Melissa Zhēn Zhū Riemer is mixed race Chinese and German and holds dual citizenship for Australia, where she was born and Canada, where she now resides.

Melissa was part of the prestigious 2024 cohort for the Pacific Screenwriting Scripted Series Lab where she worked under the guidance of Showrunner Michael MacLennan (Tiny Pretty Things, The Bletchley Circle, Bomb Girls, Queer as Folk). She also served as a judge for the 2024 Vancouver Short Film Festival and a judge for Gender Equality Media’s GEMfest Script Competition 2025.

Her stories are inspired by her personal experiences of living and working in various cities around the world with a particular emphasis on Asia, where she reconnected with and celebrated her heritage. Noticing a gap in representation on screen, Melissa created Island Home to bring strong, dynamic female roles with Asian representation to life, blending authentic and fantastical elements to tell these powerful stories. She champions women’s voices in creating genuine and lived in characters on screen, and within realistic dialogue.

Her script “Cast Some Light” was a top finalist in the Landed Entertainment script writing competition and she wrote and produced short film “Toe the Line” for Vancouver's Run'N'Gun 48 hour film festival. She is former senior editor for Terroir magazine, which focused on A-List and working Hollywood actors and their process and is currently a freelance writer for 987 a music concert review blog based in North America. Her short film “Salty” is currently in post production, having received an arts grant from the Australian Government to produce the film on the coastal beaches of Victoria, Australia. Melissa co-produced Salty to be a proof-of-concept as well as strong festival contender for 2025.

A former fashion model, she has represented haute couture brands and is no stranger to the cutthroat world of fashion. Melissa was first signed to Chadwick Models when she was 15 and began her illustrious career working in markets all around the world. Many highlights of her career to-date, include walking in the prestigious Thai Silk fashion show for Queen Sirikit of Thailand as well as walking in runways for Gucci, Bvlgari, Chanel and many other haute couture houses during fashion week. Having amassed an impressive list of both commercial and editorial works, she has garnered a reputation for being highly professional and skilled on set and catwalk.

A foray into acting, led to her love of script analysis which pushed her firmly into the writing space. Having appeared on TV shows; The Flash, Charmed, Riverdale and Izombie, Melissa has gained invaluable experience on US, Canadian and Australian film sets.

An accomplished music producer and composer, her music has appeared in Netflix and Spike Lee's series “She's Gotta Have It” and various other syncing deals with Volvo, Decjuba, Short Film “Gemini” and music composition for “Screaming At Stars”.

When not working in the world of storytelling, Melissa scuba dives, free dives and mostly spends her time underwater around the world. An avid F1 fanatic from a young age, she has attended races in five countries and counting.

SALTY

Salty is a deeply personal story that explores PTSD, identity, and the unspoken struggles of youth, set against the raw beauty of Australia’s coastline. As the writer, my goal was to create an authentic and emotionally resonant film that challenges perceptions of mental health, particularly among young men.

The story follows a teenage surfer grappling with past trauma, triggered by a moment of reckless behavior among friends. As he struggles to separate reality from memory, he turns to the ocean—his greatest solace and deepest source of pain. Through a mix of dreamlike visuals and raw, immersive storytelling, Salty captures the turbulence of the mind and the search for balance amidst the chaos.

Developed over two years, this project became more than just a screenplay—it evolved into a collaborative effort that brought together emerging talent and industry professionals. With Salty, I hope to spark conversation, create empathy, and give a voice to those navigating the often-overlooked complexities of mental health.

TOE THE LINE

Toe The Line was part of the 2021 Run'n'Gun official family selection. Written, filmed and produced in 48 hours, this film served as the first film Melissa had a hand in co-writing for screen.

Created during the pandemic, Melissa was both producer and writer, ensuring a safe set that adhered to all covid protocols as well as creating a compelling story that could be completed within the 48 hour timeline.

ISLAND HOME

Currently in story development Island Home is a co-pro set in South East Asia.

Destined for the silver screen, and designed for an international audience that loves the glitz and glamour of "Crazy Rich Asians" but also loves the darkness in "Alias", this offering is ripe for the current streaming audience who loves to binge watch entire seasons in a few sittings.

Shot in the gritty yet magnetic style of Westworld/Blink Twice, we aim to achieve a vintage aesthetic mixed with an ultramodern take, blending the two sides of Asia in tradition and culture with fast paced technology and innovation. This is shown via opulent wardrobe, locations and the wild nature of the Island and beyond.

JEWEL THIEVES CLUB

This pilot was written during Melissa's tenure in the Pacific Screenwriting Program. She created a half hour comedic series for Canadian TV, with the ability to be a sweet procedural with a wicked side.

An age spanning quartet of unlikely female thieves, use their unassuming appearances to get themselves in and out of trouble when pilfering jewels and art. Set in modern day Vancouver, the women that make up this exclusive jewel thief club are each looking for redemption in the form of... stolen jewels.

PRESS AND OTHER WORKS

1 of 6 writers, Melissa was part of the prestigious Pacific Screenwriting Accelerator Program

Former senior editor for Terroir Magazine, Melissa researched, interviewed and wrote about Hollywood actors and their artistic process.

Covering live musical performances for 987.com