"A Diamond in the Rough"

Dreaming Big. That has always been my key philosophy and the main core value of who I am. My name Mazen, literally translates to “Large Clouds” in Arabic…it’s almost as if it was meant to be a part of my destiny. My entire life I truly always felt deep inside that I was meant for something BIG. Bigger than my town, bigger than my stupid school, bigger than anything I can tangibly grasp…bigger than myself. So I set out from a very young age to ensure I would see my dreams realized under any circumstances, and not become like everyone else around me – a person who settles down at a young age, works a typical 9 to 5 desk job, gets married and has children and goes through their lives aimless and stagnant. No, no, no …none of that appealed to me whatsoever. Where was the passion, the excitement, the flexibility, the creativity…where was the fun? So I began what would end up being my path to creative freedom. I decided I would be an Artist.

I had so many passions and talents from a young age that I did my best to hone and cultivate. I always loved to Write…poetry, short stories, fiction, screenplays, songs & music, any and everything that allowed me to express on paper what I innately felt. I loved Photography and Art, spending hours looking at editorial magazines filled with beautiful models, gorgeously structured clothing, and shot by world-renowned photographers in stunning, pristine locations. I loved Acting, Singing, and Dancing…and the boundless freedom to express yourself in a way that words cannot do alone I studied films, actors, directors, artists, photographers, magazine editors, writers, and tried to let all their inventiveness and originality seep into me, wash over me, and inspire me in my own creations.

But what interested me the most on this particular topic was how all of these amazing, famous, “special” people gotto where they are? How did they go from being Joe Nobody to Tom Everybody? What path of success did they take to see their own passions, desires, and dreams come into fruition? Were they just like me at one point - broke, struggling, feeling rejected and cast aside…yet still optimistic and resilient enough to keep pushing? Is it foolish to do so, or is it gutsy and brave? More than anything, I have a developed a deep thirst for the knowledge of how people take the Road Less Traveled to get them to where they are today.

My own story is one that might be akin to many of those successful artists out there…but I have yet to get my own fairytale ending. Yes, I have been fortunate enough in my young age and limited years to have worked with and created alongside some amazingly talented people…but do I feel that I have “made it” yet? Absolutely not, I am just beginning. But let me quickly go back to my own beginning, and tell you how I have gotten to where I am now.

At an open audition that I heard about on the radio (everybody knows those fake, illegitimate modeling/acting scam “conferences” that get held all over the country every year) when I was 16 years old, I met my first manager, who was pretty well known and based in Los Angeles. Everybody else was being told they had to pay upwards of $3,000 to join, but luckily I was one of very few who got in for free. After he went back to L.A., he would send me scenes every week that I would have to act out on tape, and send out to him in L.A. or to his associate in New York City, for review and submissions for parts. I dropped out of regular high school, began homeschooling myself full-time, and worked two full time jobs to save up for my big move. Because in my young, naive mindset, I had already made it. I had this big, hotshot agent in L.A. representing me, and I thought within a year’s time, I would be the youngest ever Oscar and Grammy winner in history. It's funny thinking back at how wide-eyed and almost arrogant you can be at that age. Things didn’t turn out quite the way I had envisioned, and the years to come would be a huge lesson in humility.

After a year and a half of auditioning, I was dropped by that agent. I was told that although I was really talented, I was too young to go out and live/audtion on my own, and that my ethnicity would play a large part in me becoming typecast, and therefore not getting booked for jobs. Depressed, lost and rejected at 16, I decided to "give up on the business” - although I wasn't even really in it yet. But about 3 months later, around my 17^th birthday, I got a call from John, my ex-agent, telling me a modeling agent in NYC had seen my pictures and wanted to meet me.

Modeling? Me? Never had I thought that was even a possibility, as I always thought Male Models had blonde hair, blue eyes, big bodybuilder type physiques…like Fabio or something. And hey, though I am pretty confident in myself…I am no Fabio (THANK GOD). And modeling wasn’t really where my passions lied, but an opportunity is an opportunity to open doors, and I viewed it as a means to an end. So I decided to go out on a limb, and hopped on the Chinatown Bus to NYC to meet with him. Upon meeting him, I recounted my story of struggle in the industry and my longing to make it in this business and become the biggest & brightest star this world has ever seen. He sat and stared at me pensively for a while, before telling me that I was “a true diamond in the rough;” something that has stuck with and inspired me until this very day.

Long story short, after moving to New York and beginning college at The New School at 18, I got signed to my first big agency. I have spent the past five years traveling on and off through America, Europe and Africa doing shoots shows and videos here and there, as well pursuing my Bachelors/Masters degree. I have been very fortunate to work with an array of diversely talented people, and appeared in some pretty high profile gigs

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***(Im about 30 seconds in)***

But do I feel that I have made it yet? Not even close. I still want - no need more, something bigger and better. Now, for the first time in a very long time, I at least know I’m on the right path to doing so. Just being back here at The New School, and back living in the city is a huge blessing, and every day I feel I am truly progressing to my goal of “making it.” And sooner, rather than later (God willing) I know and can feel in my heart & soul that I will have the life I have always envisioned and promised myself. But not before meeting and learning from some other driven, motivated people in the Art community to see their paths to success…and hopefully have a little of their luck wear off on me. As this is truly my time to shine, and to rise, reborn… like a Phoenix from its ashes.

J

***(Video Campaign I did when I was 18 for the same Brooklyn Based designer who created Jay-Z'S RocaWear Collection)***

***(About 21 seconds in, "Run This Town" w/ Jay-z, Kanye & Rihanna)***