{"id":43947,"date":"2025-08-09T15:41:00","date_gmt":"2025-08-09T20:41:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/?post_type=bu-article&#038;p=43947"},"modified":"2026-02-03T14:21:15","modified_gmt":"2026-02-03T19:21:15","slug":"from-com-to-career-qa-with-nesa-huda-ms-screenwriting","status":"publish","type":"bu-article","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/articles\/from-com-to-career-qa-with-nesa-huda-ms-screenwriting\/","title":{"rendered":"From COM to Career: Q&#038;A With Nesa Huda, MFA Screenwriting"},"content":{"rendered":"\t<div class=\"wp-block-editorial-leadin bu-blocks-block-editorial-leadin is-style-default has-media has-media-focus-center-middle\">\n\t\t<div class=\"container-lockup\">\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-leadin-media\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<img width=\"1250\" height=\"625\" src=\"\/com\/files\/2025\/12\/com-to-career-25-huda.png\" class=\"\" alt=\"Woman in halftone in illustration with pencil, open book and clapperboard.\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/files\/2025\/12\/com-to-career-25-huda.png 1250w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/files\/2025\/12\/com-to-career-25-huda-636x318.png 636w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/files\/2025\/12\/com-to-career-25-huda-1024x512.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/files\/2025\/12\/com-to-career-25-huda-768x384.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1250px) 100vw, 1250px\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-block-editorial-leadin-caption wp-prepress-component-caption\">Illustration by Monica Chu.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"container-words-outer\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"container-words-inner\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"head\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFrom COM to Career: Q&amp;A With Nesa Huda, MFA Screenwriting\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t<div class=\"wp-prepress-component-metabar\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-prepress-component-metabar-categories\">\n\t\t\t<ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/category\/alumni\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAlumni\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/category\/film-television\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFilm &amp; TV\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<div class=\"wp-prepress-component-metabar-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-prepress-component-metabar-date\">August 9, 2025<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"wp-prepress-component-metabar-credits\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul data-credit-type=\"By\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/authors\/com-staff\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCOM Staff\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wp-prepress-component-metabar-share js-bu-prepress-share-tools\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"icon-twitter\"><span>Twitter<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"icon-facebook\"><span>Facebook<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"icon-action\"><\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t<div style=\"display:none;\">\n\t\t<div class=\"wp-prepress-component-share-tools\">\n\t<div class=\"wp-prepress-component-share-tools-inner js-prepress-component-share-tools\">\n\t\t<h4>Share<\/h4>\n\t\t<p class=\"wp-prepress-component-share-tools-article-title\">From COM to Career: Q&#038;A With Nesa Huda, MFA Screenwriting<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-prepress-component-share-tools-article-link\">\n\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" value=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/articles\/from-com-to-career-qa-with-nesa-huda-ms-screenwriting\/\" readonly>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<label>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Copy URL:<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<button class=\"js-prepress-component-share-tools\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>Copy<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t<\/label>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\n\n\n<p>Nesa Huda\u2019s freelance assignments in film production weren\u2019t \u201cscratching my creative itch,\u201d but a friend urged her to explore screenwriting in Los Angeles. Huda was drawn to Boston University, however, because of the city and because the screenwriting master\u2019s program offered classes in L.A., too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Huda completed her COM degree in 2022, moved to Los Angeles and has been working as a script coordinator for television programs such as <a href=\"https:\/\/abc.com\/show\/c920ec51-acf5-4057-89f4-0f8bef93b662\">The Company You Keep<\/a> on ABC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Huda spoke with COM as part of a series of interviews with recent graduates from Boston University\u2019s College of Communication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a\"><div class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-title\"><h2 class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-title-heading\">Q<span>&amp;<\/span>A<\/h2><h4 class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-title-subheading\">With Nesa Huda<\/h4><\/div>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-question\"><span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-name\">COM:<\/span> <span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-content\"><strong>What are some of the shows you\u2019ve worked on?<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-answer\"><span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-name\">Nesa Huda:<\/span> <span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-content\">My first show as script coordinator was <em>The Company You Keep<\/em> on ABC, which starred Milo Ventimiglia. More recently, I worked on <em>Deli Boys<\/em>, a show about two Pakistani brothers discovering their deceased father was a drug lord, which is a comedy with an all-brown cast portrayed authentically\u2014not as the typical model minority. As a Pakistani myself, it\u2019s really cool to see that representation onscreen.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-question\"><span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-name\">COM:<\/span> <span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-content\"><strong>What does a script coordinator do?<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-answer\"><span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-name\">Nesa Huda:<\/span> <span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-content\">A script coordinator is kind of the last person in between the writers and the distribution of the script. Writers may submit outlines, story areas\u2014rough two- or three-pagers\u2014or actual scripts. The coordinator goes line by line to make sure everything is grammatically correct, characters are doing what they&#8217;re supposed to, and story logic makes sense. For example, you have to check slug lines: is the scene interior or exterior, or is it shot in the day or night? That impacts how the crew shoots it. So you have to communicate properly with the crew, cast, producers, and everyone involved.<br><br>It might sound chill, but one small typo or mistake (like marking a scene wrong as interior when it\u2019s exterior) can throw off the entire crew, so it\u2019s very detail-oriented but rewarding. You get to work directly with writers, become the series encyclopedia, and help keep everything on track.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-question\"><span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-name\">COM:<\/span> <span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-content\"><strong>How did you get your start in the industry after graduating?