ASKlabs Documentary Film Production

Known for our inspired ability to translate scientific and technical topics into dynamic and fascinating stories for lay audiences, ASKlabs has produced popular science programming for television, museum, educational, and film festival audiences the world over. ASKlabs films have explored such topics as: genetic engineering, robotics, artificial intelligence, and movie special effects. 

Our focus on science and technology has led us to fascinating projects and a few accolades along the way. We’ve had the privilege of spending time with the world’s top scientists and artists, helping them share their visionary ideas with a wider audience.

We thrive on the collaborative process of filmmaking and have enjoyed working with many talented cinematographers, designers, writers, composers, technicians and editors over the years.

ASKlabs is a Boston film company founded by documentary filmmaker Alberta Chu.

Alberta Chu
Producer and Director

Alberta Chu produces dynamic popular science programming for network and cable television, delivering content to an assortment of satisfied clients including: Paramount, The Walt Disney Company, Twentieth Century Fox, National Geographic, USA Networks/Sci-Fi Channel, Warner Bros. Telepictures, The Discovery Networks/The Learning Channel (TLC), TechTV/CNET, MTV Networks and Lucasfilm, Ltd.

While working as a biologist, Ms. Chu discovered her rapport for explaining scientific concepts to popular audiences. Alberta has served science education and outreach programs at the local and national level, including the Association of Women in Science (AWIS) founding member, Los Angeles Chapter, Project SEED (Science for Early Education Development) an educational initiative for elementary school students developed at CalTech, as well as serving as Executive Director of Chemistry Magic Shows for the American Chemical Society.

Ms. Chu began her career in film and television by providing science consulting for science-fiction movies in Hollywood. Subsequently, after a decade of working in documentary television in various capacities, as a researcher, producer, writer and director in Los Angeles, Ms. Chu relocated to Boston in 2003.

Ms. Chu is a recipient of the CPB/PBS Producers Academy Fellowship (2001), a participant in the World Congress of Science and Factual Producers conferences (2002 Berlin, 2003 Paris, 2012 Washington DC), and a member of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (since 2002). She was a founding member of the Association of Women in Science (AWIS) Los Angeles in 1994, and also of Science Online Boston #Sciobeantown in 2013.

Kat Hughes
Development Associate

Kat Hughes moved to Boston in 2012 from Scotland, after being awarded her PhD in Film Studies from the University of Glasgow. Her doctoral thesis focuses on popular culture, sexuality, and gender. She is interested in collaborative community and academic projects, and has been involved with the UC Santa Cruz Kinetic Poetics Project, Glasgow’s Lock Up Your Daughters Filmmaking group, and the University of Glasgow’s postgraduate journal, eSharp.

At ASKlabs, Kat spearheads our social media efforts, writing blogposts and witty tweets. Her keen intellect and research skills are being put to good use in our new project developement skunkworks where she heads up research.

Kat loves property television shows, baking, and drawing.