Haaz Sleiman – Breaking Fast

By: Lisa Steinberg

Q) What are the recent projects that you have been busy working on?

A) The last thing I shot was The Eternals and prior to that I shot “Little America” for Apple TV+. That was an anthology based on true stories and it was one of their best reviewed shows and well received shows. That was really exciting to be a part of and to tells someone’s story who is still alive who I’ve actually met. That was really incredible and humbling. They both just happen to be (in addition to Breaking Fast) gay roles. It was not on purpose, but that’s the nature of the job that I have. I don’t have that much control of the auditions that I get. For me, as long as it is a part that I am excited to portray and a story that I want to be a part of is the most important thing. I don’t’ think of “gay roles” or “straight roles.” It’s more about the story and the bigger picture and how important it is for me and how passionate I am about the part and helping them tell the story. It’s actually exciting though because you can see there is a movement. There is an awakening, whether it be for women with the #MeToo movement with empowering women (like with a show such as “The Morning Show”) and the same thing is happening for queer folks (like with The Eternals). That is really exciting. Judd Apatow is producing a gay romantic comedy that will be mainstream in theaters across the globe. So, it’s really exciting. I think Hollywood is finally becoming more courageous, finally trying to push buttons and finally trying to challenge people in the world and change preconceived notions and stereotypes. It’s a slow movement, but it’s happening.

Q) How was your character Mo in Breaking Fast originally described to you?

A) Honestly, I was involved with the project just really lightly in the short film. I did a cameo appearance. I didn’t actually play Mo, but I kind of knew about Mo when we shot the short. Then, obviously, once the feature was written [director] Mike (Mosallam) sent me the script. This was basically how I got the first of what we know about Mo – reading the screenplay for the feature film. I was actually really impressed with the screenplay. It just really moved me in the sense that Mo was out to his parents and they were fine with it and everything is normal – it’s not a big deal. And guess what? There are families like that in the Arab world but they are not shown enough because there is no interest in showing that part of the truth or that side of the truth. I just thought, “What a wonderful way to show it.” The idea of Mo and his ex to me was beautiful, too. To show the emotional levels and layers that people have in general, whether you are queer or not. I think with Breaking Fast, and Mo specifically, it was wonderful to see the layers of humanity and imperfections and to play around with that. To figure out how he relates to people and saw his relationship with his ex and how it effected it. I thought it was really wonderful how Mike was able to bring them together later on and it was really loving. There is so much love in it, which is probably my favorite thing about the whole thing. There is just a lot of love in the story. I also loved how Mo is a really family-oriented guy. I can relate to that, I’m Arab. He’s really family-oriented. He loves his grandma. There were a lot of similarities in that sense for me. So, for me, all of these qualities – the food, how Mo is so committed…I respect that. I respected that someone like that is so committed and has integrity. It’s something that I admired about him from the get-go when I first read the script. I thought, “I don’t think I could ever be like Mo, but I can play him!” [laughs]

Q) What do you attribute innate chemistry between Kal and Mo?

A) Obviously, physical attraction (whether you want to agree to it or not) is just a part of the human experience. I think for me that actually really stuck out in terms of why it ended up being the way it ended up being in the film, their connection getting stronger and deeper, was because they were able to be vulnerable with each other somehow. I think vulnerability is really universal. It’s really the most important step to take to really get to either like someone more or not. I think their situation, specifically, it’s a combination of events and circumstance and also coincidence. Seeing him again at the hospital combined with his ability to be vulnerable with me and vice versa. I think Kal (Michael Cassidy) was really intrigued. It was almost like Mo was a breath of fresh air. To see someone who is almost pure in the sense of his beliefs and commitment. His intentions are genuine. He’s trying not to be judgmental, even though he is sometimes. He doesn’t do it intentionally. Sometimes people are judgmental but they don’t mean to be and they aren’t even aware of it and I think people forget that. It’s never black and white. The spectrum of it all – how much aware you are of yourself. I think with Kal, he really was intrigued with how Mo is kind of almost untouched by the whole West Hollywood scene and the gay scene, which sometimes (by the way) tends to be shallow. Sometimes it can be shallow or about sex and that’s it. I think Mo is not interested in that. He wants something deeper with substance. Kal was in a certain place in his life where he is trying to make a difference and a change in his life. Mo is also in a place where he somehow wants to transform. SO, they are both in a place where they need to transform. Kal is dealing with alcoholism and getting over it and his brother and his father. There is a lot he is dealing with and he is changing. He becomes sober. So, to me, someone like Mo who is fasting for the whole month of Ramadan…It’s kind of very strange, exotic and foreign, but also Kal thinks, “This is kind of what I’m trying to do in my own way. I’m trying to respect myself and take care of myself.” For Mo, this is how he connects to religion. His religion is an act of self-love and self-respect. It’s really not in any way something that he believes is restrictive, rigid or makes him judgmental. On the contrary, he believes it makes him more loving and compassionate and empathetic. I think Kal is trying to get to that place, so to meet someone like Mo – I really think it was more Kal. If you remember in the film, Kal kept pursuing Mo and Mo was like, “No, no, no!” Mo is a little bit shy so it was really Kal being persistent about it. And the reason why (which I think is wonderful) is because he wanted to surround himself with people who would actually help him get to where he wanted to get. I really think he saw it clearly that Mo could be that guy. So, I think from that Kal then charms the hell out of Mo. Mo was charmed by Kal and actually Mo (I think) was impressed with Kal and the fact that he’s trying to change and be better. Mo really respected that and made Mo like Kal even more. I think it’s a really good example of us as human beings, when we’re being intimate – whether we’re straight or gay. It doesn’t matter your sexual orientation because what we’re talking about is so universal, being vulnerable. It’s about where you are at in life, the challenges you have overcome and the goals you have set. It’s about meeting at the right time. It’s all about timing in life, I believe.

