You may know that Nahnatchka Khan is a television writer and producer from America, but there is so much more to her life than that. She has had quite the upbringing, which has given her a diverse outlook on life. As an up and coming cinematic personality, she is making her mark on the industry. Here are 10 things you may not have known about her until now.
1. Her parents are Iranian Immigrants
Before Khan was born, her parents immigrated to the United States from Iran. She is proud of her culture and heritage, but remarks that it was difficult growing up without any role models in the media to speak of. She is still one of the few professionals of Middle Eastern descent in the cinematic industry today, so she is something of a trendsetter. As a woman, that is even more compounded. She has had to work hard to set forth her own agenda and move forward using her own set of gifts and talents.
2. Las Vegas and Hawaii
While she was born in Las Vegas, she moved to Hawaii as a young child. This exposed her to a variety of cultures that have greatly influenced who she is as a writer today. A lot of her experiences growing up come out in her work.
3. She is a graduate of USC’s School of Cinematic Art
Upon graduating from high school, Khan received admission into the prestigious University of Southern California. While there, she enrolled at the School of Cinematic Art. That was an amazing experience for her that opened up countless opportunities as a young professional.
4. She was a college intern
One of the benefits of attending USC was the ready availability of great companies to intern for. Her first assignment was at National Lampoon. That was a tremendous experience that had her involved in many aspects of the film process, from writing to producing. She went from that set to intern at Fox. It was a combination of these experiences that gave her the background and connections she would need to get off to such a fast start in her career.
5 Malcolm in the Middle is where her writing career got started
It did not take long for Khan to start her writing career, and it really began with a bang. Her first ever position as a writer was with Malcolm in the Middle, produced by 20th Century Fox. This is one of the most popular sitcoms ever developed, and Khan was right there at the center of it. This would springboard her into working for other popular American shows, including American Dad and Unfabulous.
6. She is a huge fan of WWF
As mentioned before, Khan grew up without ever seeing anyone from her own Middle Eastern culture being portrayed on television. Early on in life, Khan and her brother discovered the Iron Sheik on television. As one of the more popular characters in WWF wrestling, she began to develop a liking for the sport. She noticed that he was Iranian and always seemed to play the role of the underdog. She would always be cheering for him as a result. She knows she is also the underdog in a male-dominated industry, so that has pushed her further in her career.
7. She worked for Disney Television Animation early in her career
One of her first jobs after being an intern was with Disney Television Animation. While there, she worked on the set of Pepper Ann, which was a popular sitcom in the 1990s. This would become the first series in that division to be created by a woman.
8. She had her directorial debut in 2018
Khan has always wanted to be a director. In 2018, she finally got her chance. She is the director of Always Be My Maybe. This is a Netflix production that is set to be released at some point in 2019.
9. She has her own production company
Khan has already formed her own company. Dubbed Fierce Baby Productions, she has used that company to already sign a multiyear deal back in 2016 with 20th Century Fox. In that role, she creates and writes for various projects that the studio assigns to her.
10. She is a member of the LGBT community
Khan is not shy about her sexuality. As a lesbian, she has regularly incorporated homosexual oriented themes into her work, particularly on the show Fresh Off the Boat.
Now you know much more about Nahnatchka Khan and can see why she has become so popular so quickly in her career. She has much to offer the cinematic community and is not afraid to direct, write, and produce groundbreaking scenes that deal with serious topics. She is sure to be around for some time to come.
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