i ask people questions and press record

Zoya KhanHills West · Class of 2027Writer · Producer · Editor
250+interviews
540k+total views
$25kraised for clean water
Tightrope · trailer or full film
REC
2025–26
Short film · festival submissions in progress

Tightrope

A queer teen coming-of-age film I wrote, produced and assistant-directed over four months.

Auditions
100+, nationwide
Cast
8 leads
Shoot
4 months
Raised
$1,000+ at a band gig
Showreel
PLAY
2026

Showreel

1–2 min

The best moments from everything below.

Interview clip
REC
2024–26

Hills West Media Club

250k views

Senior Social Media Manager. 250+ interviews, 50+ videos, led 5+ editors, launched the club TikTok to 1k followers.

Podcast clip
REC
2025–26

West Side Stories

65k views

Co-founded and edited the school's first podcast, built on anonymous student submissions.

Audio · cover photo
AUDIO
NYC 2026

Street Musicians of NYC

DocuJam 2026

Interview podcast from my paid internship at the Paley Center for Media, edited in Hindenburg.

Homecoming promo
REC
HOCO

Homecoming Promos

125k views

Student government videos since sophomore year, plus 75+ volunteer hours on the event.

Live set footage
LIVE
2025–26

Rush Hour Band

100k views

Booked 10+ gigs, drew a venue-record 120+ crowd, won 1st at Battle of the Bands.

about

After hundreds of interviews, I've learned people say the real thing about thirty seconds after they think you've stopped listening. Tightrope was the first time I wrote the words myself. I want to keep doing both.

Draft, rewrite in your own voice

honors & work

  • AP Capstone Diploma · AP Scholar with Distinction
  • Paley Center for Media · paid intern, DocuJam 2026
  • Beats by Zoya · DJ business, 15+ events, $3.5k+
  • Family medical clinic · vitals, website, 220+ posts
  • Izumi Steakhouse · hostess

community

  • The Bilal Foundation · $25k raised, 3 wells built in Pakistan
  • Wellness Group · president, leads 15 students weekly
  • Mosque Youth Coordinator · teaches Quran recitation
  • Muslim Student Association · member, 10–12
  • Marching Band · percussion, 9–12