Chang-Heng “Eric” Yang, Writer 

Sloan Grant(s) Received: 2022, Columbia University, Screenwriting Award

Project Type: Feature 

Genre: Thriller

Length: 115 pages 

Field of Science: Biology. Medicine. Public Health.

Stage: Development 

Synopsis: 

Hoping is a heart-pounding thriller recounting the true events of the 2003 SARS epidemic outbreak at Hoping Hospital in Taipei, Taiwan. The story begins quietly in April as a hospital laundryman unknowingly becomes the initial carrier, spreading the virus through contaminated linens.

Inside the hospital, Dr. Lin and Dr. Yang handle their routine duties with casual optimism, unaware of the looming threat. Their colleague, Dr. Tsai, a skeptical pediatric infectious disease specialist, privately doubts official assurances, foreseeing a hidden crisis.

In the chaotic B-wing, young nurse Yan-hua grapples with overwhelming workloads, patient hostility, and exhaustion. Her commitment is tested severely as SARS silently invades. When the government abruptly imposes a controversial lockdown, trapping over a thousand staff and patients, panic erupts. The hospital devolves into a state of fear, anger, and desperation.

Dr. Qu, an expert summoned urgently to manage the crisis, identifies severe gaps: insufficient staffing, inadequate resources, and dangerously optimistic public statements.

Conditions deteriorate rapidly within Hoping Hospital. Healthcare workers, including Tsai and the young Dr. Chong-wei, succumb to the virus.

As tensions escalate, Lin emerges as a reluctant leader, driven by duty and integrity. Facing personal fears, he bravely broadcasts the stark realities to the outside world, igniting public awareness and demanding governmental accountability. His courageous actions rally public support and amplify pressure for change.

Under Qu’s guidance, efforts intensify to manage resources, improve communication, and foster compassion amidst adversity. Driven by duty, nurses and doctors volunteer to reinforce the overwhelmed B-wing, risking their lives to save colleagues and patients. Acts of heroism, selflessness, and sacrifice shine through tragedy, underscoring the remarkable resilience and humanity of healthcare workers.

HOPING offers a portrayal of moral courage, systemic failure, and human resilience under extreme pressure. It vividly explores the personal sacrifices, institutional dysfunctions, and political expediencies during a public health crisis, honoring those who courageously battled overwhelming odds.