Palestinian. Actor. Director. Mousa Kraish

Ever wonder who that dashing Arab man was in Superbad? Or the sexy Palestinian, with great hair, in Fast and the Furious? Remember the intensity of Badran in Munich? It was none other than, Mousa Kraish: a skilled actor, writer, director, photographer, amongst many other talents. With a successful blog, AngryHappyArab.com and his new series, You Love I, Kraish is well on his way, breaking stereotypes as he rises.

Kraish, 35, sat down with elan to discuss, his career, projects he’s working on and other cultural Arab idiosyncrasies.

What were your parents like? Were they typical strict Arab parents?

Yes and no. I think as they got older they got weirder. My dad came with nothing and he worked in a 7-11, just like every other brown person. This was back in the 70s. It’s funny because my mom was a little more educated than my father. She actually spoke English, and my father didn’t. So anytime someone would come to the door my father would be like “talk to them.”

Both my parents are Palestinian, from Jericho. That whole story where my dad kicked down the door with a club and was like, “I want you,” you know ethnic Palestinian ways. Her father was like, “What do you got?!” He goes, “Nothing…” Her father said, “Okay, done.” My dad said, “We’re going to America!”

So he kind of did well for himself and we moved to Brooklyn. Well, let me preface that, I was actually born in Jersey. I’m the oldest of nine, so I always say that I’m originally from Brooklyn, even though I was born in Jersey. For the record, it was only a couple of weeks.

Where in Jersey were you born?

Old Bridge…but lets just say Brooklyn. We can lie! That’s my one white lie.

So do you think that your childhood move to Brooklyn is what sparked your creativity? Were you always a creative person?

I don’t know what kinda sparked my creativity. The earliest thing I can remember about art in general was, this Halloween kind of art fair and I walked in and saw these little drawings and sketches and I was like that’s pretty cool…but I was five. I remember this one painting of a werewolf and I was just like I wanted to do that. So I grew up sketching and drawing.

So that was your first form of artistic outlet?

That and sitting in front of the television on Saturday mornings watching cartoons, black and white movies, Charlie Chaplin. That’s what I grew up on. That and Three’s Company, any 70s or 80s show. I remember TV was a big influence, but I didn’t know then that I wanted to get into film or acting, it wasn’t until later.

Do you find that you are often typecasted as a scary Arab guy?

Before acting I studied everything else. I studied film. Lighting. I worked as many production assistant jobs as I could in every department because I just wanted to know how to make film. And then acting was the last piece, I studied acting for about two years, late in my twenties. When I got out, I had a conversation with my Dad, and he was just like, if you do this just don’t do anything that embarrasses us. And I kind of got a sense of what he meant by that. I was doing a lot of theater, running around New York.

Then “Munich” came along. I really wanted to do it because Steven Spielberg was directing it. I wrote him a letter and said I’m Palestinian, I know what this is about and I would love to be in this movie. Tony Kushner wrote the script. I did that and people kept saying you’re going to play a terrorist. I would say, that they weren’t really terrorists, they were freedom fighters. I’ve never done 24, though I’ve been offered that. I’ve never done those really bad terrorist shows.

Right now is the first time I’m actually on a show called “Blue Bloods,” that’s coming out with Tom Selleck and Donnie Wahlberg. They gave me a guest star for a guy who plays a terrorist. I saw it and I read it and a buddy of mine said, “You really gonna do this?” I said, look at it, read it, and he turned out to be from Brooklyn who kind of goes fanatical. I was like, this is actually kind of cool because there’s like this side to him because he’s more like a psychopath than somebody who is like I want to destroy the world. He doesn’t talk about religion, you can just sort of see it in his eyes that he’s just kind of lost it. That’s the stuff that I’ll do.

But Superbad I wasn’t typecasted, the Fast and the Furious I wasn’t typecasted in. And then my projects I make sure that I’m not typecasted in. I think that’s what you’ve got to do. It’s your career so you make the choices that you want. So, yes and no.

Where did the idea for the YOU LOVE I series come from?

I went through a breakup with somebody and I just started writing. I wrote a screenplay that’s going to go to Sundance. You get creative when you’re in that place. I was sitting down with a friend of mine, and I was like I just want to do a comedy but about something real about 30 something year olds, people our age, trying to figure out what to do in their lives. And taco trucks are HUGE in LA… they’re everywhere! I thought how funny would it be if these three guys got together, and one of them just decided to buy and run a taco truck, but they have no idea how to run a business. And also get to know these characters. One guy really wants to be an actor. One guy is pining over his ex-girlfriend. Mike just wants to start something in his life. So that’s where it came from. I would just sit down and write it and I have these great friends who are actors who weren’t working, so we sat around and starting shooting stuff. That’s where the idea came from. I just have great people around me and now its starting to become something more.

My goal would it would be to really put it on TV. To make it just as good as “Arrested Development,” “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” “Parks and Recreation.” I just has the type of humor about it.

I understand that you direct as well as act in the series. Do you prefer one over the other?

I studied acting and became an actor to be a better director. That’s the truth of it. I didn’t know acting was going to take me to this level and it feels like its just getting bigger and better. Sometimes I feel like somebody is going to tap me on my shoulder and be like, “You don’t belong here dude. What are you doing here?!” But it’s like a friend of mine said to me the other day, “You’re kind of a first. You’re breaking stereotypes,” and then you have someone like Aziz Ansari who is doing the same, and it’s slowly but surely coming out. Directing is my love. If somebody said you could only do either one, I’d fight. But then say okay…I’ll direct.

What would we see if we were to look trough your “recently played” play list on your iPod?

Biggie, Jay-z, Black Eyed Peas, Bon Iver, and Lykke-Li

What advice would you give our readership aspiring to enter your profession?

I think definitely, first and foremost, determination. Definitely have a point of view. Whether you’re an actor, photographer, filmmaker, or artist in general. You should ask yourself, “What do you really want to say through your work?” Because when you’re playing characters you’re still saying something. There’s a piece of you that’s being implemented on film. When you’re writing, it is your voice. It’s why people see a Spielberg movie and know it’s a Spielberg film. People associate you with things and it’s because they have a point of view. So determination, a point of view, and perseverance.

If you’re going to get into acting, perseverance, stick with it no matter what and have a love for it. If somebody says to you “no” find somebody who says “yes.”

That’s all it is. I’ve been turned down more than enough. People have actually said, “I don’t get it.” That’s the way of the world but if you stay true to yourself that’s all that matters. There’s no wrong or right way into getting into this business.

When your not acting/directing/being hilarious what are you doing?

(laughs) I don’t know! What am I doing? I’m on facebook!

Pining over your ex-girlfriend?

No, I’m not pining anymore.

Did it really take a year?

I’m not going to answer that!

I’m assuming yes..from the expression on Mousa’s face right now…

Hey! Love is a powerful thing! (laughs) It’s kind of like Rick James said on The Dave Chapelle Show, “Cocaine’s a hell of a drug.”

I guess when I’m not acting, I’m constantly thinking of ideas. I love to shoot photos. I run around and take as many pictures as I can. I’m doing that right now while I’m in New York. Hanging out. Being an artist. Trying to figure out how not to get a 9 to 5 job. Writing a lot.

Rapid Fire Questions

Celebrity crush?

Emma Blunt … We’d make nice babies

Blonde or brunette?

Blondes

TV series?

Besides You Love I. It’s always Sunny

Favorite Movie?

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Boxers or Briefs?

Briefs! Come on, what am I 18?

Fear or Respect?