Meet Aalisha Sheth | Writer for TV and Film

We had the good fortune of connecting with Aalisha Sheth and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Aalisha, is there a quote or affirmation that’s meaningful to you?

“We write to taste life twice, in the moment and in retrospect.”

― Anaïs Nin

I love this quote as it most authentically captures the way I feel about writing. If I were to answer the question – why do I write? My response would be, “I write to heal, remember, resist, reclaim and raise hell. Sometimes all at the same time. And then all over again.” 

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?

I think I always knew I wanted to be a writer. At the age of 14-15, I started gifting small poems as gifts to my friends on their birthdays. Then, at the age of 17, I was published and featured in the Education Times supplement of The Times of India, that carried contributions from emerging writers. That’s where it all began. 

I have written for long-form television series, independent pilots, ads, short films, plays and short fiction stories. My words have been produced, performed, and published in India, USA, and the UK. Finding the right home (medium) for a story is very important to me. This allows me to build my voice and craft across mediums and formats, and I truly cherish the process. I also have a collection of short stories and an audio drama in the works. 

Recently, I worked as a Staff Writer on a drama series called SHOWTIME, which is streaming on Disney+Hotstar in India and Hulu in the United States. I am also writing and developing original television series and features for global streaming platforms.

Being a professional screenwriter is certainly not an easy career path. Humility and gratitude have been my constant teachers along the way. Anyone who wants to be a screenwriter needs to practice radical empathy. Also, screenwriting is a deeply collaborative medium and working with multiple creative stakeholders often leads to friction. But, my greatest learning so far has been that if you lead with curiosity, patience, and gentleness, one can always find amicable solutions to a creative crisis. 

Also, as a writer, one must always keep asking oneself– why this story and why now? The answer to those questions often become your guiding light. 

If there isn’t a personal connect or a deep sense of urgency to say something through your story, it doesn’t have roots. And eventually, it will not be able to build an honest connection with the audience. The most personal IS the most universal. This also means that as screenwriters, we must first become memorists and memory keepers. We must remember, retain, record and bear witness to life and information around us to be able to truly capture the human condition in all its gore and glory and then authentically splatter it on the page. 

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.

One of my favourite places to visit in downtown Los Angeles is The Last Book Store. I distinctly remember the feeling of walking into the store for the very first time. It had this earthy warmth and leathery nostalgia, coated with a whiff of cinnamon- laced hot chocolate. I had visited the store by myself, but it felt like meeting an estranged friend after a long time. A tight hug on a cold winter’s day. It is my hope to revisit the store as a published author one day. 

I would also highly recommend catching The Get Brown sketch show at the Upright Citizen’s Brigade Theatre. It’s a great introduction to the burgeoning South Asian improv talent in LA. The Westwood Village Theater is again one of my favourite places in LA. The legacy and cinematic history it carries is unparalleled. It was at the risk of going extinct during the pandemic but a group of Hollywood directors rescued it. To me that’s the greatest story ever told!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?

I have to say that have female mentors in this industry has played the most significant role in my success. Also, the MFA in Writing for the Stage and Screen program significantly accelerated my journey as a screenwriter, so I would like to dedicate my shoutout to my MFA cohort (CO’19), my professors and mentors from Northwestern University. They really encouraged me to find my voice and sharpen my craft as a writer. I shall always be grateful for their faith, guidance, and support. I would also like to thank OTV (Open Television) for providing me with artistic support as an emerging writer/creator. Lastly, I would like to dedicate this shoutout to the beautiful city of Chicago that taught me the true meaning of discipline, perseverance, tenacity and above all – hope.

Website: https://www.aalishasheth.com

Instagram: @itsaalisha

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aalisha-sheth-7398b915a/

Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm9528234/?ref_=nmbio_ov

Image Credits
Ray Gellner Northwestern University OTV Dharmatic Entertainment Disney+Hotstar