Photo by Andrew Castro
WEIKO LIN
Born in Taiwan and fluent in Mandarin Chinese, Weiko immigrated to the United States when he was eight years-old and grew up in Pasadena, California. A Fulbright Senior Specialist, Samuel Goldwyn Writing Award recipient, and AMPAS Nicholl Fellow Finalist, he received his B.A. in English (Creative Writing-Playwriting) and M.F.A. in Film and Television at University of California at Los Angeles.
Weiko wrote and directed original plays and musicals that have been produced, workshopped, or received stage readings at various theaters. They include UCLA Royce Hall, UCLA Black Box, Veteran's Wadsworth Theater, David Henry Hwang Theater, Chicago's Silk Road Rising, The Loft Ensemble, and Japanese American National Museum. His original song LOVE THAT WAS (Music by Christopher Wong) was performed as part of the ASCAP Songwriting Showcase at 2018 Dramatist Guild National Conference. His newest musical RISE TO THE TOP had its Workshop Concert Performance in the Arts District at Japanese American National Museum in February 2024 and is scheduled to have its full stage reading at Loyola Marymount University in December 2024.
His feature biopic based on life rights about America's First World War II flying ace has Oscar nominee Andrew Lazar of Mad Chance Productions (NYAD, AMERICAN SNIPER) attached to produce. In addition to developing two original series for Disney Plus Asia Pacific, he has written a TV pilot for Super Deluxe (former Digital Studio of Turner) and adapted the U.S./China co-production feature film in development based on the New York Times Notable Book and best-selling memoir RIVER TOWN by MacArthur Fellow Peter Hessler for Fugitive Films and director Lu Chuan (CITY OF LIFE AND DEATH, Disney's BORN IN CHINA) .
As a director in the Ryan Murphy HALF Directing Program, he shadowed Director/Executive Producer Bradley Buecker on 20th Television series 9-1-1 LONESTAR starring Rob Lowe.
For film and TV, he has written projects for companies such as The Mark Gordon Company, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, Ivanhoe Pictures/SK Global (producer of box office hit CRAZY RICH ASIANS), Don Mischer Productions, The Unison Company (Taiwan), and Wanda Pictures (China). His credits as original story writer and producer include Chinese romance film 100 DAYS that released theatrically nationwide in Taiwan and world premiered in 2013 Hawaii International Film Festival followed by Mainland China premier as an official selection of 2014 Golden Rooster Hundred Flowers Film Festival 金鸡百花电影节.
From the publisher of Save the Cat! and The Writers Journey, his book CRAZY SCREENWRITING SECRETS: How to Capture a Global Audience (July 1, 2019) is available wherever books are sold with the traditional Chinese edition 好萊塢劇本創作術 (大寫/大雁出版基地 BRIEFING PRESS February 10, 2022) released in Taiwan，Hong Kong, Greater China. Simplified Chinese edition is scheduled to be published in Mainland China by 后浪出版 Post Wave in 2025.
sftv.lmu.edu/academics/graduateprograms/writingforthescreen/
The Graduate Director of the MFA Screenwriting Program and a tenured Associate Professor at Loyola Marymount University, Weiko has taught in MFA film programs at institutions such as Northwestern University, Emerson College, UCLA Professional Program in Screenwriting/Producing, University of California at Riverside, and Taipei National University of the Arts.
A current-active member of Writers Guild of America West and Dramatist Guild of America, Weiko served as an Advisor for Sundance Collab at the Sundance Institute. He is represented by Anonymous Content and United Talent Agency.
