Miranda Kwok
Encyclopedia
Miranda Kwok is an actress, screenwriter
and film producer
born in Toronto
, Ontario
, Canada
.
, Canada's premiere multidisciplinary school for the performance and visual arts. While at Claude Watson, Miranda majored in Visual Arts and minored in Drama and Dance. Miranda made her television debut at the age of thirteen, and since then, has performed in several leading, supporting and guest starring roles in film, television and theatre.
Miranda continued her education at Earl Haig Secondary School
, where she completed the Claude Watson Arts Program
as well as the Academy Program for the intellectually gifted
.
Miranda completed an Honors
Bachelor of Arts
in Philosophy and Psychology at the University of Toronto
. At the same time, Miranda provided her services as a counselor for crisis intervention at a number of community shelters and crisis centers.
Miranda was a participant in "Project: Involve," a mentorship program at the IFP in Los Angeles. Through the directors of "Project: Involve," Miranda was recommended for and subsequently won a full scholarship award at The Los Angeles Film School
for their Feature Development Program – which she completed with Honors.
Miranda was on the front cover of the February 2008 edition of The North York Post
magazine.
Miranda is a Black Belt
in the Martial Art
of Wushu
.
for a historical drama that she wrote entitled Song of Silence. In addition to Slamdance, Miranda was a finalist in several screenwriting competitions and won a nomination by APA Film for the ABC New Talent Development Scholarship Grant Program.
Song of Silence was optioned by Jeff Apple, producer of In the Line of Fire
starring Clint Eastwood
, John Malkovich
and Rene Russo
, and The Recruit
starring Al Pacino
and Colin Farrell
. Attached to direct is Jonathan Kaplan
who directed Jodi Foster in her Oscar winning performance in The Accused and Michelle Pfeiffer
in her Academy Award nominated performance in Love Field
.
Miranda's first television spec script House: The Transplant earned her a placement in the 2008-2009 CBS Diversity Initiative Writers Mentoring Program
. She was also a Finalist in the NBC
Writers on the Verge Program. In 2010, Miranda won a placement as an Honoree in the WGA Writer Access Project for professional screenwriters.
Miranda was one of five full-time writers
who worked on the first season of Spartacus: Blood and Sand
, an original television drama based on Spartacus
, the leader of the slave uprising against the ancient Roman Empire
. Steven S. DeKnight
(Smallville
, Buffy the Vampire Slayer) has been signed as Head Writer
and showrunner of the series, which are also developed by Sam Raimi
(Spider-Man
, Spider-Man 2
, Spider-Man 3
and Evil Dead), Rob Tapert (The Grudge
, Xena: Warrior Princess
and Hercules: The Legendary Journeys
) and Joshua Donen
(The Quick and the Dead) and is being produced in New Zealand by Starz Media's Starz Productions.
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
and film producer
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
born in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Biography/Education
Miranda began her studies in the arts at the age of ten when she attended the Claude Watson School for the ArtsClaude Watson School for the Arts
Claude Watson School for the Arts is both an intermediate school and an arts school located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.The main campus of the school was originally known as Lansing Public School #4 , and then later changed to Duke of Kent Public School and also Spring Garden Public School . In...
, Canada's premiere multidisciplinary school for the performance and visual arts. While at Claude Watson, Miranda majored in Visual Arts and minored in Drama and Dance. Miranda made her television debut at the age of thirteen, and since then, has performed in several leading, supporting and guest starring roles in film, television and theatre.
Miranda continued her education at Earl Haig Secondary School
Earl Haig Secondary School
Earl Haig Secondary School is a public high school with a student body of about 2,300 students in Willowdale, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The school's principal is Renata Gonsalves.-History:...
, where she completed the Claude Watson Arts Program
Claude Watson School for the Arts
Claude Watson School for the Arts is both an intermediate school and an arts school located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.The main campus of the school was originally known as Lansing Public School #4 , and then later changed to Duke of Kent Public School and also Spring Garden Public School . In...
as well as the Academy Program for the intellectually gifted
Intellectual giftedness
Intellectual giftedness is an intellectual ability significantly higher than average. It is different from a skill, in that skills are learned or acquired behaviors...
.
Miranda completed an Honors
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in Philosophy and Psychology at the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
. At the same time, Miranda provided her services as a counselor for crisis intervention at a number of community shelters and crisis centers.
Miranda was a participant in "Project: Involve," a mentorship program at the IFP in Los Angeles. Through the directors of "Project: Involve," Miranda was recommended for and subsequently won a full scholarship award at The Los Angeles Film School
Los Angeles Film School
The Los Angeles Film School or LA Film School is a private, for-profit college geared toward the entertainment industry. It offers associate's degrees in Computer Animation, Game Production and Film.-History:...
for their Feature Development Program – which she completed with Honors.
