We were lucky to catch up with Neda Davarpanah recently and have shared our conversation below.
Neda, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?
That’s a great question. Resilience is one of the most important traits that anyone working in the entertainment industry can possess. It’s a skill that must be learned, honed, and regularly practiced, given the uncertainty and instability that is characteristic of this line of work. The greatest example of resilience in my life is my mother, Mina Kermani, who is my role model in all things and my greatest inspiration for what I write: Stories about rebellious women who fight the systems that silence them. She grew up in Iran at the dawn of the Revolution and raised my sister, Vida, and I as a single mother. She instilled in us not only her drive and determination, but also her resilience – her ability to meet obstacles head on and find creative solutions to the limitations that life so often presents. This spirit of resilience is one of the reasons why I decided to pursue a career in entertainment, despite the significant barriers to entry that I have faced as a young woman from an underrepresented background with no familial ties to the industry. My passion for writing and newfound love of acting have carried me through difficult moments, and it’s the ability to express myself in these ways – through story and character – that gives me the strength the move forward no matter what life throws my way.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I’m an Iranian-American writer, actor, and producer born and raised in Los Angeles. I was lucky to discover my passion for writing at a young age, which led me to attend the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts, where I founded the first annual Feminist Media Festival while serving on the executive board of the Women of Cinematic Arts student organization. Today, I’m thrilled to serve as the Director of Publicity + Partnership of the WCA alumnae organization. After graduating with my degree in Writing for Screen & Television, I began working in writers rooms and most recently co-wrote my first episode of television – with writer Maya Goldsmith – on Season 2 of Netflix original series The Recruit, created by Alexi Hawley. I’m so honored to be able to work with and learn from these talented writers.
This allowed me to join the Writers Guild of America, just before the 2023 strike, which was an incredibly formative experience for a young writer. In addition to my personal participation in the strike, I also helped provide grassroots support to the picket lines for both the WGA and SAG as a leader of the organization Hollywood Labor. My colleagues in leadership — Rusteen Honardoost, Noah Suárez-Sikes, Helen Silverstein, Alex Wolinetz, Alison Golub, and Yonatan Hirshberg – have worked tirelessly on the Snacklist / Snackpack fundraising initiative and we’re excited to continue organizing on behalf of entertainment industry workers in the future.
In addition to the aforementioned, I have some exciting personal projects in the works that I’d love to share with you. First, I recently completed the Mentorship Matters BIPOC Writers Initiative, a screenwriting fellowship, in which I received invaluable guidance and support from my mentors, Lauren Mackenzie & Andrew Gettens, as well as other writers and leaders who are instrumental to the program — Raelle Tucker, Gianna Sobol, Wei Chen, and Niceole Levy.
I’m excited to move forward in my career as a writer with the skills and knowledge that I’ve acquired through this program, especially on my upcoming feature film, Influence, a supernatural horror-satire and my first project as a writer-producer. It was recently optioned by West 36 Productions with Tiffany Kim Stevens attached to direct. Finally, in addition to writing, I’m excited to share that I’ve begun acting as well. I recently starred in the upcoming feature film Bird of Paradise, a feature film written and directed by Reza Amidi. Be on the lookout for these projects – and Season 2 of The Recruit – coming soon!
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Trust, determination, and humility are some of the most important qualities that have helped me on this journey, both professionally and personally. Entertainment is a collaborative field, whether you’re working in a writers room, on set, or in post. Not only is it necessary to build trust among a team, but it’s vital to build a trusting relationship with yourself, given the ups and downs that are built into this industry – and into our lives. As we learn to trust ourselves and try to weather these storms, it’s important to remember why we started this journey in the first place. That’s where determination comes in — keeping your eye on the ball and not allowing setbacks or disappointments to hold you back. Finally, humility is essential in work as well as in life. When we’re faced with an unfamiliar challenge or we begin to feel overwhelmed, we need to turn to those we trust for support and advice. My achievements would not have been possible without the generous advice and support of my teachers, mentors, and colleagues. Learning how to ask for help, and begin open to changing course if need be, is a quality that I’ve noticed in every successful person I’ve met, and it’s one that I plan to continue cultivating as I continue to pursue my goals.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
One of the best feelings in the world is meeting someone whose creative vision connects with mine. Someone who is excited about the stories that they want to tell, and who sees what’s worthwhile about the stories I’m compelled to tell. I’ve collaborated with writers, directors, actors, producers, and more on my aforementioned projects and as I move forward in my career and take the next step, I’m eager to connect with others who can help me bring these stories to life.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://nedadavarpanah.com
Image Credits
Joanna DeGeneres, Mentorship Matters, Carly Arin, Heidi Garcia, Olivia Brett
