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Emma Ko

Writer

Represented by:

Laura Rourke

Having grown up in Hong Kong in a mixed race family (Chinese/Irish) now living in the UK, Emma is very passionate about getting diverse, under-represented voices and faces on and behind the screen. She set up a female filmmaking initiative – Female First Films – with the aim of producing female-led genre, starting with her own horror short, FIRST, which premiered at the British Horror Film Festival; was a member of BEATS – British East Asians & SE Asians in Theatre and Screen – which advocates for better representation of BESEA talent in the media; and is part of the team setting up EAST to support East & SE Asians in UK Scripted TV. Emma also runs a Facebook group for screenwriters of colour in the UK.

Her television credits and development work include: 1899, a Netflix mystery drama series by the team behind sci-fi hit DARK, HELLO MRS CHAN!, a sitcom developed with Zeppotron and Channel 4; CHERRY CRUSH, a YA series based on the bestselling novels in development with Route 24; and an original updating of THE CHINESE DETECTIVE with Last Conker Productions and Objective Fiction. Emma also has extensive experience working in writers’ rooms such as the writing team for THE RECOGNISERS, a crime series in development with Hera Pictures and Sky; and Deborah Frances-White’s Netflix-developed show WOMEN AND COCAINE.

Credits

TELEVISION
Date: 2024
Production (role):
TREE MYSTERIES
Company:
Christopher Graniere/108 MEDIA
Project details:
pilot and bible for series in development
Date: 2022-2024
Production (role):
THE CHINESE DETECTIVE
Company:
Conker Pictures/Objective
Project details:
Co creator and writer of follow up series to original hit tv series of the same name
Date: 2022-23
Production (role):
CHERRY CRUSH
Company:
ROUTE 24
Project details:
adapting 10x30min young adult series of the hit novel
Date: 2022-2024
Production (role):
HELLO MRS CHAN
Company:
ZEPPOTRON/CHANNEL 4
Project details:
Creator and writer of comedy pilot about a young ambitious Chinese actress trying to juggle success and integrity in a shallow world
Date: 2021-22
Production (role):
1899
Company:
DARKWAYS/NETFLIX
Project details:
Part of writing team of the new series from the creators of sci-fi hit Dark
CO WRITER FOR EPISODE 3
Date: 2022
Production (role):
MOUSE AND CAT
Company:
RED PLANET PRODUCTIONS
Project details:
In development. Creator and writer of drama series about world of organised crime told from the female perspective
Date: 2021
Production (role):
What Happened At No 4
Company:
Greenacre Films
Project details:
Co creator and co writer of mystery drama series created by Cwocs (Collective of Woman Of Colour Screenwriters)
Date: 2020
Production (role):
TIGER MUMS
Company:
LITTLE CONKER PRODUCTIONS
Project details:
In development. Writer and co creator of 30min anthology series inspired by true stories
Date: 2019
Production (role):
WOMEN AND COCAINE
Company:
NETFLIX/BEST PRODUCTIONS LTD
Project details:
part of writers room for series created by Deborah Francis White
Date: 2018
Production (role):
THE RECOGNISERS
Company:
HERA PICTURES/SKY TV
Project details:
Part of writers room for 10 part drama created by Peter Foott
Date: 2017
Production (role):
THE TRUTH
Company:
MAINSTREET PICTURES
Project details:
Part of writers room for original 10 part crime series created by Barbara Machin
Date: 2017
Production (role):
THE GREEN LINE
Company:
DRAMADY PRODUCTIONS
Project details:
drama pilot in development for HBO Europe
Date: 2016
Production (role):
GEORGE AND THE DRAGON
Company:
MAINSTREET PICTURES
Project details:
Creator and writer. Developed as 3 part drama series
Date: 2015
Production (role):
DANI'S CASTLE series 3
Company:
ZODIAK MEDIA/CBBC
Project details:
Spin off of childrens sitcom DANI'S HOUSE.
Date: 2013
Production (role):
MONSTERS
Company:
MACHINE PRODUCTIONS/CHANNEL 4
Project details:
Creator and writer of pilot for original supernatural drama series
Date: 2013
Production (role):
HOLLYOAKS LATER
Company:
LIME PICTURES/CHANNEL 4
Project details:
Hollyoaks late night spin off serial
Date: 2008-2012
Production (role):
DANI'S HOUSE series 1,2,3,4 & 5
Company:
ZODIAK MEDIA/BBC1 AND CBBC
Project details:
BAFTA award winning childrens sitcom starring Dani Harmer
Date: 2011
Production (role):
TATI'S HOTEL series 1
Company:
MACHINE PRODUCTIONS/ITV & CITV
Project details:
Childrens series
Date: 2008
Production (role):
OUT OF CHINATOWN
Company:
ZODIAL MEDIA/CBBC
Project details:
Lead writer and co creator of commissioned pilot of original children's live action/CGI series
Date: 2008
Production (role):
CHOP SOCKY CHOOKS
Company:
AARDMAN ANIMATION/CARTOON NETWORK
Project details:
Animated series about a crack teams of karate fighting chickens.
Nominated for Best Animations series and Childrens Bafta Awards 2009
Date: 2005-2006
Production (role):
HOLLYOAKS
Company:
LIME PICTURES/CHANNEL 4
Project details:
Multiple episodes of flagship long running drama series
Date: 2005-2008
Production (role):
DOCTORS
Company:
BBC 1
Project details:
Multiple episodes of long running day time drama


