Since I am always curious about people in the entertainment industry who work behind the scenes, when I had the opportunity to interview Hesham Hammoud, I was ecstatic to discover a little more about this visual effects artist and actor who worked on the recently-ended but fiercely popular show, Once Upon A Time. Even though this series has come to a conclusion, the enthusiasm inundating this show and the devoted fans are not silent about their love and support for everyone connected with the show. Recently, I had the honor of asking Hesham a few questions about his work on this prestigious show as well as a few other details about his life and career.

RH: What inspired you to pursue a career in the entertainment industry?

HH: As a kid, I was always excited watching a good action film or TV show. I would get into it. I loved the heroic stories that were told and as a kid, I believed all those cool action sequences were possible. I loved photo and video editing as I got older and really started looking into the visual effects side of the industry and realized how crucial that can be to push the story forward and create the impossible. I wanted to help create those effects.

Tell us about how you transitioned from visual effects to acting in this business.

I began in this industry as a visual effects artist, which has provided me with great opportunities, and I have learned a lot about the industry. I made the transition as an actor when I had the chance to be on set, and I fell in love with it. The feeling it gave me was one I couldn’t ignore and I was curious what telling a story through a performance would feel like. I joined an acting class and have been pursuing acting since.

Please tell us about how you got connected with Once Upon A Time?

While I was working as a visual effects artist, I was hired at Zoic Studios, the studio responsible for the visual effects of Once Upon A Time. I did a few different jobs when I first started at Zoic, one being on-set visual effects assistant on the set of Once Upon A Time. I loved the cast and crew and I eventually asked to work on the effects for the show in the studio, and I have been doing that since season five. In season six, I managed to book a role on the show as an actor, giving me the opportunity to do the visual effects work on the scene that I was in. That was pretty surreal.

Do you have a favorite episode or two that you worked on? Why are they favorites?

I’m probably a little biased, but my favorite episode is Season 6 Episode 14 because that’s the one I acted in. It was such a blast being with that crew, but on the opposite side of the camera. This episode also had incredible visual effects that introduced new challenges as a visual effects artist. So overall, I had a lot of fun with that episode.

What is a typical day on set for you?

If I’m on set for Once Upon A Time, it generally starts with breakfast at the catering truck, followed by setting up all the gear that Zoic Studios uses to operate the visual effects on set. It’s an extensive setup and just requires some time. Then mostly for the rest of the day, we work around the set making sure all the data needed for post-production is collected. We also provide a live feed of a rough draft of the visual effects directly to the directors and producers.

When I’m not on set, I’m in the studio, again starting with breakfast–can’t skip my meals ha-ha! I go through my assigned tasks, which is basically a list of the shots I need to do the effects for. Depending on the difficulty of the tasks, I can get through one every hour, or spend two days on one; it really depends. There are always new challenges, which keeps things interesting; I love it.

Why do you believe Once Upon A Time resonated with the fans so much?

I think Once Upon A Time was able to bring to life a myriad of fairy-tales that we all love. In one season you can encounter so many different characters from different fairy-tales. I think with the visual effects that Zoic Studios provides, we allow the audience to enter the fantasy world and be a part of the journey with the characters. The audience gets to experience the different worlds and magic effects that I believe are a major contributor to the show’s success.

Any other upcoming projects you can mention?

Of course, I finished up the last episode of Once Upon A Time. The series has come to an end, so the final episode has recently aired. We put in a lot of work to make it the best it can be. Since that is done, I’m probably going to take a little vacation before jumping onto the next project.

As you have worn many different hats in the industry, is there a job that you haven’t done that you’d like to try?

You know, I haven’t tried directing and I’ve always been curious if I have what it takes to pull that off. I do consider myself a good storyteller, whether it is through acting or visual effects. So I feel pretty confident that I can bring something to life as a director as well. It might be something I try down the road.

If a young person wishes to follow a similar career path to you, what is your advice?

My biggest advice would be to love what you do. This industry doesn’t generally provide you with a stable job. There are a lot of times when you don’t know where your next paycheck is coming from, and really at those moments, the only thing keeping you going is the passion for what you do. If the passion isn’t there, choose another career. If you do it only for the money, you will quickly get burned out in this industry. Of course, some people are fortunate to get a big break right away, but you can’t count on that being the case. So find what you love, and do it, because then you will find a way to make money doing it.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

I love being outdoors in the sunshine. One of my favourite things to do on a sunny day is get into my car, throw on some old 90’s hip-hop and go for a cruise with the windows down. I love being physically active, and going out for a nice meal. Other than that, I just enjoy hanging out with my friends, watching a movie, pretty laid-back type of hangouts.

Undoubtedly, Hesham is one of those extraordinary individuals that is absolutely committed to doing his best work, whether in front of or behind the camera, and he certainly deserves some credit for the success of this iconic show and others with which he has been involved. As one who understands and comprehends the various components of a successful show, he is content to follow wherever his passions and talents lead him. And the viewers of his shows and films are the lucky recipients of his talented and dedicated work. He thoroughly embraces every opportunity which has been afforded him in the industry, and I am intrigued to see what his next impressive work will be.

If you have not had the opportunity to watch Once Upon A Time (or if you’re like me and you need to catch up), check out Netflix, ABC, and many other streaming sites in order to relish this show that captured the imaginations of so many viewers worldwide and will unquestionably continue to do so for years to come. Additionally, in order to keep up with Hesham and all his projects, I invite you to check out his links below and follow him where applicable. Even though this show has ended, there is no doubt in my mind that an industry professional who consistently demonstrates the distinguished caliber of work Hesham does will soon be on to a new project where he will potentially reach even further artistic heights. 

FOLLOW HESHAM

VFX Reel: https://vimeo.com/434557 34

Acting Reel: https://vimeo.com/119744 412

IMDb: www.imdb.me/heshamhammou d

Website: www.heshamhammoud.com

Facebook: @HeshamHammoud

Instagram: @officialhesh

Spread the love

Tweet