Today we’d like to introduce you to Yashna Malhotra.
Yashna, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Born and raised in Mumbai, India, I briefly worked as an Assistant Director but ended up picking a more ‘stable’ career path that would allow me to use my creative and analytical brain. I had always been intrigued by the intersection of technology and human behavior and ended up choosing Marketing. In 2015 I received my MSc in Integrated Marketing Communications at Northwestern University in Chicago, after which I moved to New York to work in advertising (where I constantly felt like I was a modern-day employee at Sterling-Cooper & Partners – yes, the agency from Mad Men).
A storyteller at heart, I escaped the concrete jungle and moved to sunny LA to pursue screenwriting at UCLA’s School of Theater Film and Television. The opportunity to be a part of the prestigious MFA Screenwriting Program was too great to pass up on, and it’s truly been the most challenging, intellectually stimulating and satisfying journey. Not only has moving to Los Angeles introduced me to so many talented folks who are passionate about entertainment, it has also opened so many doors for me. If someone had told me three years ago that I would get a chance to intern at Lionsgate – the same studio that’s responsible for bringing Mad Men and other amazing shows to the world, I would never have believed them.
I enjoy writing character-driven dramas about morally and culturally ambiguous characters who don’t quite belong but carve out their own unique path and journey anyway. Working with marginalized women and children in India highlighted to me the importance of telling stories that focus on empowerment, resilience and the incredibly strong and unbreakable human spirit.
I recently had my drama pilot script called ‘The Void’ showcased at the prestigious TFT Film Festival as part of the Screenwriter’s Showcase, where it was well-received by the industry, who voted for my script to be in the top five in its category. The Void is set in 2001 and is about a woman who wakes up on 9/11 and finds that her boyfriend has disappeared without a trace. When no evidence of his existence can be found, she begins to question whether or not he was real.
My feature script ‘Chasing Moksha’ is in the Semi Finals at the 2019 The Launch Screenplay contest. It’s set in India in a town nestled on the banks of the River Ganges and is a coming-of-age, family drama.
Another script of mine, a pilot called ‘Intersection’ was storytelling platform Scriptd’s Staff Pick for June 2019 and was featured on their social media.
Each of these scripts features South Asian characters as the leads, and it really humbles me to see that people are resonating with these characters and their journeys.
I was also fortunate enough to have a short film produced, where I had the great privilege of working alongside the most talented collaborators who came together to create a 17-minute short film that celebrates the journey of an artist embracing their path. The film touches upon the emotions of fear as well as the immense passion that it takes in order to be an artist and commit to your craft. It was truly magical to see that some words that I wrote resonated with an entire team that gave in so much of their time and energy to create the film that it became. This film entitled ‘The Next Step’ recently screened at the James Bridges Theater in Westwood.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Writing is never a smooth road. One of the biggest struggles is just facing the blank page. However, I’ve found that if the idea excites you enough, the words flow as long as you commit to moving forward every day. It really is just about taking the first step in faith. With any new project, the road is never smooth but finishing a draft is so immensely satisfying and exhilarating that any writer will want to dive into the next project with even more energy and enthusiasm.
Also, it’s hard to just trust your gut and go off that, but allowing your intuition to guide you while writing has been a valuable lesson that I’ve learnt along the way.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with your work– tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
As a screenwriter, I write both features and TV pilots. As a South Asian, female and person of color, I tend to write about strong (but flawed) South Asian female characters. While at UCLA, I was moderating a debate for a class of undergraduate students. We were talking about how until very recently there hadn’t been much representation for South Asians in mainstream film and TV besides Apu from The Simpsons. One of my students who grew up in a post 9/11 America said that as much as he hated being teased and called Apu, he was so grateful for Apu’s existence because if not Apu, he would be teased and called ‘terrorist’. His story really moved me and made me reflect on how stereotyped South Asians are – the same is true for any community or minority. We as a world are so good at highlighting differences and creating borders, but I wish to write to show that people all over the planet are more similar than we are different. We have more in common than what divides us. Everything I write is my humble attempt to try and challenge stereotypes and instead present complex, well-rounded characters with real flaws and struggles that anyone in the world can identify and resonate with.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
I see the industry gravitate towards opening up to the voices of those that have been suppressed all these years. I feel like now, more than ever, the world needs our stories. It’s heartening to see that under-represented voices are now being heard and it makes me optimistic about being a storyteller at this time.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: yashna_24
- Twitter: yashna24
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