Emmeline Yang Hankins has worked for more than two decades at the center of the film and television industry in Los Angeles, and is known for being a trusted creative partner to writers at every stage of their careers.

After beginning her career in London, she joined Anonymous Content, where she worked closely with legendary founder Steve Golin and rose from assistant to producer and executive. She went on to serve as Senior Vice President at Smokehouse Pictures, the production company founded by George Clooney and Grant Heslov. As Head of Film and Television at Iconoclast, she executive produced Harmony Korine’s The Beach Bum and collaborated with Gus Van Sant on Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far on Foot. Most recently, she served as Head of Development for showrunner Amy Lippman, where she helped develop and sell projects to ABC, Hulu, and Apple through an overall deal at Sony Television.

Across her work in film and television, she has collaborated with directors including Spike Jonze, Michel Gondry, Paul Greengrass, Mark Romanek, and Tom McCarthy, and worked with Josh Singer on the screenplay that became the Academy Award–winning Spotlight.

What she noticed, in every room and on every project, was the same thing: a distance between what a writer was reaching for and what was on the page. Identifying that distance — and working with writers to close it, in service of their own vision — became the most meaningful part of the work.

Today, she brings that experience directly to writers as a consultant and coach, working with them to clarify their ideas, strengthen their scripts, and position their work within the broader arc of a career. She also consults for the Sundance Institute and Film Independent, supporting both artist development and project selection.

Her approach is rooted in the realities of development, which means she considers how a script will be read, what it signals about the writer, and how it fits into the larger trajectory of their work. She has built her reputation as a true ally to writers — helping them navigate notes, interpret feedback, and find solutions while staying true to their intention. She genuinely loves working with writers and finds the process deeply energizing.

She holds a degree in Social and Political Sciences from Cambridge and an MFA from USC’s Peter Stark Producing Program, where she now serves as an Adjunct Professor. At USC, she teaches courses in pitching scripted television and career development, reflecting her belief that understanding the industry is as important as understanding the craft.

Emmeline grew up in London, where she began her career in film, and has lived and worked in Los Angeles since 2005.