take five
Catching up with novelist, screenwriter and executive producer Anisa Ashabi
Words by Alorie Gilbert
Photo courtesy of Anisa Ashabi
Anisa Ashabi was in eighth grade at Woodward Middle School when she began writing Finding Chaz, a coming-of-age novel loosely based on her experience navigating the tricky social milieu of middle school. After publishing the book in 2022 at the age of 23, she adapted it for the screen and filmed a TV pilot this year in the halls of the Bainbridge Island school that inspired the novel. Like Ashabi, the main character is of Middle Eastern descent and struggles as a teen to find her place in a predominantly white community.
What do you have in common with Roxie Nazari, the main character in Finding Chaz? It became an ongoing joke on set that to prepare for her role as Roxie, our lead actress, Emily, just had to hang out with me! That said, while her journey was definitely shaped by my own experiences growing up, Roxie’s still very much her own person.
What about Finding Chaz resonates with young readers? Finding Chaz explores themes that are universal to the adolescent experience. Real issues are tackled head-on, and Roxie’s narration pulls no punches. Despite it taking place in the 2000s, young readers have felt seen by this story, especially those who’ve rarely seen themselves reflected in mainstream narratives thus far.
Do we need more stories that center the voices of people of Middle Eastern descent? It was important to me that Roxie and Nick’s heritage and experiences as Iranian-American kids were highlighted in Finding Chaz, but not as a dominant part of the plot. No matter how many times I scoured the shelves of my school library growing up, I came up without any representation of my own, or even the slightest validation that my sense of alienation was even warranted. I hope Finding Chaz can help blaze a trail in this regard.
What do you appreciate about growing up in Kitsap County? Growing up in Kitsap uniquely grounded me. Without the amusements and distractions of a larger city, my brother Kian and I had to rely on our imaginations to create our fun. My parents were proponents of [telling us to] “go outside and play” rather than plugging into a TV or gaming console. As a result, we came up with countless skits, stories, and entire character universes, some of which have inspired current projects. I couldn’t have done any of this without Kian—so much of him is woven into this project.
The first person to read the manuscript of the novel was someone special to you, yes? My former teacher at Ordway Elementary, Boo Schneider! She read an entire 200-page manuscript of a “novel” I wrote in third grade and made it her mission to encourage me to pursue writing seriously. We reconnected during my junior year of high school when, over Facebook Messenger, she gently nudged me to keep writing. When the manuscript was finally finished, I knew she had to be one of the first to read it.
What was it like to return to Woodward to bring this story to the screen? It was absolutely surreal. Walking into Woodward to film the pilot felt like stepping into a time capsule. We shot the scenes in the exact locations I had envisioned when I first started writing—right down to the same desk in the very classroom where I sat 12 years ago.
If the show had a theme song, what would it be? We’re currently working on this in post-production! I’m thinking heavy drums, angsty lyrics and a definite pop/punk vibe—something inspired by Green Day and Avril Lavigne.
Where does the TV project stand now? The goal is to complete post-production and have the pilot ready by spring. Several local venues have already shown interest in hosting premieres, giving the community a chance to see what we’ve accomplished. After that, we’ll be pitching it to networks and streaming services, submitting it to festivals and working to get it seen everywhere possible. If all goes according to plan, you’ll be watching it on your TV in the near future!
