September 25, 2023 Trending New York News

Middle Eastern Actor Walid Chaya Directs Winning MENASA Diversity Event In Hollywood

Walid Chaya is a popular name in the fight for the advancement and enhanced visibility of Middle Eastern, North African, and South Asian artists and creatives in Hollywood. Adding yet another stroke of victory to his endless struggles to promote diversity in Hollywood, his directorial at Studio For Performing Arts LA bagged yet another award for “Best Special Event” of the Regional 2021 Broadway World Awards.

Based in Los Angeles, Walid Chaya is an actor, director, writer and a first generation Lebanese-American immigrant. He is known for his award-winning short film “Driving Ms. Saudi,” which won “Best Comedy Short” from Dubai’s prestigious WOW Mid-East Film Fair and other festivals worldwide. Walid possesses exceptional creative power, but his life’s work is not just limited to that. He advocates diversity in Hollywood and strives to achieve it through art and craft.

Winner of MENASA Diversity Event

On May 8th, 2021, Walid directed an open call that provided MENASA descent performers to raise their acting profile and visibility to a powerhouse panel of film and television talent agents, directors, producers, and casting professionals. Over 200 MENASA actors submitted, 80 of whom performed a one-minute monologue in the three-hour virtual initiative produced by the team.

The event was a part of Walid’s scheduled series of events to assist performers from different backgrounds and regions worldwide. As the brain behind the noble cause, he believes that these diversity initiatives help performers to improve their exposure and be considered for professional acting opportunities.

A recent study by the MENA Arts Advocacy Coalition, who was also a partner of the winning event, shows that only 1 percent of all television actors and artists in Hollywood are of MENASA descent. This underrepresentation has made it challenging for new and rising MENASA performers to find work and visibility in the already saturated Hollywood market.

Walid Chaya is the founder of Moonlit Wings Productions, which produces innovative and fresh content on stage and screen that champions multicultural, gender-diverse, musical stories, and educational performing arts programs for all ages. The production house’s educational division Studio For Performing Arts LA hosts additional creative and professional development programs for actors in-house and online.

Walid Chaya is helping performers get noticed by industry experts through these winning diversity events. Several past participants have found new connections and opportunities thanks to his unique platforms. A creative genius of middle eastern descent, Walid works tirelessly to promote and celebrate diversity and inclusion in Hollywood- an American dream he is holding onto tightly.

Banner
Related Posts

Founder of Jewellery Pursuer, Shohista Turan, Bridges the Gap of Self-Exploration through Her Uncontained Love for Jewellery

March 4, 2023

March 4, 2023

Between planning and doing things in life, there is an unavoidable gap that, at certain moments, grows darker and deeper,...

Celebrating Black Love: ‘The Shofs’ Share Their Secrets for Keeping the Spark Alive”

January 20, 2023

January 20, 2023

In a society where Black marriages are often portrayed as troubled or lacking in media and pop culture, Abisola and...

How e-learning works. Travel in online education

March 4, 2020

March 4, 2020

As with smart working, technology has been around for years. But only now is it entering the homes of millions...

Danielle Zirkelbach’s Hopes and Dreams for Her and Her Company’s Future

March 24, 2023

March 24, 2023

Christina Pratt says, “Sovereignty is the supreme power to self-govern, and it is the core of a life lived well.”....

Providing Entertainment Through Piano and Tasteful Comedy – Introducing Tiktoker Collin C-Storm

November 27, 2022

November 27, 2022

There is no denying that TikTok is one of the trendiest social media platforms right now. People across all age...

Get To Know Melissa Falconer, a Self Made, Self Taught Visual Artist from Toronto

December 15, 2022

December 15, 2022

Look around and you’ll hardly find a self-made person being born with a silver spoon. Self-made people, as the name...

YouTuber Content Creator Tom Caravela Shares His Inspiration behind Helping Others

June 5, 2022

June 5, 2022

YouTube has become a significant platform for sharing information on a global scale. Experts worldwide have been uploading authentic and...

A Spotlight On The Achievements Of Jacqueline Pappillion, Famous Influencer And Brand Ambassador

June 6, 2022

June 6, 2022

Jacqueline Pappillion is a famous influencer and brand ambassador working with multiple companies. To boost their business, numerous companies send...

Meet Cloudie McDoom – The Gaming Industry’s Newest Comedian

February 2, 2023

February 2, 2023

Cloudie McDoom is a gaming comedian who has made a name for himself by creating parodies of popular games on...

When do in-laws become too intrusive? How to defend yourself: the limits established by law

February 23, 2020

February 23, 2020

In an increasingly frenetic and career-oriented world for both men and women, being able to count on the support of...

What Is The Psychology Behind Obsession? How To Make Him Obsessed With You?

August 26, 2023

August 26, 2023

Obsession is characterized by an intense preoccupation with someone or something, where their fixation engulfs a person’s thoughts, emotions, and...

Creating Content and Building Community: Micro-Influencer Kai Lanier Is His Own Brand

January 22, 2023

January 22, 2023

Kai Lanier is an uprising influencer and creative content creator with nearly half a million followers on TikTok, 20k followers...

From Corporate World to Social Media Stardom: How Kennedy Pinheiro Bezerra’s Personality Grew as an Influencer

February 3, 2023

February 3, 2023

For undiscovered talent, social media has done its part to pave the path to stardom. With their expertise in content...

How To Properly Meditate? What Are The Meditation Myths That You Must Stop Believing?

August 26, 2023

August 26, 2023

Meditation is a mental practice that involves calming your mind and focusing your attention. Discover how to meditate properly and...

The 6 rules of the perfect selfie according to Wiko

February 19, 2020

February 19, 2020

Without smartphones, social media would not be so central in our lives, without photos social media would not have become...

Comments
Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *