The Actor's Instrument: Tools for the Long Game with Hassiem Muhammad

This week on The Actor's Instrument, Hassiem welcomes actress Charlotte McKee from the #1 movie in America, Terrifier 3! With credits including Law and Order: SVU, Apple TV+'s Bad Monkey, and HBO's Random Acts of Flyness, Charlotte gives us a candid look behind the scenes of Terrifier 3 and chats about making bold acting choices, improvising, and remaining resilient amongst industry chaos. New Epi...

On this episode of The Actor’s Instrument, host Hassiem Muhammad sits down with multi-talented performer Jarrett Austin Brown, known for his acting roles in films like Don't Turn Off the Lights and the upcoming feature Gazer, which premiered earlier this this year at the Cannes Film Festival. He's also known for his dynamic dance career working with artists like Ariana Grande and Dua Lipa and perf...

On this week's episode of The Actor's Instrument, Hassiem speaks with acclaimed writer and director Gordon Greenberg. Best known for his work on Broadway and in London's West End, Gordon takes us on the journey through his creative process. From directing and co-writing the comedic Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors to working on musicals like Broadway's The Heart of Rock and Roll, he shares valuable le...

Live From New York, it’s The Actor’s Instrument’s first live episode! Hassiem sits down with Luis Quintero at the Sheen Center for Thought and Culture in New York City on the set of his play, Medea: Re-Versed, which has recieved high criticial praise from Vulture and The New York Times, amongst others. Time Out New York called it one of the best off-Broadway shows of the fall.  Luis and Hassiem di...

Welcome back to The Actor's Instrument! Hassiem sits down with Alaine Aldaffer, the resident casting director at Playwrights Horizons in New York City. With over 25 years of experience in theater and television, Alaine has a wealth of knowledge to share, having cast over 100 productions, including the Pulitzer Prize-winning play A Strange Loop and the most Tony Award-Winning show of 2024, Stereoph...

Welcome to this episode of The Actor’s Instrument, your go-to source for industry insight and inspiration! Our guest this week is Jamil Jude, the Artistic Director of Kenny Leon’s True Colors Theater and Co-Founder of The New Griots Festival. Jamil gives us an inside look into the Atlanta theater and on-camera markets, as well as his unique perspective as an “artist-plus,” blending his passion for...

Welcome back to The Actor’s Instrument, the podcast where we delve into the stories and experiences of industry insiders. I’m your host, Hassiem Muhammad, and in this episode, we’re celebrating an extraordinary achievement in the world of theater. Ever wondered what it takes to land a coveted role on Broadway straight out of drama school? This week’s guest, Matias, is here to share his incredible...

Welcome back to The Actor’s Instrument! In this episode, we are thrilled to feature the remarkable Daryl Sledge, an award-winning producer and director renowned for his outstanding contributions to film and television. In this episode, Daryl Sledge shares his wealth of experience, including his work on the HBO Best Short Film-winning "2nd Life" and the acclaimed documentary "THAT DAUGHTER'S CRAZY,...

On this week's episode, we’re thrilled to have Rod Kinter, a distinguished fight director with over 20 years of experience in staging combat and designing violence for theater, opera, dance, and film. Rod, a New York-based expert, has left his mark on the industry with his impressive credits, including the Broadway production of The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical, and numerous Off-Broa...

Welcome to another insightful episode of The Actor's Instrument with your host, Hassiem Muhammad! In this episode, we dive deep into the crucial topic of Work/Life Balance—a cornerstone for any successful actor and creative professional. 🎙️ In This Episode: Embrace the Present: Discover why waiting for your "big break" isn't necessary to live life to the fullest. Hassiem shares powerful insights o...

In this episode of The Actor's Instrument, we dive deep into the relationship between actor and playwright with the extraordinary Lydia Diamond, an acclaimed playwright known for her influential work in theater and television. From crafting powerful scripts to receiving prestigious accolades, Lydia Diamond’s career is a testament to her exceptional talent and dedication. Lydia’s notable plays incl...

In today’s entertainment industry, versatility is key, and few exemplify this better than Leraldo Anzaldua. As a renowned Fight Director, Voiceover Actor, Motion Capture Performer, and Intimacy Director, Leraldo Anzaldua stands out for his exceptional work across multiple fields. With over 25 years of experience, Leraldo is a Fight Master and Certified Teacher with the Society of American Fight Di...

