Lee Thean-jeen

Lee Thean-jeen () is a Singaporean director, screenwriter and television showrunner best known for the Singapore television drama series ''AlterAsians'', ''The Singapore Short Story Project'', ''The Pupil'', ''Code Of Law'', ''Zero Calling'', ''Reunion'' and ''This Land Is Mine'', which is currently airing on Mediacorp's Channel 5.

He has also written or co-written, and directed, the feature films, ''Homecoming'' (笑着回家), ''Love...And Other Bad Habits'' (玩味爱情), ''Everybody's Business'' (人人有粪), ''Bring Back the Dead'' (招魂) and ''The Big Day''(简单的婚礼). He was also a writer, director and executive producer on the Southeast Asian adaptation of the Scandinavian noir series, ''The Bridge'' for Viu and HBO Asia. In 2019, he was responsible for Singapore's first multilingual drama, ''128 Circle'', which is currently in its second season.

Career

Born in Penang, Malaysia, Lee attended Penang Free School, then graduated with a ''summa cum laude'' in Broadcasting And Film from Boston University's College of Communication. He went to work for the then-Singapore Broadcasting Corporation, producing corporate videos, before leaving to become one of the founding members of Film Formations, a Singapore-based production company.

He is currently the Managing Director of Weiyu Films, a content-creation and production company founded by him.

His first drama series, ''AlterAsians'' (2000), an adaptation of short stories by Singaporean novelists into telemovies and shot on 16mm film, won several awards, including Best Single Drama or Telemovie at the Asian Television Awards 2000.

A follow-up series of short story adaptations, ''The Singapore Short Story Project'', won the Asian Television Award in 2003 for Best Drama Series and again, in 2008, for Best Single Drama or Telemovie.

'' The Pupil'', a legal drama which he co-created, executive-produced, wrote, and directed was well-received by local audiences and critics alike, winning two major awards at the 2010 Asian Television Awards: Best Actress In A Leading Role for Rebecca Lim and Best Actor In A Supporting Role for Lim Kay Tong.

''Code Of Law'', a drama series on the criminal justice system in Singapore, has entered its fifth season, and spawned a universe of spin-off shows: ''Derek'', its sequel ''Derek II'' and ''Forensik''. All these shows have crossover characters and continuing storylines that culminate in 2020's ''Code Of Law: Final''.

''Zero Calling'', a vigilante thriller based on a script by Lee, has entered its second season, after picking up a Best Actor award for its leading actor, Pierre Png, and a Silver Remi for Best TV Miniseries at the WorldFest Houston International Film Festival.

Lee was the first director to occupy Discovery Networks Asia's Documentary Director's Chair, a crossover programme for film and television filmmakers who have built a reputation for innovative, high-quality filmmaking to produce documentary work for Discovery Channel’s global network.

His first feature film, Homecoming (笑着回家), starring Jack Neo, Ah Niu, Afdlin Shauki and Rebecca Lim was one of the top-grossing local films in Singapore and Malaysia in 2011.

More recently, he was co-executive producer and director on "The Bridge," an Asian adaptation of the award-winning Scandinavian noir of the same name.

He has appeared on ''The Straits Times'' Power List in Entertainment, a barometer of the top ten most influential people in the local media industry. and was most recently named in Variety as one of Singapore's 10 TV players to look out for.

Filmography

Feature Credits

*'' The Big Day'' (简单的婚礼) (2018)
*''Bring Back the Dead'' (招魂) (2015)
*''Everybody's Business (人人有粪)'' (2013)
*''Love...and Other Bad Habits'' (玩味爱情) (2013)
*''Homecoming (笑着回家)'' (2010)

TV series

*''128 Circle Season 2'' (2022) Executive Producer-Director-Writer
*''This Land Is Mine'' (2021) Executive Producer-Director-Writer
*''Reunion'' (2021) Executive Producer-Director-Writer
*''128 Circle: Shaking Legs'' (2020) Executive Producer-Director-Writer
*''Code Of Law: Final'' (2020) Executive Producer-Director-Writer
*''The Bridge 2'' (2020) Co-executive Producer-Director
*''Forensik'' (2020) Executive Producer-Director-Writer
*''128 Circle'' (2019) Executive Producer-Director-Writer
*''The Bridge'' (2018) Executive Producer-Director-Writer
*''Snoops'' (2018) Executive Producer
*''Code Of Law'' (2012-2018) Executive Producer-Director-Writer
*''The Hush'' (2016) Executive Producer-Director-Writer
*''Zero Calling'' (2014-2015) Executive Producer-Director-Writer
*''The School Bell Rings'' (2013-2015) Executive Producer-Director-Writer
*'' The Pupil'' (2010-2011) Executive Producer-Director-Writer
*''Calefare'' (2008) Executive Producer-Director-Writer
*''Sense Of Home'' (2008) Executive Producer-Director-Writer
*''After Hours'' (2007) Executive Producer-Director-Writer
*''Déjà vu'' (French TV Series) (2007) Director, 4 episodes
*''The Singapore Short Story Project'' (2003-2007) Executive Producer-Director-Writer
*''Chase'' (2003) Executive Producer-Director-Writer
*''Restless'' (2002) Executive Producer-Director-Writer
*''AlterAsians'' (2000-2001) Executive Producer-Director-Writer

