In 2000, Jo was profiled in CREATION magazine as a 'young, driven and fanatically hardworking woman'. Shortly after this, her first short script THE GUARDIAN was selected for the TAPS (Television Arts Performance Showcase) writing showcase. Having developed a passion for writing, Jo had her first commission at 25, by Channel 4 for her TV series DIM SUM, in development with acclaimed producer Kenith Trodd.
Jo completed her first short film, ISOLATION 9 in the summer of 2006, as writer, producer and director. ISOLATION 9 has now been picked up by The British Council for representation, and won the festival award at the Buffalo Black & Asian Short Film Festival.
Her second film, MONKEY NUT TALES, shot just three months after, is a live action mixed with animation and cgi short, and has just been screened at the London Film Festival, and also in Shanghai and Beijing. MONKEY NUT TALES wrapped in Dec and is funded by UK Film Council/Film London's 2006 PULSE scheme. Jo is now searching for funding to shoot the full feature version.
Monkey Nut Tales is about an eight year old control freak, who has to live with the cantankerous grandmother from China she has never met before, when her mentally ill mother is hospitalised. The only way Grandma can communicate with Mai is via the fantastical stories she tells her. As they battle each other over their new roles in the house, they come to terms with their grief.
Jo currently has a fantasy series in development with CBBC, which will hopefully be shot in China, utilising local talent, wire expertise, cg houses etc..
In addition to writing and directing, Jo freelances as a script reader/consultant to private clients, studios and companies. She also teaches screenwriting. Currently, Jo is one of the judges for BBC Bites, a new development scheme for writers run by BBC Writersroom, targeting new writers who wish to write about the British Born Chinese experience.
Please contact her on [email protected] if you'd like to enquire about these services.
Jo is an Aries, repped by The Dench Arnold Agency and considers herself extremely witty.
WHAT I'M ABOUT
" In addition to my Western projects, it is one of my aims to make films that show real representation of the modern Chinese experience whilst combining this with western story-telling techniques. I also hopes to encourage more females into the film and TV industry, and especially those from an ethnic minority background."
'A genius is one who shoots at something no one else can see, and hits it.'
LINKS
The following are some links for some amazingly talented people who I'm also lucky to call my good friends.
http://www.chrismaris.com - Award-winning Cinematographer who's experience has spanned over 20 years and the talent who's shot both my films.
http://www.markdubeau.com - Award-winning VFX Art Director who's recent work has just won him a Visual Effects Society award for Outstanding Visual Effects in a Special Venue Project.
JUST FOR FUN (who says I can't do Marvel Comics??).