Profile
Canadian graduate student at Carnegie Mellon University with 7 years of experience in the TV and film industry, specializing in production and narrative design. Proven ability to lead creative projects and craft engaging cinematic experiences. Passionate about RPGs, with expertise in cinematic experience design and voice actor direction.
Skills
Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, US, Student (Producer & Sound Designer for Game Design Course)
Building Virtual Worlds: Round 1 Project - The Cat Meow Spa
• Produced and co-developed a game for Microsoft Adaptive Controllers based on the action prompt “to bathe a cat.”
• Directed cut scenes, drafted the storyboard, and contributed to narrative design for an accessible game where players manage different cat grooming functions (water, shampoo, blow-dry, and manicure) via a conveyor belt system.
• Designed the sound effects to enhance player interaction and ensure an immersive gameplay experience.
Building Virtual Worlds: Round 2 Project - SoulTown Taxi
• Led the team as producer and maintained sound design responsibilities for a VR game designed for Meta Quest 3.
• Developed dialogue for the ghost client, an overworked student whose soul must be rejuvenated in the soul realm via collecting items before returning to the real world.
• Oversaw project coordination, gameplay mechanics, and narrative direction, ensuring smooth gameplay and a cohesive story.
Building Virtual Worlds: Round 3 Project - EyeSpy
• Pitched the idea of using Tobii Eye Tracker hardware and adapting Pictionary-style gameplay, which evolved into a Hi-Tech spy theme through team discussions.
• Acted as sound designer, wrote dialogue for intro and ending cutscenes, and directed the live actor during filming.
• Composed the gameplay theme song and intro theme song to enhance the immersive experience.
Building Virtual Worlds: Round 4 Project - Christmas Mission
• Co-produced and designed the soundscape for a 4-player fog-of-war strategy game set on Santa’s Christmas table.
• Provided the thematic concept of a battle between mice and gingerbread men and facilitated gameplay development requiring strategy and communication between players
• Coordinated team meetings and playtests, ensuring deadlines were met, player input was implemented, and project goals were achieved.
Independent Filmmaker, Taipei and Montreal, Screenwriter/Director
Spec Feature Film / Screenwriter
APR 2023 - PRESENT, REMOTE
• Collaborated with ThinkSeed Films and developed a feature-length spec screenplay, conceptualizing original narrative ideas, characters, and themes tailored for the intended science fiction audience and genre.
• Conducted thorough research to ensure accuracy in story details, world-building, and character development.
Panel: BIPOC Futures in Canadian Genre Film, Panelist
JUN 2023, MONTREAL
Short Film: Buffering Please Wait / Director, Screenwriter, Post-Production Producer
MAR 2022 - JAN 2023, MONTREAL AND TAIPEI
• Directed and wrote the screenplay for a 13-minute short film, managing all creative aspects from concept to final cut.
• Led the cast and crew through rehearsals and production, ensuring cohesive storytelling, visual style, and performance.
• Oversaw ADR (Automated Dialogue Replacement) sessions, coordinating actors and sound engineers to ensure dialogue clarity and consistency.
• Managed post-production workflows, organizing sound design, sound mixing, and integrating animation elements to enhance the film's aesthetic.
• Collaborated closely with animators, sound designers, and editors to maintain artistic vision and meet project deadlines.
• Delivered a polished final product, successfully premiered at Fantasia International Film Festival as part of the Official Selection where it competed as a contender for Best International Short Film
TransWorld Television Production Company Ltd. / Screenwriter
FEB 2022 - JUNE 2022, TAIPEI
• Authored six episodes of television series Dr. Lifesaver, working under head writer Chu Ying.
• Conveyed complex medical themes through engaging character arcs and episodic structures.
TransWorld Television Production Company Ltd. / Screenwriter
NOV 2020 - DEC 2021, TAIPEI
• Wrote 12 episodes for television series The Memory Garden, aired on Star Chinese Channel.
• Devised an original story arc for secondary characters, pitched it to the head screenwriter, and successfully had it implemented in the final production.
• Collaborated with head writer Esther (Neko) Hsu to refine episodic content and character development.