Q) What advice did Mike Mosallam offer that you took to heart while filming?

A) The thing is Mike is a friend so he’s like family. It was a new experience for both of us. It was a new experience for him to direct someone who is like family to him and vice versa. It was a new experience for me to have a writer/director direct me who is like family. I’ve never experienced that before so in that sense I was actually excited. He and I were both nervous in the beginning like, “Can we do this? Are we going to be able to do this?” [laughs] When you are really close to someone…We’re so close that we’re like family. What if it gets awkward? Then, we decided we had to find like a “safe word.” So, when ever we would get to the point where we feel it is going to get there…the word was “love” or something about love. He wanted to make sure…He always wanted me to know that he loved me and was so excited to have me as part of this film. I also felt the same way. So, for him, he always wanted to remind me that this is why we were doing this. It’s because of love. Probably that would be the best thing he gave me to work with throughout the whole shoot because it was not easy! It was not an easy shoot. I was on every day and in every scene. So, it was really a lot of work for me. To this day, it really helped that we had this connection and I think, for me, that one word carried me through the whole film. It was a really important story for Mike and I to tell. I was very proud of him that he wrote it and directed it (even before we filmed it). Really all I wanted to do is to do everything I could in my hand to help him tell the story in the best way possible, to elevate it to a place where hopefully most people will be moved and touched by it. Entertained, but moved and touched by it. And maybe even changed somehow! Maybe learn it’s okay to be vulnerable. Be yourself. It’s okay if you’re trying to change and be better and not to be ashamed of that. There are a lot of layers to it, but obviously the biggest thing is the Arab-gay-Muslim-openly practicing part. It was probably the most important part of the story to tell because these people exist in the world. There are a lot of openly gay practicing Muslims in the world and a lot of people (queer amongst them) are not aware of that. They actually think it’s a lie. You’d be surprised! I think it’s so important because it really is a film that will enlighten people, hopefully. At the end of the day, I hope that they will be really entertained because at the end of the day that’s the best way to enlighten people – by entertaining them somehow.

Q) What were some of your favorite scenes to film?

A) That’s a good question. Well, the singing scene was fun. I wanted to be a singer when I first moved to America. That was really my goal – to become a recording artist. That didn’t work out for me, but it became afterwards that acting was really my calling. And I’m really grateful for it. I love being an actor. I’m so satisfied. In no way I’m bitter about not being a recording artist; however, when ever I get an opportunity to sing, I’m like a big kid. So, it was so much fun to shoot that scene – that karaoke scene. It was really fun and took me back to my childhood. The whole thing made me feel like a kid. I think the other scene I loved was the one where we were walking and talking and I’m holding an umbrella and telling him about The Sound of Music. I was obsessed with Julie Andrews when I was a kid and I was obsessed with The Sound of Music. I watched it like a million times! There is something so charming about the script – those charming moments were my favorites. It just made me feel like a kid. Or the scene where he grabs me and he is pretending he’s Superman and he’s saving me. He grabs and me we’re doing that moment, which I thought was really cute. Those moments are probably my favorite because they brought out my inner child. Again, the film really does a good job of doing that – bringing out my inner child. Even when I watched it or when I was filming it – it did the same thing. I would say the kissing scene with Kal and he was pretending to be Superman or the umbrella scene where I’m telling him about The Sound of Music or the singing scene. There are a lot!

Q) What message do you hope viewers take away from watching Breaking Fast?

A) To really hopefully know and be not so rigid with their thoughts. Hopefully, this film will make them less rigid in general. In terms of looking at people, in general. Not just queer or Muslim or gay – just in general in life. Really understand that just because someone else is different from you doesn’t mean you can’t relate to them. Actually, you can relate to them more than you can image. I hope this film reminds the people watching that of that – remind them that at the end of the day we’re all the same at the core of it and also to be reminded not to judge someone who is different from you just because you don’t know them that well. Or maybe you think you know them, but really you don’t. Hopefully this film does that. This film says, “Oh, I didn’t know that. I thought that was the case, but oh…” It kind of reminds me of The Visitor. I’ll never forget we were doing a Q&A and this lady came up and said, “Thank you so much for playing Tariq. I will never look at Arab men the same way again.” That is what I hope this film does, where people will never look at maybe gay men or gay Muslim men the same way again – or queer people the same way again. I think it humanizes queer people in a way where you see Mo and Kal being forced to face their emotions and forced to be emotionally intelligent and forced to show the layers of their humanity. And it’s not just one thing – sex or being freaks or whatever. It’s just a lot more to it. There are so many more dimensions and I think this film does a good job with that. Hopefully, this film reminds the world of our humanity – all of us as human whether queer or not – and make them less judgmental.