LEE-LOI CHIENG
Screenwriter and Filmmaker
Left handed, left on read, left un-repped
I don't think I'm vain, but I'll let my shiny new website tell you otherwise!
About Me in the third person
Lee-Loi Chieng is a Queer Chinese/Malaysian and Irish filmmaker. He often writes original stories with larger than life characters in extraordinary situations. Growing up, Lee-Loi was inspired by Chinese bootlegs he’d watch with his Dad when he came home from work at the Chinese Takeaway, often after 3am!
Lee-Loi started making Tech videos at age 12 and worked in Tech from a young age from startups to corporate and research Innovation Labs. Lee-Loi returned to YouTube during the pandemic and his new channel has over 800,000 views. He’s terribly inconsistent with uploading because he’s now always writing.
Lee-Loi has produced work for Screen Ireland, Virgin Media Television Ireland and has Two Television Projects in development crafted with Script Editors available to be optioned. He has been mentored by the best with Philip Shelley (Channel 4 Screenwriting); David P. Davis (HBO "Industry", BBC "Doctor Who") and Frank Berry. ("Aisha", "Michael Inside") He's also has learnt from the best, having taken screenwriting masterclasses with Lisa McGee (Channel 4 "Derry Girls") and Jeb Stuart. ("Die Hard", Netflix "Vikings: Valhalla")
My Story So Far...
2024 - Present
The IP adaptations start!
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"Never Kill a Femboy on the First Date" premieres at DIFF to a SOLD-OUT Crowd. It's broadcast on Virgin Media Television Friday 1st March at 11pm after Vera, with a recommendation from The Irish Times as One of the best shows to watch that week. I do a full press tour including a Morning Talk-Show looking like a David Cronenberg character having had long over-due orthopaedic surgery on my left femur with a Hexapod External Fixator. It also means I've borrowed Lara Croft's shorts for the time being as they are all that fit me right now LOL!
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I begin work in a Writers Room adapting an acclaimed Irish Novel into an 8x60 'Heart-Warming' Drama TV Series. Head of Development: Michelle Duffy. I try not to have imposter syndrome working with other brilliant scribes!
2023
My follow up: Lightning strikes thrice'
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I win Virgin Media Discovers for my Erotic Thriller "Never Kill a Femboy on the First Date" out of 400+ entries. Oonagh Kearney (Hulu/RTÉ "Obituary") directs and Aoibhín Murphy produces with Newgrange Pictures. Frank Berry ("Aisha") generously offers his time to mentor me for the project. I'm thrilled that the broadcaster took a swing at my pitch!
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I'm offered a position on The Greenlight Screenwriting Lab out of 400+ applicants with Philip Shelley (4Screenwriting) to develop my new series "Hotter Than My Wife" and I'm paired up with Script Editor Kieran Grimes and Shadow Script Editor Aoibhín Murphy. I'm relieved that I'm not a one hit wonder and have a new writing gig.
2022
My big break!
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Screen Ireland awards me a position on their Flagship Screenwriting scheme "Spotlight" for my Queer Workplace Comedy-Drama "I'm The Boss" as I enter the world of professional Screenwriting. Nadine Flynn is assigned as my script editor while industry titan David P. Davis (ITV 5 Acts, HBO "Industry") graciously offers his time as mentor! I'm on cloud nine!
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I'm invited to attend the Galway Film Fleadh where myself and other Spotlight writers attended a Comedy Writing masterclass held by Lisa McGee (Channel 4 "Derry Girls"); In September the Dublin Screenwriting Festival invited to participate in an Action Screenwriting masterclass with Jeb Stuart. (Die Hard, Netflix: "Vikings Valhalla") Making an effort to improve my craft, I search for learning opportunities!
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Kildare Short Grass Films awards myself and Writer/Director Alan Dunne a bursary to make "Where It All Began", a Transgender Drama Short Film. A 3 year struggle to finding funding for this passion project comes to a satisfying end!
2021
Plucked from obscurity...
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My debut short film: queer rom-com "Meeting His Parents" has its world premiere at Oscars / BAFTA Qualifying Flickers' Rhode Island International Film Festival, making official selection from 6,800+ entries. It wins "Alternative Spirit Award" Best LGBTQ+ Short at the prestigious festival! I wrote, directed, produced, performed and edited my self-funded flick.
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I enter the professional film industry as a DIT / Video Village trainee on "Cocaine Bear" and got to spend 3 months beside the directors tent watching Elizabeth Banks direct the Horror Comedy. I learnt from the best HODs who were very kind to me. I never messed up a Coffee order and my reputation for finding Ice-creams 'in the middle of nowhere' led to me being a coffee and snack confidant for the DOP and Gaffer on the flick! A special thanks to Fran Keaveney and Emer MacAvin. Everything you read above would not have been possible without them as I learnt SO SO much being on set on a real film. Also a huge thanks to Tara Halloran and Jeff Cafuir at NBCUniversal for the life changing opportunity! Watch me speak about the experience in the Universal Pictures GTDI Reel.