• Developed detailed outlines and multiple drafts, refining plot, dialogue, and pacing based on feedback from producers, script consultants, and fellow writers.
• Worked closely with producers to ensure the creative vision aligned with production objectives.
X-Frequency Pictures Ltd. / Staff Screenwriter
SEP 2019 - AUG 2020, TAIPEI
• Managed writers' rooms and led creative meetings to brainstorm, draft, and refine episodic and feature content.
• Developed TV Bibles and detailed synopses for episodic productions, collaborating closely with director Raymond Chiang.
• Drafted key plot points and character arcs, ensuring cohesive narrative flow across episodes.
• Pitched series concepts and TV Bibles to potential financiers, contributing to project funding efforts.
• Incorporated feedback from stakeholders to enhance story depth and character development, delivering polished, market-ready screenplays.
Phenomena Pictures / Director
OCT 2018 - JAN 2019, TAIPEI
• Directed a team of 30 industry veterans along with the four main leads of The Haunted Heart during a 3-day shoot, working 8-14 hours each day to film the opening and closing credits.
• Pitched the concept multiple times to executive producer Lilu Xie, securing approval by presenting a detailed pitch deck including moodboards, storyboards, shot lists, and scripted scenes.
• Oversaw the creative execution of the credits and concept designs, ensuring alignment with the series’ visual tone and enhancing the overall aesthetic.
Phenomena Pictures / Screenwriter
MAY 2018 - OCT 2018, TAIPEI
• Outlined and developed episodic content for The Haunted Heart, collaborating closely with head writer Esther (Neko) Hsu on narrative and character arcs.
• Refined episodic structures for 90-minute episodes across a 20-episode series, ensuring a cohesive flow and strong pacing.
• Contributed key ideas for major plot points and secondary character emotional arcs, many of which were selected and incorporated into the final production.
• Received praise from the head screenwriter for crafting well-structured episodes that balanced overarching plot and character development.
Independent Designer, Remote, Architectural Rendering and Product Design
• Worked on 3D rendering projects for architectural rendering company, Digital Blackmagic, utilizing 3D Max for material rendering.
• Created hands-on clay modeling for Toy Company Spin Master in creating prototypes for Product Line Cool Maker
• Compiled moodboards using Adobe Indesign while prototyping for Cool Maker
• VR Concept Design, Kaohsiung Film Archives, Kaohsiung. Project was Shortlisted for the Kaohsiung VR Fund
Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates (KPF), New York, NY, US, Intern
• Assisted different project teams in delivering various presentation materials through creating finished CAD detail drawings, perspective renderings (3D Max and Rhino), diagrams and booklets (Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign)
• Participated in the construction phase of a commercial project which required me to work effectively under pressure to meet tight deadlines and was complimented by supervisor for possessing positive work ethics
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Gensler, Hong Kong, HK, Intern
• Created 3D digital architectural site models using SketchUp
• Translated presentation documents between English and Chinese
• Assisted supervisor in creating presentation booklets using Adobe Illustrator and InDesign
• Initiated and executed a new excel spreadsheet system to meet building area requirements and was complimented by supervisor for the dedication and commitment
Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, US, Masters, Master’s of Entertainment Technology
Specializes in Game Design/Interactive Design/Narrative Design and working with interdisciplinary teams including programmers, 3D artists and sound designers.
Taipei National University of the Arts, Taipei, Masters, Film Production
Master's of Fine Arts, Department of Filmmaking, Major in screenwriting
Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, CA, Bachelors, Environmental Design Studies
Co-operative Program; Major in Architecture
The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, CA, Bachelors, Commerce
Completed a number of physical geography, urban studies and design thinking courses which helped me transfer to the Faculty of Architecture and Planning of Dalhousie University in 2013
Best Philip K. Dick Short, Award
Awarded to Short Film Buffering…Please Wait. The Philip K. Dick Science Fiction and Supernatural Festival, New York City, USA – April 4, 2024
Official Selection, Other
Boston Science Fiction Film Festival, Boston, USA – February 17, 2024: USA Premiere, Official Selection
Best International Short Film, Nomination
Buffering...Please Wait (short film) directed and written by Samantha Lai was nominated at the Fantasia Festival of 2023 for Best International Short Film.
