Meet Hamzah Saman of Arab American Casting in West Hollywood

Today we’d like to introduce you to Hamzah Saman.

I was reborn on 8/18 1998 at 5:48 pm in LAX. I came from Beirut, Lebanon when I was 15 years of old with one dream— to act. Today I’m living this dream as a casting director and a SAG-AFTRA actor/voice-over artist. After leaving Lebanon and surviving the Civil War, I knew it was important to dream. Yes, dream and imagine a better world. LA and my young beautiful family are everything I imagined and more.

Well, being a Middle Eastern person with a unique name, it’s obvious that sometimes people perceive me as different. At my acting schools, they told me to stay away from being typecast. My ex-agent told me to change my name to an American name. True story! I would have maybe considered it back then, but my late father gave me my name.

It all started with an idea on the set of the Oscar-winning film with Ben Affleck, where I was booked onset with thousands of Middle Eastern people. I remember thinking, “I found my home.” For the first time after years in the United States, I met many Arabs and Middle Easterners in one area, forming new friendships in Los Angeles.

After Argo wrapped, I felt homesick missing all those Arab and Middle Eastern people I met on set. Trying to reconnect on social media, just wasn’t the same.

Shortly after, I booked a role on Kadaffi Goes Hollywood (2011), with the Oscar-winning director, Ari Sandel. The production asked me if he knew any Arab Actors to play the guards. I said yes, and went forward for the first time casting many wonderful actors for the roe.

I was very passionate about Arabic culture, the language and especially Arabian people. After wrapping Kadaffi Goes Hollywood,  I went home and created a Facebook group, Arab American Casting (A.A.C.) and the rest is history.

Arab American Casting (A.A.C) quickly became widely accepted and loved on social media sites in 2012 with the support of Arab Americans, many in the Arab world, and numerous Americans in the film industry.

Overall, A.A.C’s followers have grown to 70,000-100,000 and frequently receives 5-star reviews on yelp and google.

I also wanted to thank o Joey Naber at ADR Languages Friday r his support throughout this process.

Yes, love the diversity and the love. I don’t like that all bars and clubs closes at 2am.