EP 314 Mohamad Karim

·54 min·5 clips

Mohamed Karim left his family in Egypt at 16, arrived in LA with no English, and walked into a high school principal's office asking to attend.

The episode opens with Adam Ferrara introducing his guest Mohamed Karim, a doctor and actor featured in the film 'Gunslingers'. Ferrara shares personal anecdotes about his recent dental issues and firefighter training drills before transitioning to the interview. Karim explains his early move from Egypt to Los Angeles at 16, where he attended El Segundo High School after convincing the principal. He details his long-term plan to study medicine in Egypt while simultaneously pursuing acting, using Egyptian films to gain international exposure at festivals. Karim describes his first Hollywood role in 'Score to Settle' with Nicolas Cage, emphasizing his avoidance of stereotypical 'terrorist' roles to positively represent his region. He recounts a bold story of flying to the Cannes Film Festival to personally meet a director after an audition, though he didn't get the part. The discussion shifts to his role in 'Gunslingers', where he plays a character named Hoodoo, and he praises director Brian Skiba for incorporating diverse gunslingers. Karim notes how Skiba shaped his performance into comedic relief, which he didn't anticipate during filming. Ferrara and Karim compare family dynamics, with both having fathers who supported their creative pursuits despite maternal concerns. The interview concludes with Karim expressing his goal to star in a big-budget Marvel movie. After the interview, Ferrara and his co-hosts reflect on Karim's courage and multitasking, sharing their own bold career moves. The episode ends with Ferrara promoting his live comedy shows and thanking listeners.

As heard by us

A doctor, a film career, and a father's marked-up magazines give this loose interview its warmest shape.

Karim's path into film gives the episode a clear spine. He talks through the odd overlap of trying to get his work seen internationally while finishing medical school, then practicing as an orthopedic doctor in Egypt and still finding his way onto sets for movies and series.

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Why you'd press play

Press play for a film-career story stretched between medical school, festival strategy, family support, and a tooth that exits in pieces.

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