FEATURE FILM
Date: 2017
Production (role):
FIRST
Company:
EXEC PRODUCER
Project details:
Writer and EP of short horror film starring Jack Ashton and Meghan Treadway. Premiered at British Horror Films festival 2018 and BHFF Winner: Best Music
Date: 2012
Production (role):
A SWEET AND SOUR LIFE
Company:
SOUTH AUSTRALIAN FILM COUNCIL
Project details:
Comedy Drama feature film.

Selected for Aristas Scribes 2 development programme
Date: 2018
Production (role):
AN ALMOST ROMAN HOLIDAY
Project details:
Spec feature
Date: 2004
Production (role):
BIG STEPS
Project details:
Selected for European Pitch Point at Berlin Films Festival
Date: 2006
Production (role):
THE LANGUAGE OF LOVE
Project details:
Writer/Producer/Director of short comedy film
SKILLS / QUALIFICATIONS
Participation in London Showrunner programme

MA in Screenwriting, London College of Printing (now London Institute), 2000 - 02

BSc. Honours Degree in Chemistry, University of Bristol, 1991 - 94

Credits

  • Date
    Production (role)
    Company
    Project details
  • Date: 2024
    Production (role): TREE MYSTERIES
    Company: Christopher Graniere/108 MEDIA
    Project details: pilot and bible for series in development
  • Date: 2022-2024
    Production (role): THE CHINESE DETECTIVE
    Company: Conker Pictures/Objective
    Project details: Co creator and writer of follow up series to original hit tv series of the same name
  • Date: 2022-23
    Production (role): CHERRY CRUSH
    Company: ROUTE 24
    Project details: adapting 10x30min young adult series of the hit novel
  • Date: 2022-2024
    Production (role): HELLO MRS CHAN
    Company: ZEPPOTRON/CHANNEL 4
    Project details: Creator and writer of comedy pilot about a young ambitious Chinese actress trying to juggle success and integrity in a shallow world
  • Date: 2021-22
    Production (role): 1899
    Company: DARKWAYS/NETFLIX
    Project details: Part of writing team of the new series from the creators of sci-fi hit Dark
    CO WRITER FOR EPISODE 3
  • Date: 2022
    Production (role): MOUSE AND CAT
    Company: RED PLANET PRODUCTIONS
    Project details: In development. Creator and writer of drama series about world of organised crime told from the female perspective
  • Date: 2021
    Production (role): What Happened At No 4
    Company: Greenacre Films
    Project details: Co creator and co writer of mystery drama series created by Cwocs (Collective of Woman Of Colour Screenwriters)
  • Date: 2020
    Production (role): TIGER MUMS
    Company: LITTLE CONKER PRODUCTIONS
    Project details: In development. Writer and co creator of 30min anthology series inspired by true stories
  • Date: 2019
    Production (role): WOMEN AND COCAINE
    Company: NETFLIX/BEST PRODUCTIONS LTD
    Project details: part of writers room for series created by Deborah Francis White
  • Date: 2018
    Production (role): THE RECOGNISERS
    Company: HERA PICTURES/SKY TV
    Project details: Part of writers room for 10 part drama created by Peter Foott
  • Date: 2017
    Production (role): THE TRUTH
    Company: MAINSTREET PICTURES
