Graduated from USC Stark MFA Program

I recently graduated with my MFA from the prestigious Peter Stark Producing Program at USC, and what an incredible experience it's been! When I was evacuated overnight out of India at the beginning of the pandemic, I left behind my careers as a choreographer and filmmaker in Bollywood. Deciding to start over in Los Angeles was a scary and tough decision -- the day after I submitted my Stark application, I drove cross-country to LA, determined to make it happen with or without the degree. A few months later, I found out that I was one one of the 25 people that Stark accepted for the class of 2023.

Different from a traditional film school, Stark focuses on business, strategy, negotiation, and how the money flows: in short, it's more like an MBA in entertainment. Our professors are working professionals by day who teach us at night. In addition to classes, I assisted two different professors during their respective semesters: an EVP at Sony Animation, and a writer/EP. For my thesis, I optioned a feature script by the talented Sophia Ho and created a 250+ page plan detailing the production, financing, budget, schedule, creative hires, marketing, and distribution. Outside of school, I interned at both Shondaland and United Talent Agency. It was a priority for me to learn firsthand about the diversity of work in entertainment, and I'm so grateful to have been at two of the top companies in the industry.

I also produced a Stark Special Project, the highest-level grant and production opportunity that the program offers, with Kelan Brown as my producing partner and Alexandra Hensley as our talented writer/director. We prioritized underrepresented talent in entertainment, staffing over 80% women and non-binary individuals at all levels of our production, including our department heads. We worked with companies like the MBS Equipment Company and Rosco to create professional-level support and resources for our Art, Grip, and Gaffing departments.

I'm so lucky to have spent the past two years studying what I love and learning from the best in the industry -- thank you to Edward Saxon, Michael Lane, Bailey Cool, and YJ for guiding me through this life-changing experience. I'm excited to take this forward into the rest of my career. Thank you, USC and my Stark family. Fight on!