Miranda was on the front cover of the February 2008 edition of The North York Post
Post City Magazines
Post City Magazines is an independently owned Toronto-based publisher of seven magazines that are distributed monthly to an affluent readership in Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area: the Bayview Post, North York Post, North Toronto Post, Village Post, Thornhill Post, Richmond Hill Post and the...
magazine.
Miranda is a Black Belt
Black belt (martial arts)
In martial arts, the black belt is a way to describe a graduate of a field where a practitioner's level is often marked by the color of the belt. The black belt is commonly the highest belt color used and denotes a degree of competence. It is often associated with a teaching grade though...
in the Martial Art
Chinese martial arts
Chinese martial arts, also referred to by the Mandarin Chinese term wushu and popularly as kung fu , are a number of fighting styles that have developed over the centuries in China. These fighting styles are often classified according to common traits, identified as "families" , "sects" or...
of Wushu
Wushu (sport)
The sport of wushu is both an exhibition and a full-contact sport derived from traditional Chinese martial arts. It was created in the People's Republic of China after 1949, in an attempt to nationalize the practice of traditional Chinese martial arts...
.
Screenwriting
Miranda won the grand prize in the Slamdance Screenplay CompetitionSlamdance Film Festival
As a year-round organization, Slamdance serves as a showcase for the discovery of new and emerging talent in the film industry; it is also the only major film festival fully programmed by filmmakers. Slamdance counts among its alumni many notable writers and directors who first gained notice at the...
for a historical drama that she wrote entitled Song of Silence. In addition to Slamdance, Miranda was a finalist in several screenwriting competitions and won a nomination by APA Film for the ABC New Talent Development Scholarship Grant Program.
Song of Silence was optioned by Jeff Apple, producer of In the Line of Fire
In the Line of Fire
In the Line of Fire is a 1993 American thriller film about a disillusioned and obsessed former CIA agent who attempts to assassinate the President of the United States and the Secret Service agent who tracks him...
starring Clint Eastwood
Clint Eastwood
Clinton "Clint" Eastwood, Jr. is an American film actor, director, producer, composer and politician. Eastwood first came to prominence as a supporting cast member in the TV series Rawhide...
, John Malkovich
John Malkovich
John Gavin Malkovich is an American actor, producer, director and fashion designer with his label Technobohemian. Over the last 25 years of his career, Malkovich has appeared in more than 70 motion pictures. For his roles in Places in the Heart and In the Line of Fire, he received Academy Award...
and Rene Russo
Rene Russo
- Early life :Russo was born in Burbank, California, the daughter of Shirley , a factory worker and barmaid, and Nino Russo, a sculptor and car mechanic who left the family when Rene was two. Her father and maternal grandfather were of Italian descent. Russo grew up with her sister, Toni, and their...
, and The Recruit
The Recruit
The Recruit is a 2003 American spy thriller film directed by Roger Donaldson, starring Colin Farrell, Al Pacino and Bridget Moynahan. It was released on January 31, 2003 in North America by Touchstone Pictures....
starring Al Pacino
Al Pacino
Alfredo James "Al" Pacino is an American film and stage actor and director. He is famous for playing mobsters, including Michael Corleone in The Godfather trilogy, Tony Montana in Scarface, Alphonse "Big Boy" Caprice in Dick Tracy and Carlito Brigante in Carlito's Way, though he has also appeared...
and Colin Farrell
Colin Farrell
Colin James Farrell is an Irish actor, who has appeared in such film as Tigerland, Miami Vice, Minority Report, Phone Booth, The Recruit, Alexander and S.W.A.T....
. Attached to direct is Jonathan Kaplan
Jonathan Kaplan
Jonathan Kaplan is an American film producer and director.Kaplan was born in Paris, France. He is the son of film composer Sol Kaplan and actress Frances Heflin; the nephew of actor Van Heflin. He is the brother of actresses Nora Heflin and Mady Kaplan...
who directed Jodi Foster in her Oscar winning performance in The Accused and Michelle Pfeiffer
Michelle Pfeiffer
Michelle Marie Pfeiffer is an American actress. She made her film debut in 1980 in The Hollywood Knights, but first garnered mainstream attention with her performance in Brian De Palma's Scarface . Pfeiffer has won numerous awards for her work...
in her Academy Award nominated performance in Love Field
Love Field (film)
Love Field is a 1992 American independent drama film written by Don Roos and directed by Jonathan Kaplan, starring Michelle Pfeiffer and Dennis Haysbert...
.
