How a UC Berkeley group project sparked two decades of TV hits - Berkeley News
A chance encounter in a rhetoric class set the stage for a dynamic duo's journey to Hollywood success.
For Cal alumni Sanjay Shah and Rachelle Mendez, their shared experience as undergraduate rhetoric majors became the foundation for a successful partnership that has spanned two decades and multiple hit TV shows. But here's where it gets interesting: their paths to Hollywood were anything but conventional.
Sanjay Shah, a writer, showrunner, and executive producer, and Rachelle Mendez, a television producer, writer, and showrunner, both emphasize the power of rhetoric in shaping their careers. Despite their similar titles, their backgrounds were vastly different. Mendez, a trained actor, and Shah, who initially planned to major in economics, found their way to rhetoric through a serendipitous encounter.
Mendez, who chose rhetoric over acting, found a parallel between the two disciplines. "I thought, ‘I already know how to be an actor; I don’t know how to be a student,’" she said. "So I chose to focus on academics. What was enchanting about rhetoric was that it felt very similar to acting. The way an actor breaks a script into beats was like looking at language in rhetoric."
Shah, on the other hand, was initially drawn to economics but stumbled upon a film noir class where he discovered his love for film. "That experience not only led me to find my career but also to a lifelong love for film," he said. "The rhetoric major, Russell Merritt, and a four-DVD Netflix plan was my film school."
Both alumni credit their rhetoric major with providing them with the tools to break down stories, understand narrative techniques, and recognize underlying arguments. "Rhetoric gives you a way of analyzing and understanding tropes and how you’re arguing in a story, script, or joke," Shah explained. "It’s such a great major, especially for someone who wants to pursue stand-up or screenwriting. So much of good stand-up is making an argument."
One of the most transformative experiences for the pair was teaching assistantships at San Quentin State Prison, which reinforced their belief in the power of storytelling. "It was one of the most core-shaking experiences of my time at Cal," Mendez said. "It was something Cal does so well: opening doors if you’re curious or brave enough to step through."
After graduating, Mendez taught playwriting in a juvenile detention center, and Shah wrote and sold a television show inspired by their time at San Quentin. These experiences solidified their belief in the impact of narratives and the importance of creative expression.
Sanjay Shah's pivotal moment came after the birth of his son. "I had a choice: work on a high-profile show or take a chance on a new show, Fresh Off The Boat, the first show about an Asian American family in 20 years," he said. "Fresh Off the Boat wasn’t guaranteed, but I chose it because I wanted to tell the stories of the way America actually looks."
Mendez, meanwhile, found her calling in unscripted television, where she made visibility a priority. "I cast the first Chicana on Queer Eye. I was so vulnerable and proud seeing the imagery I grew up with: Deanna Muñoz’s mother-in-law making tortillas, a Virgin Mary statue in their front yard," she said. "The episode continues to be a favorite for fans of the show."
Today, both alumni are reshaping Hollywood by making intentional choices about whose stories get told and who gets to be seen. "I cannot emphasize enough: it’s not just what you learn in school that matters. It’s equally if not more important who you surround yourself with," Shah said. "The right friendships become incredibly valuable. It’s worth keeping those connections alive."
Mendez and Shah maintain their friendship and collaboration by regularly discussing their craft and the challenges of Hollywood. "It’s about seeing things through the same lens we had when we were at Cal," Shah said. "There’s a side of Cal where there’s really no limit on what you can explore or what version of yourself you’d like to audition."
The duo hopes to build a more robust Cal alumni network in Los Angeles to keep the college spirit alive. "You have this buffet of options, but at some point, you have to stick to the thing that sparks you," Mendez said. "We’re excited to return to campus and share our experiences with the next generation of Berkeley students."