HONORS | FELLOWSHIPS
Ryan Murphy Half Initiative Directing Program / 9-1-1 LONE STAR
Samuel Goldwyn Writing Award Recipient (TO LIVE)
Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences Nicholl Fellowship - Finalist (CHALK)
Fulbright Senior Specialist
Austin Film Festival Playwriting Award - Finalist (MIKI)
Princess Grace Playwriting Fellowship - Finalist (MIKI aka 100 DAYS)
Born in Taiwan and fluent in Mandarin Chinese, Weiko immigrated to the United States when he was eight years-old and grew up in Pasadena, California. A Fulbright Senior Specialist, Samuel Goldwyn Writing Award recipient, and AMPAS Nicholl Fellow Finalist, he received his B.A. in English (Creative Writing-Playwriting) and M.F.A. in Film and Television at University of California at Los Angeles.
Weiko wrote and directed original plays and musicals that have been produced, workshopped, or received stage readings at various theaters. They include UCLA Royce Hall, UCLA Black Box, Veteran's Wadsworth Theater, David Henry Hwang Theater, Chicago's Silk Road Rising, The Loft Ensemble, and Japanese American National Museum. His original song LOVE THAT WAS (Music by Christopher Wong) was performed as part of the ASCAP Songwriting Showcase at 2018 Dramatist Guild National Conference. His newest musical RISE TO THE TOP had its Workshop Concert Performance in the Arts District at Japanese American National Museum in February 2024 and is scheduled to have its full stage reading at Loyola Marymount University in December 2024.
His feature biopic based on life rights about America's First World War II flying ace has Oscar nominee Andrew Lazar of Mad Chance Productions (NYAD, AMERICAN SNIPER) attached to produce. In addition to developing two original series for Disney Plus Asia Pacific, he has written a TV pilot for Super Deluxe (former Digital Studio of Turner) and adapted the U.S./China co-production feature film in development based on the New York Times Notable Book and best-selling memoir RIVER TOWN by MacArthur Fellow Peter Hessler for Fugitive Films and director Lu Chuan (CITY OF LIFE AND DEATH, Disney's BORN IN CHINA) .
As a director in the Ryan Murphy HALF Directing Program, he shadowed Director/Executive Producer Bradley Buecker on 20th Television series 9-1-1 LONESTAR starring Rob Lowe.
For film and TV, he has written projects for companies such as The Mark Gordon Company, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, Ivanhoe Pictures/SK Global (producer of box office hit CRAZY RICH ASIANS), Don Mischer Productions, The Unison Company (Taiwan), and Wanda Pictures (China). His credits as original story writer and producer include Chinese romance film 100 DAYS that released theatrically nationwide in Taiwan and world premiered in 2013 Hawaii International Film Festival followed by Mainland China premier as an official selection of 2014 Golden Rooster Hundred Flowers Film Festival 金鸡百花电影节.
From the publisher of Save the Cat! and The Writers Journey, his book CRAZY SCREENWRITING SECRETS: How to Capture a Global Audience (July 1, 2019) is available wherever books are sold with the traditional Chinese edition 好萊塢劇本創作術 (大寫/大雁出版基地 BRIEFING PRESS February 10, 2022) released in Taiwan，Hong Kong, Greater China. Simplified Chinese edition is scheduled to be published in Mainland China by 后浪出版 Post Wave in 2025.
sftv.lmu.edu/academics/graduateprograms/writingforthescreen/
The Graduate Director of the MFA Screenwriting Program and a tenured Associate Professor at Loyola Marymount University, Weiko has taught in MFA film programs at institutions such as Northwestern University, Emerson College, UCLA Professional Program in Screenwriting/Producing, University of California at Riverside, and Taipei National University of the Arts.
A current-active member of Writers Guild of America West and Dramatist Guild of America, Weiko served as an Advisor for Sundance Collab at the Sundance Institute. He is represented by Anonymous Content and United Talent Agency.
HONORS | FELLOWSHIPS
Ryan Murphy Half Initiative Directing Program / 9-1-1 LONE STAR
Samuel Goldwyn Writing Award Recipient (TO LIVE)
Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences Nicholl Fellowship - Finalist (CHALK)
Fulbright Senior Specialist
Austin Film Festival Playwriting Award - Finalist (MIKI)
Princess Grace Playwriting Fellowship - Finalist (MIKI aka 100 DAYS)