As actors, we're either caught in a raging storm, or stranded and recovering from it.  While Aixa is heading into a busy season and studying Fitzmaurice/Meisner (FitzMeisner), Ida is recovering from 3 TV shows and learning Calisthenics and ThetaHealing.  In this episode they discuss ways to cope and thrive as artists and humans.

* Watch Ida Alkusay on the trending TV Show I'tirafat (Girls Confessions) on Shahid.net :
https://shahid.mbc.net/ar/series/اعترافات-بنات/series-872349

** FitzMeisner Classes: http://www.loritriolo.com/upcoming-classes/tag/FitzMeisner

Intimacy Coordinating is a fascinating area of work that seems to be gaining momentum ever since the #MeToo movement.  In this episode Aixa and Ida ask Acting Coach Stellina Rusich about the role of Intimacy Coordinators on set.

"Don't be bullied to doing something,"  Stellina cautions.  "It's been going on for years because no body speaks truth to power, and everyone is afraid to lose their job."  A question to ask yourself is "Is it good for your career?"

She advises actors, "If you're asked to do something just know that you can say no, I'm not comfortable with that. I will do this, but not do that."

But even when there are no intimacy coordinators on set, there are ways for the actors to feel empowered.  "Make sure for your own safety that you've talked to your partner," she says.  "that you have an agreement, a bond with your partner, so at least the two of you know that you're not going to be crossing the line."

Stellina Rusich Website:
https://www.stellinacoaching.com

Additional Reading:
https://people.com/movies/sharon-stone-says-she-cant-stop-directors-xxx-cut-of-basic-instinct-from-coming-out/

https://www.vox.com/2018/11/26/18112531/bernardo-bertolucci-maria-schneider-last-tango-in-paris

https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2021/05/game-of-thrones-the-handmaids-tale-them-tv-sexual-violence/618782/

Is there a stigma to being an actor?  Are women actors regarded differently than men actors?  Has there been a shift in the role gender plays in the world of acting?  In this episode, Ida and Aixa consult with fellow actors in Saudi Arabia and Canada about their perspectives.  And while progress is something to be celebrated, Aixa confesses to Ida feeling resentful as a generation that missed out in Saudi Arabia. 

Actor Credits:

• Sumayah Rida: IG @Sumayahrida
• Kyra Weston: IG @kyrawestonn
• Sarah Marchand: IG @sarahmarchand
• Leysan Timirboulatova: IG @leysantimirboulatova

Filmmakers Mentioned:

• Hind Alfahhad - هند الفهاد
• Reema Almajid - ريما الماجد
• Hana Abdullah Alomair - هناء عبدالله العمير
• Haifaa Al Mansour - هيفاء المنصور
• Sara Balghonaim - سارة بالغنيم

Organizations Mentioned:

• Women of Color Unite: https://wocunite.org
• Women In Film TV Vancouver: https://www.womeninfilm.ca

Aixa is curious about Ida's experience as a woman in the evolving film industry of Saudi Arabia.  Does she need permission from a guardian to accept a job?  Who reviews and negotiates her contracts?  Is there a dress code for actors?  Who does she talk to if she feels unsafe on set?

It is Ramadan, primetime for television networks in much of the Arab and Muslim world.  Aixa and Ida reflect on acting roles which brought them joy, others which left them disoriented.  How do they find their way into a character while still finding their way back?  Why some emotions come easier to them than others.

While Aixa faces challenges as a BIPOC actor living in Canada (Hollywood North), Ida is feeling empowered as an actor in her native country, Saudi Arabia.  On this episode, they talk about how they started acting, why they changed their names, and what an emerging film industry looks like.

**Recording Remotely On: SquadCast
**Email: [email protected]