“You will fail, and it’s awesome.” ~Fawzia Mirza
Breaking down stereotypes…
Fawzia Mirza is an actor, writer, producer. She is also a Pakistani, Muslim, queer woman. And she is using her platform, her voice, and her art to break down stereotypes across a multiplicity of identities: race, religion, sexual orientation, gender and defy the concept of the “model minority”.
I’ve known Fawzia for 10+ years and she’s one of those people I can say “I knew her when…” I’ve been following her work and her career ever since and am honored to bring you this conversation about art, identity, pop culture, activism, changing careers and what it takes to write your own roles, and follow your creative passions.
So take a deep breath, relax your mind open, have a listen, and let me know what you think over in the Facebook Group…
And if you haven’t already, check out Episode 045: Talking to strangers, where you’ll hear how I met Julie and why I’m taking on a theme on the show that pushes me out of my comfort zone. Also, Episode 046 with Andrea Ranae Johnson on how to use your power and privilege for good and Episode 047 with Sarah Dennis and Ashley Lana Scott about becoming a co-conspirator for social justice.
“My artistic mission is to break down stereotypes across my different identities… I love to use comedy to disavow those stereotypes.” ~Fawzia Mirza
Connect with Fawzia
Fawzia’s Website
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter
Signature Move Movie
The Muslim Trump
Kam Kardashian
The First Session on Hulu
The Queen of my Dreams
“I’m basically like — What can I do? How can I do it? How many lives can I have?” -Fawzia Mirza
Connect with Andrea
Facebook
Instagram
Chicago Women’s Creative Collective
I was featured on Jessi Frey’s video blog talking about “What to Do When You Feel Like a Fake!”
One of my guided meditations was featured on the ASMR-based Sleep Whispers podcast. Skip forward to the 1hour mark just for the meditation (otherwise Harris might whisper you to sleep before you hear it if you listen to the whole episode!)
Resources & Links
The Creative Impostor Magic page! Get a special gift from Andrea here.
Power Your Story — Created by my high school student podcast mentees!!!
Mother’s Quest podcast with Julie Neale
Support the Creative Impostor
Andrea’s Patreon Page — where you can support the show, get cool gifts from me and can become an active participant in the creative community!
Free Audio Book & 30 day trial membership with Audible.com (support The Creative Impostor when you sign up!)
About Fawzia Mirza
Act. Write. Produce.
Using performance, personal storytelling & comedy to break down stereotypes across a multiplicity of identities: race, religion, sexual orientation, gender & defy the concept of the “model minority”. #Artivist
Co-wrote, produced and star in my first feature, Signature Move which world premiered at SXSW and won the 2017 Outfest Grand Jury Prize for Best US Narrative Feature. Signature Move was a 2016 Tribeca All Access program Fellow & Tribeca grant recipient of the LaboDigital/Los Cabos post production grant.
Featured in the Emmy-nominated, Gotham/Peabody/GLAAD award-winning web series Her Story.
Co-created, co-wrote, starred in web series like Kam Kardashian & Brown Girl Problems & short films like the award-winning The First Session, co-starring Parvesh Cheena and Mouzam Makkar (NBC Universal Short Film Festival Finalist), (AmPav Emerging Filmmaker Showcase Cannes), (Chicago South Asian Short Film Audience Award).
Produced, co-created & starred in the mockumentary The Muslim Trump, about the Muslim illegitimate daughter of Donald Trump, featured in Marie Claire, VICE, The Red Eye Chicago, DNAInfo, .Mic, Expo Chicago, The AV Club, Jezebel & more!
Theatre work includes creating and writing my solo show Me, My Mom and Sharmila, which Zia Mohyeddin called “concise and razor-sharp, interspersed with an adroit mixture of humor and pathos”. She’s also turning the play into a screenplay with writer Terrie Samundra.
Other theatre work includes Aditi Kapil’s solo show Brahman/i, or as one of four actors to perform in the solo show White Rabbit/Red Rabbit presented by the MCA and the Chicago Humanities Festival. I’ve performed at The Goodman Theatre in both Pulitzer Prize winner, Quiara Alegria Hudes’ play, The Happiest Song Plays Last, where I originated the role of Shar and I was also an ensemble member of Christopher Shinn’s world premiere play, Teddy Ferrara.
Been featured on Chicago Fire, a bunch of Indie films and web series. I’ve done educational performance work at universities and military installations performing Sex Signals, the most popular sexual violence prevention show in the world. I produced the award-winning documentary Fish out of Water and A Message from the East. I’ve been a speaker at National Geographic as their first #Further speaker, Chicago Ideas Week: Edison Talks, I’ve spoken on panels about Media, Performance, Storytelling and taught workshops.
Chicago Magazine named me one of its ’50 Most Beautiful Chicagoans’. #Awkwardbutfun
“I think it validates what you’re doing to call yourself the thing that you’re doing.” ~Fawzia Mirza
This episode was mixed by Edwin R. Ruiz of Mondo Machine.
The Creative Impostor theme music was created by JoVia Armstrong.
I’d LOVE to hear from you!
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