16 | Broadcast Hot Shots | August 2019 broadcastnow.co.uk
Nominated by: Emma Obank and
Abby Singer, agents, Casarotto
Ramsay & Associates
Haleema Mirza’s burgeoning writing
career has strong foundations.
Having graduated from the National
Film and Television School in 2017
with an MA in screenwriting, she
was selected for the ultra-competi-
tive Channel 4 screenwriting pro-
gramme this year. In between, she
signed to literary agency Casarotto
Ramsay & Associates and, according
to agent Emma Obank, has been
“prolific” ever since.
Specialising in comedy, drama,
sci-fi and thriller, Mirza explores
tough subjects such as race and
mental health in her work. Her
original dystopian thriller Rivers
HALEEMA MIRZA 27
WRITER
Of Blood was recently picked up by
The Forge, while her crime series
treatment The Rise has been
optioned by Blueprint Pictures.
“It is rare for such a young
writer’s range to be so broad
and so good,” says Obank. “Her
biggest strength is being able to
look at stories through a unique,
and yet engaging, lens.
“She is also extremely hard-
working and prolific. She has some
very serious deadlines to meet –
and yet manages to meet them.”
Her agents say they “constantly
receive amazing feedback from
producers” about Haleema, who
is also penning the plot script for
a BBC adaptation of AA Dhand’s
novel Streets Of Darkness.Nominated by: Alex Rusher,
literary agent, Independent
Talent Group
Armed with a fierce wit and a sharp
observational eye, Alannah Olivia
has a habit of leaving producers
enthralled. She started her career
as an actress, which inspired her to
write stories about young ethnic
modern women. Independent
Talent Group signed the 28 year-old
just a year ago off the back of a first
draft of her original script, Olives.
Since than, she has had scripts
commissioned by the BBC and
Channel 4 and has won a place on
this year’s Bafta crew for directing.
Inspired by US programming,
Alannah’s storytelling is described
as “intuitive and savvy”. SheALANNAH OLIVIA 28
WRITER/DIRECTOR
challenges stereotypes of Middle
Eastern women while maintaining
a “fierce tenderness” for her char-
acters, says Neon Ink co-founder
Julia Walsh, with her “explosive
vision” helping her find wonderful
ways to tell stories of identity
and youth. Walsh’s Neon Ink co-
founder Kate Lewis describes her
work as “raw” and “funny”.
Leftbank development executive
Nawfal Faizullah says Alannah is
“one of the most kickass new
talents I have encountered”, while
Independent Talent Group’s Alex
Rusher says: “Within 10 years,
Allanah will doubtless have
various hit TV shows. Her features
will tell stories of those not yet prop-
erly represented on our screens.”