Hyun Joo Sandy Oh

About Hyun Joo Sandy Oh

I’m an award-winning qualitative researcher, development consultant and DEI advocate with 15+ years of experience leading teams and research studies to inform decision making in media, entertainment and academia.Throughout my career, I’ve held positions around the world to conduct user and market research. My research has been published in peer-reviewed journals and I’ve delivered talks and presentations on a global scale.I was also co-leading UX research for a LA-based non-profit and serve as a Research Associate and Lecturer at UC Irvine. I’m also leveraging my passion for DEI and research skills to advise and collaborate with executive producers, writers and studios on a number of scripted TV projects.In South Korea, I developed and launched an online learning platform primarily for multilingual learners, but used also by multilingual educators. I worked on a cross-functional team with writers, editors, software engineers and directors to innovate educational delivery systems. Wanting to flex my creative muscles, I shifted my focus to writer’s rooms, planning research and workstreams for showrunners, executive producers, writers, and actors on projects like \"Godfather of Harlem \'\'. For this series, I primarily conducted archival research and interviews amongst scholars and individuals who were alive during the Civil Rights era, in search of appropriate storylines and tone. “Godfather of Harlem,” Season 2, was nominated for several NAACP Image-Awards and won critical acclaim. Season 2 was also the highest rated show on EPIX during GOH’s initial run. When I’m not busy with work, one can find me either surfing, hiking, enjoying live classical music, and probably eating too many sweets.In 2025, I hope to continue my work in the research space while finding opportunities to partner with more creative storytellers.SKILLS: Public Speaking | Leadership | Qualitative Research | Cultural Anthropologist I Creative Development | Casting Research | Project Management | Program Management | Operations | Media | Digital Media | Strategy | Surveys | Ethnography | Focus Groups | Personas | Diary Studies | Affinity Mapping I Interviews I Shadowing | Creative Consulting | Scripted | Unscripted I TV & Film | Documentary | Presenter | Strategist

Experience

1. Development Consultant and Researcher

   The Speculative Anthropologist

   Aug 2021 — Present · Los Angeles County, CA, US

   Coach screenwriters, documentary filmmakers, and academics on memoir writing, newsletter development, and narrative structure using anthropological and ethnographic frameworksSpecialize in helping visual storytellers transition to prose and personal narrative\"Art Party at Laya,\" with abstract artist Kelsey NaPier• Creative Consultant for art show in collaboration with an ethically-sourced swimwear to book clientsVarious Research Projects• Researched matters related to contemporary Korea and Japan for poet Monica Youn and novelist Susan Choi for future publicationsVarious Scripted Projects• Partnered with writer and creator of Narcos to evaluate ideas, concepts, and storylines for historical accuracy and relevancy through DEI lens• Assisted in making critical narrative decisions affecting television show for pitch to a major studio.Untitled Limited Series• Provide feedback on scripts and participate in creative brainstorms to insure project is inclusive and culturally relevant • Conduct extensive research to inform character development and story arcs

Education

• The Juilliard School

  Pre College Division, Bassoon

  1999 — 2001

• University of Toronto

  Ph.D., Cultural Anthropology

  2010 — 2019

• University of Toronto - Victoria University

  Honours Bachelor of Arts, Sociology and Political Science

  2001 — 2005