RECOMMENDED: WATCH THE SHORT FILM, NOTHING BEFORE YOU LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE. AND, READ THE SHORT STORY, "MARRY ME, GEORGIA." Listeners, given my love of all things media production, I am super stoked to bring you today’s guest, Norah DeMello, a screenwriting major at Chapman University’s nationally renowned Dodge College of Film and Media Arts. She is a writer, aspiring filmmaker, and deeply reflective young artist whose relationship with storytelling began early, somewhere between the mountains and rivers of Northern California, stacks of beloved novels, and a home filled with music from bands like Radiohead, Pixies, and The Cure. She describes herself as “a nature girl through and through,” and there is something about the way she talks about art, film, music, and the human condition that makes it feel less like career preparation and more like a voyage of discovery. Norah is also a product of California public schools, including Placer High School in Auburn, where teachers recognized and nurtured her gift for writing long before she fully trusted it herself. Today, after transferring from community college into one of the nation’s most selective film programs, she is developing screenplays, directing short films, balancing multiple campus jobs, and learning how to build a creative life without tying her worth to perfection. Her work explores questions of connection, vulnerability, identity, and what it means to become fully alive, themes that seem deeply connected to her own ongoing process of becoming freer, more open, and more at peace with uncertainty. Mitch Weathers, author of “Executive Functions for Every Classroom,” founder of Organized Binder and a longtime friend of Norah’s father, wrote the following for this episode. “I want to begin by saying that I genuinely admire Norah DeMello. Not simply because of what she has accomplished, although those accomplishments are impressive, but because of who she is as a person. If you are fortunate enough to know Norah, what stays with you is not just her talent, but her authenticity, her courage, and her heart. I’ve known Norah her entire life. Her father, Dave, has been my closest friend since middle school. But over the last couple of years, I’ve had the chance to really get to know Norah herself. Watching her grow into who she is becoming has been inspiring. By most standards, Norah was on the “'deal' path. School came naturally to her. She earned outstanding grades in high school, received an academic scholarship, and enrolled at one of California’s most prestigious universities. But before the end of her first semester, she dropped out. I remember asking her about it, and her answer has stayed with me ever since. She simply said, “I just didn’t find my people.” There is something incredibly brave about a young person stepping away from the path everyone else celebrates in order to pursue a life that feels true to who they are. That decision wasn’t easy, and I know it came with uncertainty and struggle. But Norah chose authenticity over expectation, and that takes real courage. Since then, she has embraced a path in acting and screenwriting, and it’s been amazing to watch her flourish creatively. She has a natural presence both on camera and the stage, and in her writing. If you get the chance, make sure to watch the film Nothing, which she stars in. What I admire most about Norah is that she seems committed to truly living her life, not just performing the version of success others expect from her. And my sense is that somewhere along the way, she has found her people. As always, if you have feedback about this show, reach out to me at joshreppunproductions@gmail.com. Audio engineering is provided by the talented founder of SOZEN Sound, Evan Kurohara. And, my eternal thanks to my podcast creative partner, Mel Ching.
