moving out here, that led to someone saying “oh, let’s call Yaser.” And the best feeling in the world is turning that back around and calling a friend and saying “I have a job for you.” A rising tide floats all boats to the top. Keep an eye on your friends, they’ll keep an eye on you, and when you reach the top, you can celebrate together.
To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?
It is quite literally impossible to overstate how crucial my mother was for me to be where I am today. Being the youngest of 4 raised by a single mom, I watched her overcome trial after trial, test after test, struggle after struggle. Her undying optimism and her forceful way of insisting on a better life for her children gave all of us the courage and strength to get through our own hardships in life. She emphasized finding something we loved to do. She was a teacher (recently retired after 39 years!), so knew what it was to work egregiously hard for intensely low pay. But because she loved what she did so dearly for so long, she never regretted her choice. She encouraged the 4 of us to do the same. To find what we loved, and do what we loved, so whether we made money or not, we would make memories and live the lives we wanted to. A vice principal, a surgeon, a school psychologist, and an actor. We all found our callings (but maybe someone is making more money than the rest of us cough cough surgeon cough cough).
When I was in high school and said I wanted to take a theatre class, my mom thought it sounded fun and encouraged it. When I started doing plays, my mom never missed a single performance for all of high school. When I decided I wanted to major in theatre, my mom helped me find scholarships I could apply and audition for. When I was performing in college, my mom came down to see every show I ever did, opening and closing night. And, when I said I was going to move to the opposite side of the country and become an actor in LA, she helped me pack my car. Then, when I booked my first big project out here, she got on a plane and flew out to watch me work. When I made my film debut at the Tribeca Film Festival in NYC and I flew out to watch the screening, she met me there, and we walked the red carpet together. My mom has always been my biggest cheerleader, my number one fan, and the person who believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself. She gave and gives me the courage to keep pushing, and to find what it is that makes me love this work so much. I never would have auditioned for the one-act play my freshman year of high school if she hadn’t been supportive of it. And if I hadn’t done that, the rest of my life would have looked very different. I am here exclusively because of my mom’s support. And Allah could not have blessed me with a greater gift than the mom They gave me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://yasersalamah.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yaser_salamah/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@yasersalamah4765
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