Miranda's first television spec script House: The Transplant earned her a placement in the 2008-2009 CBS Diversity Initiative Writers Mentoring Program
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
. She was also a Finalist in the NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
Writers on the Verge Program. In 2010, Miranda won a placement as an Honoree in the WGA Writer Access Project for professional screenwriters.
Miranda was one of five full-time writers
Screenwriting
Screenwriting is the art and craft of writing scripts for mass media such as feature films, television productions or video games. It is a freelance profession....
who worked on the first season of Spartacus: Blood and Sand
Spartacus: Blood and Sand
Spartacus: Blood and Sand is a Starz television series that premiered on January 22, 2010. The series is inspired by the historical figure of Spartacus , a Thracian gladiator who from 73 to 71 BC led a major slave uprising against the Roman Republic. Executive producers Steven S...
, an original television drama based on Spartacus
Spartacus
Spartacus was a famous leader of the slaves in the Third Servile War, a major slave uprising against the Roman Republic. Little is known about Spartacus beyond the events of the war, and surviving historical accounts are sometimes contradictory and may not always be reliable...
, the leader of the slave uprising against the ancient Roman Empire
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
. Steven S. DeKnight
Steven S. DeKnight
Steven S. DeKnight is an American television screenwriter, producer, and director. He is best known for working on Smallville, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Angel. He has also written "Swell", a story in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer season eight comic series, and served as a consulting producer...
(Smallville
Smallville
Smallville is the hometown of Superman in comic books published by DC Comics. While growing up in Smallville, the young Clark Kent attended Smallville High with best friends Lana Lang, Chloe Sullivan and Pete Ross...
, Buffy the Vampire Slayer) has been signed as Head Writer
Head writer
A head writer is a person who oversees the team of writers on a television or radio series. The title is common in the soap opera genre, as well as with sketch comedies and talk shows that feature monologues and comedy skits, but in prime time series this function is generally performed by an...
and showrunner of the series, which are also developed by Sam Raimi
Sam Raimi
Samuel Marshall "Sam" Raimi is an American film director, producer, actor and writer. He is best known for directing cult horror films like the Evil Dead series, Darkman and Drag Me to Hell, as well as the blockbuster Spider-Man films and the producer of the successful TV series Hercules: The...
(Spider-Man
Spider-Man (film)
Spider-Man is a 2002 American superhero film, the first in the Spider-Man film series based on the fictional Marvel Comics character Spider-Man. It was directed by Sam Raimi and written by David Koepp...
, Spider-Man 2
Spider-Man 2
Spider-Man 2 is a 2004 American superhero film directed by Sam Raimi, written by Alvin Sargent and developed by Alfred Gough, Miles Millar, and Michael Chabon. It is the second film in the Spider-Man film franchise based on the fictional Marvel Comics character Spider-Man...
, Spider-Man 3
Spider-Man 3
Spider-Man 3 is a 2007 American superhero film written and directed by Sam Raimi, with a screenplay by Ivan Raimi and Alvin Sargent. It is the third film in the Sam Raimi Spider-Man trilogy based on the fictional Marvel Comics character Spider-Man...
and Evil Dead), Rob Tapert (The Grudge
The Grudge
The Grudge is the 2004 American remake of the Japanese film Ju-on: The Grudge, and the first horror film in the Ju-on series, Ju-on 1. The film is the first installment in the American horror film series The Grudge...
, Xena: Warrior Princess
Xena: Warrior Princess
Xena: Warrior Princess is an American–New Zealand supernatural fantasy adventure series that aired in syndication from September 4, 1995 until June 18, 2001....
and Hercules: The Legendary Journeys
Hercules: The Legendary Journeys
Hercules: The Legendary Journeys is a television series, filmed in New Zealand and the United States. It was produced from 1995, and was very loosely based on the tales of the classical Greek culture hero Heracles...
) and Joshua Donen
Joshua Donen
-Work:*The Quick and the Dead *Underneath *The Great White Hype *Armored *Drag Me to Hell *Spartacus: Blood and Sand...
(The Quick and the Dead) and is being produced in New Zealand by Starz Media's Starz Productions.
Production
Miranda has produced a number of short films, industrials and feature length films that are now distributed internationally. She is the president and CEO of ShadowDance Pictures, a film production company established in 2002.Selected filmography
- Killing Moon (2000) – Pam
- Jane Doe (2001) – Kwan
- Ride or DieRide or Die (film)Ride or Die also known as Hustle and Heat is a 2003 crime drama film written by Duane Martin and Jay Wolcott. The film was directed by Craig Ross, Jr.. The cast includes Duane Martin, Vivica A. Foxand Meagan Good.-Plot:...