    Project details: Part of writers room for original 10 part crime series created by Barbara Machin
  • Date: 2017
    Production (role): THE GREEN LINE
    Company: DRAMADY PRODUCTIONS
    Project details: drama pilot in development for HBO Europe
  • Date: 2016
    Production (role): GEORGE AND THE DRAGON
    Company: MAINSTREET PICTURES
    Project details: Creator and writer. Developed as 3 part drama series
  • Date: 2015
    Production (role): DANI'S CASTLE series 3
    Company: ZODIAK MEDIA/CBBC
    Project details: Spin off of childrens sitcom DANI'S HOUSE.
  • Date: 2013
    Production (role): MONSTERS
    Company: MACHINE PRODUCTIONS/CHANNEL 4
    Project details: Creator and writer of pilot for original supernatural drama series
  • Date: 2013
    Production (role): HOLLYOAKS LATER
    Company: LIME PICTURES/CHANNEL 4
    Project details: Hollyoaks late night spin off serial
  • Date: 2008-2012
    Production (role): DANI'S HOUSE series 1,2,3,4 & 5
    Company: ZODIAK MEDIA/BBC1 AND CBBC
    Project details: BAFTA award winning childrens sitcom starring Dani Harmer
  • Date: 2011
    Production (role): TATI'S HOTEL series 1
    Company: MACHINE PRODUCTIONS/ITV & CITV
    Project details: Childrens series
  • Date: 2008
    Production (role): OUT OF CHINATOWN
    Company: ZODIAL MEDIA/CBBC
    Project details: Lead writer and co creator of commissioned pilot of original children's live action/CGI series
  • Date: 2008
    Production (role): CHOP SOCKY CHOOKS
    Company: AARDMAN ANIMATION/CARTOON NETWORK
    Project details: Animated series about a crack teams of karate fighting chickens.
    Nominated for Best Animations series and Childrens Bafta Awards 2009
  • Date: 2005-2006
    Production (role): HOLLYOAKS
    Company: LIME PICTURES/CHANNEL 4
    Project details: Multiple episodes of flagship long running drama series
  • Date: 2005-2008
    Production (role): DOCTORS
    Company: BBC 1
    Project details: Multiple episodes of long running day time drama


  • Date
    Production (role)
    Company
    Project details
  • Date: 2017
    Production (role): FIRST
    Company: EXEC PRODUCER
    Project details: Writer and EP of short horror film starring Jack Ashton and Meghan Treadway. Premiered at British Horror Films festival 2018 and BHFF Winner: Best Music
  • Date: 2012
    Production (role): A SWEET AND SOUR LIFE
    Company: SOUTH AUSTRALIAN FILM COUNCIL
    Project details: Comedy Drama feature film.

    Selected for Aristas Scribes 2 development programme
  • Date: 2018
    Production (role): AN ALMOST ROMAN HOLIDAY
    Company:
    Project details: Spec feature
  • Date: 2004
    Production (role): BIG STEPS
    Company:
    Project details: Selected for European Pitch Point at Berlin Films Festival
  • Date: 2006
    Production (role): THE LANGUAGE OF LOVE
    Company:
    Project details: Writer/Producer/Director of short comedy film
  • Participation in London Showrunner programme

    MA in Screenwriting, London College of Printing (now London Institute), 2000 - 02

    BSc. Honours Degree in Chemistry, University of Bristol, 1991 - 94
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