Join us this week as we sit down with Xavier Reyes, a prolific actor making waves in the regional theater scene. With credits spanning 18 different theaters and multiple engagements, Xavier is a testament to hard work and dedication in the performing arts. Hosted by Hassiem Muhammad, who shared the stage with Xavier in SWEAT at Pioneer Theater Company in 2019, this episode dives into Xavier's jour...

Actors are often advised to respond with a "yes" in various situations, from scene choices to career opportunities. However, host and actor Hassiem Muhammad advocates for the power of saying "no". In this week's episode, Hassiem takes the spotlight to unveil his 4 criteria for making decisions on seizing or declining opportunities. Empowering actors with the strategic art of choice, this Monthly M...

Fight Master Dale Girard not only teaches actors how to break boards with their bare hands, but might just teach them more about storytelling than any collegiate acting class.  Dale Girard is an award-winning Fight Director, as well as a professional Stunt Coordinator, Director, Martial Artist, Actor, Educator and Author. With over 35 years' experience in professional theatre, opera, and ballet, D...

This week’s episode has been a long time coming! One year ago, the members of SAG-AFTRA went on a historic strike that lasted for 118 days and resulted in a deal valued at over 1 billion dollars, but, with fewer shows on the air, and less auditions coming our way, many actors have been left wondering "was the SAG strike worth it?". Well this week, a member of the SAG-AFTRA negotiating committee, E...

This week’s guest has that one in a million story, and contrary to popular belief, it wasn’t luck that landed her on HBO, but the intentional leveraging of her own talents.  In her second year of college at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, DaMya Gurley was noticed by the casting team of A Black Lady Sketch Show for her viral skits on TikTok…and well, the rest is history! DaMya...

In the first interview of the season, Hassiem is joined by the head casting director of the Telsey Office's Los Angeles branch, Tiffany Little Canfield. Whether you know Tiffany or not, you have for sure seen her work, some of which includes: The Greatest Showman, In The Heights, Mean Girls, The Little Mermaid, The Color Purple, Focus, as well as TVs hottest new show, Tracker, Only Murders in the...

The Actor's Instrument, featured on FeedSpot's list of Top 60 Actors with a Podcast is back for a second season! In this episode, actor, and host, Hassiem Muhammad, let's you know what to expect this season on your favorite podcast for actors. More exciting industry guests, shorter episodes, streaming on all major platforms-including YouTube-and as always, interviews that are rich with tips for ac...

In this December edition of Monthly Motivation, and the Season Finale of season 1  on The Actor's Instrument, host, Hassiem Muhammad, shares the importance of getting started. As creatives, we tend to have many projects swirling in our heads and sitting on back burners, and in reality the only thing standing in our way, is ourselves. In this season's final episode, Hassiem shares his strategies fo...

This week’s guest choreographed one of the most iconic fight scenes in all of cinema. If you don’t know his name, then maybe you’d recognize Brad Pitt shouting "Hector!" in his portrayal of Achilles in the film Troy.  That's right, the sword master for the film, choreographer for that iconic Achilles vs Hector fight, and this week’s guest on the Actor’s Instrument, is none other than Richard Ryan....

On this week's episode we're joined by Sarah Allyn, a U.S. Army brat, was born in Wuerzburg, Germany and proceeded to travel the world over starting at 9 months old. Their early, and consistent, exposure to different places, cultures, and characters gave them an intuitive ability to imitate and adapt. They have worked for the US Department of Defense, fought cancer into remission, had a child duri...

On this week's episode of The Actor's Instrument, host, Hassiem Muhammad, discusses the invaluable attribute of resiliency. An actor's ability to bounce back from rejection is paramount to the success of their career. Of course, this is easier said than done-but not to worry! In this episode, Hassiem shares his tips for actors that can help you to weather the storm that is the entertainment indust...

This week we’ve got a very unique interview for all of you. Our host, Hassiem, sat down with Eoghan O’Kelly, the owner of Uptown Movement Gym in New York City to discuss the artist’s physical instrument. They discuss fitness and nutrition for actors and dancers, as well as some of the risks that performers face doing 8-9 shows per week, and how to best prepare for those marathon contracts. And our...

The acting industry is super tough. Constant rejection, financial woes, and last minute auditions with a hotel room ironing board and a few books serving as a tripod are commonplace in our industry. Now imagine all of that plus the stresses of the US immigration policy.  This week’s guest, Resa Mishina, was born and raised in Tokyo and attended international schools around Singapore and Japan. In...