“I am an actor, writer, a clown, and now, a filmmaker,” Jamal Rana announces with a clever mixture of pride and humility. The thirsty year veteran began as a street performer and grew like a mighty oak in so many directions – on and off Broadway, television, film, AND a great deal of radio, as well as theaters throughout North America and Europe. Rana was part of the acclaimed Tony award winning musical The Band’s Visit – touring for over two years in the acclaimed production. He ticked off the “New York actor” box by being accused of murder on “Law & Order: SVU,” but took time to appear in Loves Labors Lost at the Royal Shakespeare Company. He went on to have his plays produced professionally and even served as a stilt-walking Uncle Sam in the Coney Island USA Mermaid Parade. “Adventure is a big part of my art,” he then said with a smile.
STRAYS – his new independent film – combined all his passion, profession, and brilliance into a heart-warming moment in time. We spoke with Jamal about his filmmaking journey and the lovely end-product.
I wrote Strays 12 years ago. The script did quite well in a few festivals, but I didn’t think I’d ever be able to raise the funds. I dreamed of making it, but I didn’t know how or when that would happen. Luckily in 2017, my acting career went in a very positive direction, and I was able to save some money to make this dream a reality. My creative process was all about surrounding myself with extremely passionate and creative artists who read the script and were willing to take this journey with me. It touched them and for that I am forever grateful. For me, creativity is a collaboration. My director, Or Schraiber is an acclaimed dancer and choreographer. When he read the script, he saw things I didn’t, which took the film to new heights. My producers Jane Kotlyar and Catherine Ann Taylor brought their passion for storytelling, and not only did they help me produce this film, but they inspired my work. The extraordinary actors who took part in this film inspired me throughout the process.
Was it your love of silent cinema that made you make a “silent” movie was there another reason(s)?
I grew up on the films of Chaplin, Keaton, and Tati. I still watch silent films. During the pandemic, the acclaimed silent film composer Ben Model would livestream silent films from his apartment on YouTube. Watching more silent films only inspired me further. I love how international silent films were. A gesture, a sigh, a glance can tell so much. I wanted to make a film that audiences throughout the world could enjoy and hopefully be moved by. Strays also have elements of loneliness. As a traveling actor, I am constantly on the move, living out of a suitcase and moving from city to city. There have been times where I have been so alone that I would go hours without speaking, because I had no one to talk to. Loneliness is something we have all felt.
Is it fair to say there are several autobiographical touches in this film?
This film has biographical elements. When I was a little boy, my parents sponsored my uncles to come here from Pakistan. They wanted to give a better life for their families. They worked hard jobs and sent most of their income home. The goal was to get settled and eventually bring their families here. That goal came to fruition, but it took a long time. I remember my uncles holding me and playing with me. I didn’t realize then how sad they were because they weren’t able to hold their own children. I see so many people who come here and work extremely hard so they can give their families a better life. They sacrifice everything. They’re tired. They are constantly working. They might feel invisible. I made this film because I want them to know that they are not invisible. They are seen.
Out of nowhere, there is a small but fascinating “dance number” of a group of Uber drivers including you. Where did this come from?
I am beyond blessed to have Or Schraiber direct this film. Besides being a wonderful director and editor, Or is an internationally acclaimed dancer/choreographer. My original script didn’t have any dance, because I wasn’t creative enough to even think of it. As Or read the script, he came up with so many inspiring ideas, taking the story to new heights. He said he wanted moments of dance and we got 2: one with a group of fellow immigrants and one with me on the boardwalk of my beloved Coney Island. Or Schraiber is truly a remarkable artist.
STRAYS cannot be singularly defined in this film. There are so many interpretations ending in that word. Do you feel your character is also a “stray?”
My character, Shamsul, is definitely a stray. He is alone and unnoticed. He has a roof over his head and a car to earn money. Other than that, he’s invisible in the world, which is why I love this film, because this stray has a beautiful and magical day.
BUT the title primarily implies the wayward cat that has taken a liking to Shamsul. Is the cat just a cat or a metaphor?
Chaplin’s The Kid heavily inspired the cat. I don’t know why, but I always imagined a black cat. I never grew up with cats. I know very little about cats, but for some reason, it had to be a cat. Cats are very difficult to direct – we learned that in production. Regarding “deeper meaning,” I’m going to quote the legendary filmmaker Andrei Tarkovsky – “a book read by a thousand different people is a thousand different books.” I think people will have many thoughts about the cat and I think that’s wonderful.
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