“Unlocking Creativity: Alysha Chan and David Zarif Share Their Secrets to Storytelling Mastery”
What does it take to grab the spotlight in the competitive world of screenwriting? Well, if you’re Alysha Chan and David Zarif, winners of the prestigious 2024 Nicholl Fellowship in Screenwriting, it starts with a story. The couple’s captivating screenplay, “Miss Chinatown,” is more than just a script—it’s a glimpse into their creative journey, laden with inspiration and the pursuit of passion. In my recent chat with them, we delved into their distinct backgrounds, the meaning behind their award-winning work, and what this recognition truly means for their craft. They say every great screenplay starts with a question—so let’s explore theirs and find out what we can learn from their artistic odyssey. You might just find the insight you’ve been searching for to spark your own storytelling journey! LEARN MORE.
My interview with the 2024 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winners.
Alysha Chan and David Zarif wrote the original screenplay “Miss Chinatown” which won a 2024 Nicholl Fellowship in Screenwriting. Recently, I had the opportunity to chat with the couple about their creative background, their award-winning script, the craft of screenwriting, and what winning the Nicholl has meant to them.
Here is my complete interview with Alysha and David.
Scott Myers: Welcome. Congratulations on winning the 2024 Nicholl.
Alysha Chan: Thank you so much.
Scott: Let’s start with Alysha. How did you find your way into writing as an interest and then eventually screenwriting?
Alysha: Writing has always been a part of my life in some form. In college, I wrote a couple of novel-length works, and I’ve written short stories for fun from time to time. However, Miss Chinatown was my first foray into screenwriting. I was in search of a creative outlet and David suggested we give it a try. In preparation, I read “Save the Cat” as well as a ton of Blacklist scripts to get a feel for the craft.
Scott: Where’d you go to college?