Web drama

*''Derek II'' (2019) Executive Producer-Director-Writer
*''I See You 看见看不见的你'' (2019) Executive Producer-Director-Writer
*''Derek'' (2019) Executive Producer-Director-Writer
*''Divided 分裂'' (2018) Executive Producer-Director-Writer

Telemovies

*''Rise'' (2016) Director-Writer
*''Wa-cheew! Rise Of A Kung Fu Chef'' (2016) Executive Producer
*''Two Boys And A Mermaid'' (2015) Executive Producer
*''Gone Case'' (2014) Executive Producer-Screenwriter
*''The Million Dollar Job: Raffles' Gold'' (2013) Executive Producer-Director-Writer
*''The Million Dollar Job'' (2012) Executive Producer-Director-Writer
*''Love 50%''(爱情折扣) (2010) Director
*''Stories Of Love: A New Best Friend'' (2006) Writer-Director
*''Spoilt'' (2005) Director-Screenwriter
*''Amnesia'' (2002) Director

Documentaries

*''The Tokyo Shock Boys' Guide To Japan'' (2005, National Geographic) Director-Writer
*''Gourmet China: A Living Legacy'' (2005, Discovery Asia) Director

Short films

*''Timepieces''(2017) Director-Writer

Awards

''128 Circle Season 2''
*Winner, Best Original Song for an Asian TV Programme or Movie, 2022 ContentAsia Award

*Nominee, Best Actress In A Supporting Role, 2022 Asian Television Awards

''This Land Is Mine''
*Winner, Best Drama Series/Telefilm Made For A Single Asian Market, 2022 ContentAsia Award

*Winner, Best Supporting Actress, 2022 Asia Content Award

*Nominee, Best Actor, 2022 Asia Content Awards
*National Winner, Best Drama Series, 2022 Asian Academy Creative Award

*National Winner, Best Actor In A Leading Role, 2022 Asian Academy Creative Award

*National Winner, Best Actress In A Leading Role, 2022 Asian Academy Creative Award

*National Winner, Best Direction (Fiction), 2022 Asian Academy Creative Award

*Winner, Best Souund, 2022 Asian Academy Creative Award

*Nominee, Best Drama Series, 2022 Asian Television Awards
*Nominee, Best Actress In A Leading Role, 2022 Asian Television Awards
*Nominee, Best Actor In A Supporting Role, 2022 Asian Television Awards
*Nominee, Best Cinematography, 2022 Asian Television Awards
*Nominee, Best Editing, 2022 Asian Television Awards
*Best Drama Shortlist, 2022 Rose D'Or Award


''The Bridge''
*Nominee, Best Director Of A Scripted TV Programme, 2020 ContentAsia Award

''Derek II''
*Nominee, Best Short-Form Drama Series, 2020 ContentAsia Awards

''Divided 分裂''
*Country Winner, Singapore, Best Original Programme by a Streamer/OTT, 2018 Asian Academy Creative Awards

''The Hush''
*Nominee, Best Actor In A Leading Role (Tony Eusoff), Asian Television Awards 2017
*Nominee, Best Actor In A Leading Role (Remesh Panicker), Asian Television Awards 2017
*Nominee, Best Original Screenplay, Asian Television Awards 2017
*Nominee, Best Drama Series, Asian Television Awards 2016
*Nominee, Best Direction (Fiction), Asian Television Awards 2016
*Nominee, Best Original Screenplay, Asian Television Awards 2016

''Rise''
*Highly Commended, Best Actor In A Supporting Role (Pierre Png), Asian Television Awards 2016

''Bring Back The Dead''
*Best Theatrical Feature, Platinum Remi, WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival 2015

''Zero Calling''
*Best TV Miniseries, Silver Remi, WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival 2014
*Best Actor in a Leading Role, Asian Television Awards 2014 (Pierre Png) (also nominated in 2015)
*Highly Commended, Best Original Screenplay, Asian Television Awards 2014
*Nominee, Best Direction, Asian Television Awards 2014
*Second Prize, Television Drama Category, National Scriptwriting Competition

''Code Of Law''
*Nominee, Best Digital Fiction and Non-fiction Programme or Series, Asian Television Awards 2015
*Nominee, Best Original Screenplay, Asian Television Awards 2013

''The Pupil''
*Finalist Award, New York Festivals 2011
*Best Direction Commendation, Asian Television Awards 2010
*Best Actress in a Leading Role, Asian Television Awards 2010 (Rebecca Lim)
*Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Asian Television Awards 2010 (Lim Kay Tong)

''Homecoming'' (笑着回家)
*Best Actor, Golden Wau Awards 2013 (Jack Neo)

''The Singapore Short Story Project''
*Best Single Drama or Telemovie, Asian Television Awards 2008 (The Other)
*Best Drama Series, Asian Television Awards 2003
*Best Cinematography, Asian Television Awards 2003
*Best Editing Commendation, Asian Television Awards 2003

''AlterAsians''
*Best Single Drama or Telemovie, Asian Television Awards 2000 (Iris’ Rice Bowl)
*Finalist Award, New York Festivals 2000 (Or Else, The Lightning God)
*Highly Commended, Best Single Drama or Telemovie, Asian Television Awards 2001 (The Man In The Cupboard)

References

External links

*

Asian TV Awards 2016 Nominees





{{DEFAULTSORT:Lee, Thean-jeen
Malaysian screenwriters
Living people
Boston University College of Communication alumni
Malaysian people of Chinese descent
People from Penang
Year of birth missing (living people)