William Yu
is a Korean American screenwriter who tells sharp, biting stories about witty underdogs who upend the systems they’ve been held back by.
Most recently, William was hired as a Story Editor on THE ‘BURBS, an upcoming Peacock mystery comedy series starring Keke Palmer. He previously wrote on BRILLIANT MINDS, a new NBC medical drama starring Zachary Quintom, and FIGHT NIGHT, a Peacock limited series crime drama starring Kevin Hart, Samuel L. Jackson, and Don Cheadle.
An alum of the NBCU TV Writers Program, William also had his rom-com feature IT WAS YOU voted to the annual Black List - the buzzy compendium of the year’s most-liked unproduced Hollywood scripts - and attached Crazy Rich Asians director Jon M. Chu as a producer. Yu's half hour dramedy pilot GOOD BOY was selected for the Sundance Episodic Makers Lab. The Sundance Institute also awarded William a grant to direct proof of concept short film for the project project, which you can watch on Omeleto here.
William is also the creator of #Starring JohnCho, a viral, award-winning project that used Photoshopped movie posters to spark a global conversation about Asian American representation in media. As a panelist, on-camera interviewee, or keynote speaker, Yu has also spoken for thousands about the power of authentic representation and diversity.
Born in Philadelphia, raised in Hong Kong, educated in Boston, and seasoned in New York, William now resides in Los Angeles.
William Yu is repped by Manager Zack Zucker at Bellevue and Agents Halle Mariner (Features) and Danny Alexander (TV) at IAG.
Accolades
Scripts
It Was You (Feature; Romantic Comedy)
With the future of Manhattan's Chinatown at stake, a stubborn store clerk battles against an innovative CEO’s expansion plan, but little do they know that they've been falling in love with each other on a new, anonymous dating app.
Annual Black List select. Out to buyers with Electric Somewhere.
Starring david park (Feature; family/action)
Trapped in a cinematic time loop, overlooked actor David Park must battle his way through heroes, villains, and his own shortcomings in order to make it back to his family. Inspired by the worldwide phenomenon #StarringJohnCho.
Pitch & concept deck available to interested production companies.
Koreagate (Pilot; Hour-long; Drama)
In the 1970s, the ambitious Tongsun Park, known as "The Asian Gatsby", conducts an illegal influence campaign that brings U.S. democracy to the brink and lives in infamy as the political scandal known as Koreagate. Based on true events.
NBCU Launch select. Script & pitch bible avail upon request.
Good Boy (Pilot; Half hour; Dramedy)
A young Korean American with dreams of launching his own streetwear brand struggles with dysfunctional relationships and conflicting family values, forcing him to question if doing it for the culture is really worth the hype.
Sundance select. Script & lookbook avail upon request.
Speaking Engagements
As an outspoken advocate for Asian Americans with a passionate social media following, William has been requested to speak with news outlets, conferences, advertising agencies, universities, high schools, and Fortune 500 businesses.
William speaks from a representation-first perspective that examines how marginalized voices can take their creativity to have an impact on culture. Yu’s presentations range from the rising wave of Asian American culture, the shifting landscape of social media and its influence on pop culture, to how to turn a passion project into a career, and the transition from being an advertising strategist into a full-time screenwriter.
Engagements include: keynotes, interviews, panels, Q&As, lectures, and more.
