Jade Hassoune likes to express himself with may different artforms. Talking to Jade is very comforting. It gave me a positive outlook that there are still some decent people in the world.
Tell us about your audition for Shadowhunters.
It was a nice and special audition process. Sometimes things just flow and fit. I had been auditioning fa lot that year, I was starting to wonder what I could do to keep the passion and the expectation alive. The Shadowhunters audition came way at the end of pilot season, even past it. I had gone to my friend's cottage for the weekend close to Montreal and I got a last minute call from my agent, to audition for the role of Alaric. The audition was in Toronto, but all I could do was send a tape and I had to do it fast. I didn't realize it at the time how big the Mortal Instruments was, all I knew that day was that the scene took place at a police station. Out of all the auditions that year, this one I felt the least confident about. But I sent it. I was surprised a week later when I was called in for a different character, vampire Raphael Santiago. This time I was in Toronto, by that point I had started researching about the show and the Mortal Instruments world. It wasn't hard to find info about it since the Mortal Instruments book series has such an established international fandom and success. Things got more exciting when I realized what world I was slowly entering. There was already so much buzz about the other cast members and anticipation from the fandom. Luckily there were a lot of drawings of the characters online, lots to read and even a movie to watch. A week later I got a call to read for Meliorn, and then a call back a few days later to make some adjustments for the producers and director. And I was gifted with a great friend of mine being my reader so I was able to connect instantly. The whole process was a month, and at the end of that month there was an announcement for my casting and a week later I was on set and I had joined an epic world. Luckily I said no to a job that would've had my hair buzzed cut that month. I had a feeling to keep my long hair. And now I know why.
You're into the comic book scene.
Reading comics / graphic novels are such a great way to tell and to delve into a story. It feels like a movie but with more of your imagination because you get to play the soundtrack in your head, and you have control of the rhythm to a certain extent, time somehow warps because you can linger and focus on any moment for as long as you want. Or create faster momentum.
I've been drawing and creating comics since I was a toddler and recently, because I had the time to finally make it "legit", I got my Cartooning Certificate at a college in Toronto. I have some collaborations with other actors and writers I've met on sets, some they've written and I've illustrated. I'm working on other projects of my own as well, everything is in development, but I'm looking forward to it all. Won't release anything until I feel ready to tackle that world. I'm still observing the scene. Some of my favorite graphic novels /comics are "Habibi" and "Blankets" by Craig Thompson, the "Shutter" comic series, The Walking Dead, and I'm still following Buffy The Vampire Slayer as comics continuing the television story, it's season 10 now! I grew up with Tintin and Garfield.
Why did your family move from Lebanon to Canada?
My parents left Lebanon because of the war. They wanted a better life for my brother and me. They have an epic story and journey that one day I will turn into a screenplay. Before moving to Canada, we were in Geneva, Switzerland where I have my first memories, when I was four and a half we arrived in Montreal.
What type of music do you listen to?
My music taste is very eclectic. I find things I like in all kinds of music. Depends what state of being I'm in. I do listen to a lot of pop and hiphop music though. I'm a child of the pop culture and I love to see how it's evolving. But I'll listen to classical or meditation music or EDM or J