We had the chance to chat with Canadian actor Farid Yazdani about starring in the new Canadian television drama series Moonshine now airing on CBC.

Here’s what Farid had to say!

How excited are you for everyone to see Moonshine? 

FY: I’m super excited! I really believe we have an amazing show, and I think the audience will really invest in the characters and their journeys. The writers have done such an amazing job fleshing out these characters and creating a world that the viewer will feel like they’re a part of. The directing is phenomenal and the cinematography is stunning. Call me biased, but there’s no weak link to Moonshine. 

What can you tell us about your character in Moonshine

FY: Without giving too much away, Oscar Wallace may not be all he seems to be on the surface. He plays a very significant role in season one’s troubles. You learn very quickly, in episode one, where Oscar’s true motives lay. You also find out throughout the season that there’s something…or someone…pulling at his heart strings and away from said motive. Oscar is goofy yet sweet and endearing. 

When did you decide that storytelling and acting was something you wanted to do? 

FY: It was a lot of being in the right place at the right time. It all started in grade 8 for me. I’ve always been the “class clown” and my grade 8 teacher, Mr. John Roots, was amazing. Instead of scolding and suppressing his students’ talents and love for performance, he would encourage them. I remember like it was yesterday: he had come up to me a few months before our graduation and said: “Did you know there’s a school that you can go to, where you get to do this everyday?” That’s when I auditioned for Cawthra Park Regional Arts Program. From there, I definitely went in head first. I realized I wanted to be an actor and nothing else. For College, I attended Humber: Acting for Film & TV program, got myself an agent, and haven’t looked back since (knock on wood). 

What advice would you give to people pursuing acting?

FY: Be prepared for a lot of rejection at the start, and even more as you continue. You truly need thick skin to be an actor. Getting an audition is hard, but booking is even harder. The odds tend to not be in your favour. That being said, if you continue to master your craft, you’ll realize casting decisions have less to do about you, the performer, and more about the many factors that are out of your control when it comes to the casting process. Like any other job, you just have to be prepared and do your absolute best at all times. was your first acting role? My first role was actually a guest starring role on Disney’s “My Babysitter’s a Vampire.” It’s actually a funny story. I had previously shaved my head for a commercial (non- union, very little pay) that didn’t even feature my face. So I was BALD. My agent of course freaked out and gave them hell. The next week, I had an audition for a guest star role as an Egyptian Guard. I must say, my shaved head look helped sell me as menacing and “guard like” and I booked the part. A great example that everything happens for a reason.

What do you enjoy the most about acting?

FY: I would have to say it’s the journey from beginning to end and the uncertainty of what can happen next! Booking a role is such a tough journey, from the self tape, to the call back, to the chemistry read etc. The feeling of validation and excitement you feel once you get that call from your agent cannot be described in words. And that, of course, is just the beginning. Then, you get to create a character with the writers, producers, and director. That collaboration process is one of my favourite parts of the journey. Finally, you get to film the project and that can last as little as a couple days to as much as multiple years. Before you know it, like a tornado, you’re wrapped and the series or movie is completed. Then, you rinse and repeat. It’s scary yet exciting to not know what the next project will be. It’s an addictive feeling and I LOVE IT!

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