Conversations with Malek Hanna

Today we’d like to introduce you to Malek Hanna.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I’ve always been drawn to storytelling, but it really started with music and voice. Even before high school, I was naturally pulled toward singing and performance. By my freshman year at Xavier High School in New York, I was performing in plays and shows, often singing solos, which eventually led me to become a cantor at church. That was really my first experience connecting with an audience in a meaningful way.

From there, that creative instinct expanded into acting. I started pursuing it more seriously, training, auditioning, and learning the craft. At the same time, music never left me. It’s always been a core part of how I express myself.

As I got deeper into both worlds, I realized I didn’t just want to be part of projects, I wanted to help shape them. That shift led me into producing and developing my own work, where I could build stories from the ground up and be involved in the full creative vision.

Over time, everything started to connect. Acting, music, producing, and voice work all became part of the same ecosystem. One of those moments that stands out is becoming the voice of Apple Pay Face ID, which was a unique and unexpected milestone.

Today, I’m focused on building a body of work across film, television, and music that feels cohesive and intentional. I’m producing films, developing series, and continuing to grow as an artist, always coming back to storytelling as the foundation of it all.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
t definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Like most creative paths, it’s been a mix of momentum and setbacks, and learning how to navigate both.

Early on, one of the biggest challenges was simply breaking in and being taken seriously. You’re constantly auditioning, hearing “no,” and trying to find your place while staying confident in your own voice. At the same time, I was balancing multiple lanes- acting, music, and eventually producing- which can feel overwhelming when you’re still figuring things out.

Another major shift came when I realized that waiting for opportunities wasn’t enough. I had to start creating them. That meant stepping into producing, raising money, building teams, and taking on a lot more responsibility. There’s a learning curve there that you can’t really prepare for until you’re in it, especially when it comes to the business side of the industry.

There have also been moments where projects didn’t move forward the way we expected, or timing didn’t line up, or things fell apart late in the process. Those are tough, but they force you to adapt and keep going.

I think the biggest lesson has been resilience and perspective. Staying grounded, continuing to grow, and not letting short-term setbacks define the bigger picture. Every challenge has pushed me to be more resourceful, more focused, and more intentional about the work I’m building.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
At my core, I’m a performer and storyteller. I work across acting, music, and producing, and what I specialize in is building projects that feel cohesive across all of those spaces rather than treating them as separate lanes.

As an actor, I’m drawn to grounded, emotionally driven roles. At the same time, I’m actively producing and developing films and series, working closely with writers, directors, and partners to shape projects from the ground up. I co-own a slate of IP with my writing and producing partner Tom Jenkins, which has allowed us to build projects with long-term vision and control from the start. I’ve also had the opportunity to collaborate with Mario Kassar, whose work on films like Terminator 2, Rambo, and Total Recall has been a big source of perspective as we continue to develop and package projects.

On the music side, I’m creating and releasing original work that often ties into the worlds I’m building on screen, so everything feels connected rather than separate.

What I’m most proud of is stepping into a position where I’m not waiting for opportunities anymore, I’m helping create them. Building a slate of projects, putting together strong teams, and moving things toward production has been a big shift for me. It’s taken time, but it’s allowed me to be much more intentional about the kind of work I want to put out.

What sets me apart is how I think about the bigger picture. I’m not just focused on one role or one project, I’m always looking at how something can evolve into a larger ecosystem, whether that’s a film expanding into a series, music tying into the story, or creating something that has long-term value beyond a single release. That approach has helped me stay creative while also building something sustainable.

Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
I’ve been really fortunate to have a strong circle around me, and a lot of what I’ve been able to build comes directly from those relationships.

My writing and producing partner Tom Jenkins has been a big part of that. We’ve developed a slate of projects together, and his experience and storytelling instincts have helped shape the foundation of what we’re creating. It’s a true collaboration where we’re constantly pushing each other to raise the bar.

I also work closely with Spencer Jay Kim, who I consider a brother, not just a collaborator. We produce together under 4Sight Entertainment alongside our partners Dave Thomas and Allen Kellogg. That team dynamic has been important, because everyone brings a different strength, but we’re aligned in how we approach the work and the bigger picture.

I’ve had the opportunity to collaborate with Mario Kassar as well, and being around that level of experience has given me a much broader perspective on how to think about projects at scale, from development through execution.

On the music side, artists like Paulina Aguirre have been inspiring to me, both creatively and personally, and working around that level of artistry, along with producers like Pablo Aguirre, reinforces what it means to stay committed to the craft at a high level.

I also want to mention Monique Impagliazzo, a dear friend and collaborator who’s been a real source of encouragement and light. Having people like that in your life, who support you not just professionally but on a deeper level, makes a big difference.

Beyond that, there are a lot of friends, collaborators, and early supporters who believed in me before things were fully formed. Those people matter just as much, because they help you stay grounded and keep going.

At the end of the day, none of this is built alone. It’s always a team effort, and I try to surround myself with people who are not only talented, but also good, grounded people who genuinely care about the work and each other.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.malekhanna.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/malek.hanna
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/malekhannaartist/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/malekhanna/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@malek-hanna