<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-answer\"><span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-name\">Nesa Huda:<\/span> <span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-content\">I started with an internship at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.atomicmonster.com\/\">Atomic Monster<\/a>, a company known for horror content like <em>The Conjuring<\/em> series. There I did script coverage\u2014reading scripts and providing feedback, which applied directly what I learned in the program. Then a friend connected me with the reboot of the Canadian show <em>Degrassi<\/em> on HBO Max. That led to my first position as a writer\u2019s PA (production assistant), where I did a variety of tasks \u2014 running errands, managing the lunchroom, handling expense reports, basically making sure writers were ready to create. From there, I did about a month as a writer\u2019s PA on <em>The Company You Keep<\/em> before getting promoted to script coordinator.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-question\"><span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-name\">COM:<\/span> <span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-content\"><strong>What drew you to the COM program at Boston University?<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-answer\"><span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-name\">Nesa Huda:<\/span> <span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-content\">I\u2019m from outside Toronto and had freelanced in production, moving toward production coordinator roles. But I felt I wasn\u2019t scratching my creative itch, so I talked to a friend who had success in screenwriting and recommended applying for grants and coming to LA for a master\u2019s degree to help structure my writing. I was looking at programs focused on screenwriting specifically, and Boston University stood out not only for its program but also because they offered me a better scholarship than other schools. Boston was also a city I\u2019d always been intrigued by, and they had the BU in LA program which was exactly what I needed for the path I wanted.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-question\"><span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-name\">COM:<\/span> <span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-content\"><strong>What was memorable about your time at COM?<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-answer\"><span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-name\">Nesa Huda:<\/span> <span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-content\">Our cohort was just 10 people, which was really important. We got to know each other intimately through our writing \u2014 more than personal conversations, it was like seeing each other through our writing styles and supporting each other with honest feedback. Even now, years later, I still talk with classmates about scripts we worked on together.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-question\"><span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-name\">COM:<\/span> <span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-content\"><strong>What specific skills did you gain from the program that helped you professionally?<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-answer\"><span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-name\">Nesa Huda:<\/span> <span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-content\">The biggest skill was learning to think critically about writing. Sometimes, it\u2019s a bit of a curse \u2014 like when I watch movies socially and find myself nitpicking the script! But it helps me give clear, concise feedback about characters, structure, and story. Senior writers and colleagues often still ask me to read their personal scripts for opinion, which shows the trust I\u2019ve built. I definitely wouldn\u2019t have that critical eye without COM.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-question\"><span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-name\">COM:<\/span> <span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-content\"><strong>Was there a professor or instructor at COM who made a big impact on you?<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-answer\"><span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-name\">Nesa Huda:<\/span> <span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-content\">Yes, definitely <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/profile\/scott-j-thompson\/\">Scott Thompson<\/a>. He believed in us more than anyone else, and that was really important. Even though I doubted myself at times, Scott would go through our scripts with handwritten notes and make us feel confident in our work. His passion was contagious \u2014 sometimes, I think he cared even more about our stories than we did. I wish we had more time with him.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-question\"><span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-name\">COM:<\/span> <span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-content\"><strong>Did you have a moment when you thought, &#8220;This is the right place for me&#8221;?<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-answer\"><span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-name\">Nesa Huda:<\/span> <span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-content\">Boston felt like a home away from home. I\u2019m from near Toronto, so the culture and climate were similar. I didn\u2019t feel like a fish out of water. I loved exploring New England, Boston\u2019s culture, and places like the North End. It was less of a culture shock than LA was \u2014 my first year in LA was really tough, but Boston felt comfortable and inspiring.<br><br>The academic atmosphere, surrounded by people devoted to their education, made me feel motivated to do better as well.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-question\"><span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-name\">COM:<\/span> <span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-content\"><strong>What\u2019s one piece of career advice you\u2019d give to someone considering studying screenwriting at Boston University or entering the field?<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-answer\"><span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-name\">Nesa Huda:<\/span> <span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-content\">Be regimented with your writing. Set aside specific times weekly or every few days to write. It doesn\u2019t have to be a big project \u2014 sometimes free writing or expressing thoughts is enough. Writing regularly creates a safe space for creativity and keeps it joyful. If you only approach writing as work or a way to make money, it can get stressful and cause blocks. Keeping the process fun and enjoyable is when your best work comes out.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<p><em>This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Nesa Huda\u2019s freelance assignments in film production weren\u2019t \u201cscratching my creative itch,\u201d but a friend urged her to explore screenwriting&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24086,"featured_media":44604,"template":"","meta":{"bu_prepress_billboard":"","_bu_prepress_primary_term":"","_bu_prepress_primary_term_manual":""},"categories":[962,9],"tags":[1796,1804],"bu-publication":[],"discipline-type":[1427],"bu_edition":[],"media_type":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu-article\/43947"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu-article"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/bu-article"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24086"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu-article\/43947\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":44997,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu-article\/43947\/revisions\/44997"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/44604"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=43947"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=43947"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=43947"},{"taxonomy":"bu-publication","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu-publication?post=43947"},{"taxonomy":"discipline-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/discipline-type?post=43947"},{"taxonomy":"bu_edition","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu_edition?post=43947"},{"taxonomy":"media_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media_type?post=43947"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}