Today we’d like to introduce you to Danish Farooqui.
Danish, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I started performing on stage at Cy Creek High School and later after school, I auditioned and performed in plays at StageWorks Theatre just a few minutes away I have been in this neighborhood for most of my life. After researching acting as a profession and big markets, I decided to go take professional full time acting classes in NYC. Most of our curriculum was theatre and part of our curriculum was voiceover. I was inspired by my favorite cartoons so I really knew I wanted to do this as well.
Upon finishing the classes, I was auditioned for everything I could find in NYC and building the beginnings of my voiceover studio. I was fortunate enough that I could keep my expenses low and was successfully getting auditions and work in both theatre and voiceover while taking on-camera classes. Within two years of completing my acting classes, I got Actor’s Equity Association membership playing lead roles in regional theatre shows and after rehearsals voicing videogames and explainer videos building my voiceover portfolio.
I was always searching for the next level of work and expanding my capabilities as an actor and reach more audience. Recently with digital streaming (Netflix, Hulu, etc.) TV is now the gateway to get to the next level. Most Broadway actors have TV credits. Many well-known voice actors have on-camera credits. I made my professional on-camera TV debut with POWER BOOK II: GHOST just before the lockdown. Currently, I’m doing voiceover full-time because I can do it remotely and work with anyone in the world with my home studio.
Great, 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?
From far away, the road looks smooth. The general public doesn’t really hear about a new actor until they complete a major project. It takes a lot of actor training, business work, thousands of auditions and failures, and one minor break after another to get to that major first role.
First off, traveling from Houston suburb to NYC is a huge change. Any good acting class will challenge us to overcome our own mental barriers. The competition to even get an audition is tough and then only one actor gets one role. This is a highly image-based industry and so many factors of getting the job are not in our control. All we can do is keep showing up prepared.
Improving craft involved thousands of hours of reading and memorizing, hustling involves preparing and getting too many auditions until I actually get a job. Then be so good at the job, the production can’t wait to hire you again. On top of that: make a living in NYC. Then whenever possible come home to spend quality time with family in Houston and reassure them that all this effort is for a reason and it will be worth it.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
As an actor, I am the CEO of my own business. I perform in film, TV, theatre commercials, print and voiceovers. My specialties include being multilingual so I get access to a large variety of work. I have my own professional home recording studio so I can do voiceovers for anyone in the world.
Currently I’m playing recurring roles on the Meet Cute Podcast, shooting a few films remotely through Zoom, and recording for a major videogame that I can’t disclose just yet. But look out soon. 🙂
I’m also currently expanding my network by reaching out to regional talent agencies in all categories of acting. I want to expand my outreach and be of service on a wider scale. Especially I’m looking to expand my network in Houston, Dallas, Atlanta, Chicago and Los Angelos.
Other than that, I’ll be shooting in a films in NYC later this year with all new COVID safety guidelines.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
I strongly believe in turning my dreams into goals. I do that by planning, asking questions and taking consistent actions everyday for it. Then be grateful for the day.
Contact Info:
- Website: danishfarooqui.com/voice-over
- Email: dfarooqui10@gmail.com
Commercial Agent NY – MichaelR@Buchwald.com, Legit Agent NY – Eddie@Take3Talent.com - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danishfarooqui/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DanishFarooquiActor/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/danishfarooqui
Image Credit:
Professional Headshot Photographer name: Pasha Kalachev
Photo with Green Shirt Photographer name: Rudy Myers.
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