Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Yashna Malhotra. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Yashna, thanks for joining us today. If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your creative career sooner or later?
I wrote my first feature-length screenplay when I was 23 years old. 10 years later, there’s a noticeable change in the depth of my work – not only as a result of having worked on my craft a lot more, but also thanks to life experience. I personally feel life experience is as important, if not more important, than the craft because while the craft enables you to communicate your thoughts in the most effective, engaging and entertaining manner, knowing what to write and the choice of subjects is something that is a direct influence of life experience, and is something that only gets richer with time.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
Hi! I’m an award-winning screenwriter, a BAFTA Newcomers fellow, and a graduate of the MFA program in Screenwriting from the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television. I’ve also been a Sloan grant recipient, and was a finalist for the Sloan Grand Jury Prize awarded by the Museum of the Moving Image.
I write character-driven dramas and dramedies – both features and series – about South Asians, for a global audience. I currently have multiple projects – features and series – in different stages of development for theatrical release, as well as global streaming platforms and I’m very excited for the world to watch these stories very soon!
What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?
I think creating an environment that’s conducive to taking risks and even failing would make for a safe space for artists and creatives to speak their truth, in whatever art form they may choose.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
If someone can see themselves in the characters I write – whether or not they like or dislike these characters – but if they can just feel seen and validated, like they’re not alone or unseen in this world – for me that is the most rewarding aspect of being a storyteller and screenwriter.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.yashnamalhotra.com
- Instagram: @yashna_24
Image Credits
onein8billion.studios and Reina Higashitani