Overcoming the Crippling Anxiety of Being an Actor with John Gillich & Mostafa Shaker

DO YOU with Brianne Hogan

Nov 15 2022 • 1 hr 29 mins

"Everyone should take an acting class."

I'm joined today by two friends, John Gillich & Mostafa Shaker, Canadian actors who share with me their insight, lessons and thoughts on what it really means to be a working actor.

Mostafa Shaker is a comedian, writer, actor and producer based out of Vancouver, Canada, originally from Cairo, Egypt. He has worked as a junior writer on the Oprah Network’s "The Real Houses of..." He has also written and produced a number of commercials, independent shorts, and a limited web series called Thank you for Ghosting. Mostafa has been expressing his comedic artistic voice through projects that reflect his experience as a queer Arab immigrant. He's been part of the 2021 Netflix BANFF Diversity of Voices Program, Whistler Film Festival Writers Lab, Creative BC's Equity and Emerging Development Program and the NSI Series Incubator.

John Gillich is a an actor in Vancouver, Canada. You may know him as 'that guy' you 'swear you've seen before'. He's had several bit parts, such as, 'Acid Man' in the Flash, 'McCabe The Glorified Henchmen' in Mysterious Benedict Society, or that racist prison guard in 'SuperGirl'. He also plays guitar.

In this very lively chat, we discuss:

  • the crippling anxiety of being an actor
  • How ambition becomes a survivalist instinct
  • The grind of being a creator
  • Busting through writers’ block
  • How to stop beating yourself up over auditioning + audition horror stories
  • How social media influences whether or not you book a role
  • Why we should always embody the magic of Lizzo

Connect with Mostafa:
https://www.instagram.com/_mostafashaker/
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm10061715/

Connect with John:
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4667628/
https://www.instagram.com/jhenrygillich/

Connect with Brianne:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/briehogan/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/briannehoganwriter
Visit Brianne's website: https://www.briannehogan.ca
Read my newsletter NOT RELATED TO HULK HOGAN: https://briannehogan.substack.com/

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