Interview (Part 2): Alysha Chan and David Zarif

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.

Today in Part 2 of a 6-part series to run each day through Saturday, David and Alysha talk about the real-life inspiration for their Nicholl-winning screenplay “Miss Chinatown.”

Scott: Doesn’t sound like there was much in the way of formal educational training in terms of screenwriting. David, you had that one class where you wrote twenty pages. Were there any other ways that you went about learning the craft?

David: I worked as a reader for a few years, so I’ve probably read about a thousand scripts in my life. Just reading scripts is a great education.

Scott: Absolutely. The fact you wrote Miss Chinatown, the first script Alysha was involved in, and did such an incredible job of writing it, speaks to the value of reading scripts. Let’s talk about this Nicholl-winning script. Here’s the logline:

“Jackie Yee, a lifelong tomboy, follows in her mother’s footsteps on her quest to win the Los Angeles Miss Chinatown pageant.”

I did a little research. This is like a thing.

Alysha: It’s most definitely a thing.

Scott: It’s totally real. Tell me about that.

David: Alysha ran for Miss Chinatown.

Alysha: The real-life one has a winner and a court with princesses, or runner-ups. I was one of the princesses. It was such a unique experience.

David: When we first started dating, she told me, in no uncertain terms, that I was in the presence of a princess. I remember thinking, “Man, dating in LA really is different…” Then she explained Miss Chinatown to me, and, like most non-Chinese people, I had never heard of it. As time went on, I saw that she remained close with her Miss Chinatown class — still hanging out and participating in events together even years later.

Alysha: There’s a tight-knit alumni network. It’s like a sorority.

Scott: You probably know that Hollywood has this business ethos they’ve had for generations, which is this: “similar but different.” They like things that are similar to successful movies, but different enough to stand on their own. Miss Chinatown brings to mind Little Miss Sunshine because of the pageant element. Similarly, it recalls Miss Congeniality. Even the teen comedy Bring It On. But your story is distinctive and unique in its own way.

I want to talk about the four key familial characters, starting with your protagonist, Jackie. At the beginning of the story, what do we need to know about this young woman?

Alysha: Jackie’s 18 and full of teenage angst, struggling to forge her own path in life while facing the pressure of overbearing parents, specifically her mother. It’s a common experience for many Chinese kids, growing up with strict parents who try to dictate their future.

She’s also grappling with her identity — trying to find a balance between being Chinese and American — which I’ve definitely dealt with as well. Jackie ultimately learns that it’s possible to honor both her own desires and her parents’ wishes. Being true to herself doesn’t mean abandoning her roots — it’s about finding harmony between the two.

Scott: Yeah. I think what’s at the core of most every Protagonist’s story is this question of self-identity and that relates to Jackie’s journey in the script.

You mention her overbearing mother, Annie. David, how would you describe her character?

David: Annie wants the best for her kids but doesn’t always go about it the right way. That’s the crux of our story — strong-willed tiger mom versus free-spirited daughter.

Scott: Annie was a winner of the Miss Chinatown pageant in the past, so there is a legacy dynamic.

Alysha: Annie’s Miss Chinatown experience left such a positive imprint on her life that she wants the same for her daughter, without considering what Jackie wants for herself — which I think is a common dynamic between parents and their children.

Scott: What about Edwin, the dad? He’s a fun character. He’s sort of background early on, but then he has some really big moments later on in the story. How would you describe him?

David: I feel like Edwin is based on her dad.

Alysha: It’s a very personal script. [laughs]

David: Edwin’s a sweet guy. He doesn’t have a bad bone in his body. He loves his family, misses his wife, and wants to do the best he can for his daughters.

Scott: Then there’s Jade, the younger sister. She’s a hoot.

David: Jade is like your [Alysha] alter ego or something. What do you think?

Alysha: Sure. [laughs]

Scott: Where did that voice come from? She’s got a very contemporary social media-speak.

David: It’s hard for me to pinpoint where voices come from. Creating characters feels so amorphous and fluid — ideas just appear and then evolve as you write. She’s kind of our nod to Gen Z and their social media savvy and lingo.

Scott: Well, that’s great that you can have the characters speaking to you that clearly.

David: I make it sound like writing is easy. It’s not. It’s so, so not. But Jade came easy to us.

Tomorrow in Part 3, Alysha and David go into depth about how they crafted an entertaining Act One in their Nicholl-winning screenplay, but also efficient.

For Part 1, go here.

For my interviews with every Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner since 2012, go here.