(2003) – Tommy Wong - F*Stop (2004) – Cornelia
- Mr. Fix ItMr. Fix It (film)Mr. Fix It is a 2006 romantic comedy film starring David Boreanaz. It was directed by Darin Ferriola-Synopsis:Lance Valenteen makes a living as "Mr Fix It", a guy who is hired by men to get them back together with their ex-girlfriends. Lance dates the guy's ex-girlfriend and becomes the worst...
(2006) – Melanie - The Eden FormulaThe Eden FormulaThe Eden Formula also known as Tyrannosaurus Wrecks is a 2006 Telefilm B movie using footage from Carnosaur. It was written and directed by John Carl Buechler for Syfy.-Synopsis:...
(2006) – Kate Lo - The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (2006) – Stacy Li
- Saurian (2006) – Chi
- Richard III (2008) – Portia
- iMurdersIMurdersiMurders is a 2008 horror film starring Gabrielle Anwar, William Forsythe, and Billy Dee Williams.-Plot:When the participants of an internet chat room are brutally murdered in succession, one person's past holds the key to the gruesome mystery.-Cast:...
(2009) – Janet Ling - Bare Knuckles (2009) – Kim Sue
- Fear Chamber (2009) – Kathryn Rose
- Immortally YoursImmortally YoursImmortally Yours, also known as Kiss of The Vampire, is a 2007 American vampire romance film. Directed by Joe Tornatore, the film was co-produced by Frank D...
(2009) – Sylvia - Taken by Force (2009) – Lim Jing
- Letting Go (2010) – Dana
Recurring television credits
- Sanctuary (2011) – Story Editor
- Spartacus: Blood and SandSpartacus: Blood and SandSpartacus: Blood and Sand is a Starz television series that premiered on January 22, 2010. The series is inspired by the historical figure of Spartacus , a Thracian gladiator who from 73 to 71 BC led a major slave uprising against the Roman Republic. Executive producers Steven S...
(2010) – Staff Writer - ERER (TV series)ER is an American medical drama television series created by novelist Michael Crichton that aired on NBC from September 19, 1994 to April 2, 2009. It was produced by Constant c Productions and Amblin Entertainment, in association with Warner Bros. Television...
(2002) – Kristen Shoop - Earth: Final ConflictEarth: Final ConflictEarth: Final Conflict is a Canadian science fiction television series based on story ideas created by Gene Roddenberry, and produced under the guidance of his widow, Majel Barrett-Roddenberry. It was not produced, filmed or broadcast until after his death...
(1997–1998) – Kwai Ling Hong
Selected television credits
- "Spartacus: Blood and SandSpartacus: Blood and SandSpartacus: Blood and Sand is a Starz television series that premiered on January 22, 2010. The series is inspired by the historical figure of Spartacus , a Thracian gladiator who from 73 to 71 BC led a major slave uprising against the Roman Republic. Executive producers Steven S...
" (2010) – episode "Shadow Games" – Written By - "Spartacus: Blood and SandSpartacus: Blood and SandSpartacus: Blood and Sand is a Starz television series that premiered on January 22, 2010. The series is inspired by the historical figure of Spartacus , a Thracian gladiator who from 73 to 71 BC led a major slave uprising against the Roman Republic. Executive producers Steven S...
" (2010) – episode "Party Favors" – Written By - "CharmedCharmedCharmed is an American television series that originally aired from October 7, 1998, until May 21, 2006, on the now defunct The WB Television Network. The series was created in 1998 by writer Constance M...
" – episode "Payback's a Witch" (2006) – Dominax - "7th Heaven7th Heaven7th Heaven is an American family drama television series, created and produced by Brenda Hampton. The series premiered on August 26, 1996, on the WB, the first time that the network aired Monday night programming, and was originally broadcast from August 26, 1996 to May 13, 2007...
" – episode "The One Thing" (2003) – Julie Liu - "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" – episode "Dirty Girls" (2003) – Fighting Potential
- "The Invisible ManThe Invisible ManThe Invisible Man is a science fiction novella by H.G. Wells published in 1897. Wells' novel was originally serialised in Pearson's Weekly in 1897, and published as a novel the same year...
" – episode "Money For Nothing: Part 2" (2001) – Nurse - "Once A ThiefOnce a ThiefOnce a Thief may refer to:* Once a Thief , starring Ronald Shiner* Once a Thief * Once a Thief , a Ralph Nelson film starring Alain Delon, Ann-Margret and Jack Palance...
" – episode "Family Reunion" (1998) - "PSI Factor: Chronicles of the ParanormalPsi Factor: Chronicles of the ParanormalPsi Factor: Chronicles of the Paranormal is a Canadian science fiction drama television series which was filmed in and around Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and aired 88 episodes over four seasons from 1996 to 2000...
" – episode "Kiss Of The Tiger" (1998) – Sing