Written in partnership by Chris Kaufman
Storytelling remains one of the world’s most enduring mediums for its ability to transcend boundaries. Visionary writer and filmmaker Ken Zheng understands the power of story and skillfully infuses it into his craft. The creative powerhouse crafts tales that captivate audiences and radiate with culture. As a seasoned writer and filmmaker, Zheng’s journey of resilience, innovation, and artistry reaches soaring heights.
The beginnings of Zheng’s story took place in Indonesia, where the allure of cinema sparked his imagination from a young age. Week after week, he found inspiration within the walls of movie theaters, drawn to the immense impact of storytelling on the big screen. Instilled with a burning passion for creating his own narratives, Zheng set out on a daring quest, and decided to pursue formal education in filmmaking and screenwriting at the University of Texas at Austin.
His dedication bore fruit when his script for a feature film received the green light. The positive response to his creation marked a pivotal moment in his career. Rooted in the richness of his Indonesian heritage yet universally resonant, his film found acclaim across the United States, signaling Zheng’s eye-catching arrival in an industry he had long admired.
What distinguishes Zheng is both his cultural perspective—which injects his storytelling with an eclectic blend of Indonesian influences and globally relatable emotions—and his relentless determination to defy the odds.
Throughout his career, Zheng has achieved significant success, with notable highlights including the release of feature films Insight and Brush with Danger. Brush with Danger was released theatrically in the US and internationally and garnered attention from prestigious media outlets such as the Los Angeles Times and New York Times, amassing over 6 million views on YouTube alone. Insight, an action-packed thriller, received distribution in the United States and international markets, featuring renowned actors Tony Todd, Keith David, and John Savage.
Along with his triumphant cinematic endeavors, Zheng has lent his talents to diverse projects, such as for commercials, branded content and corporate videos. His latest work, Zheng wrote for Pixel Group Indonesia, the foremost out-of-home media company that boasts a network of digital billboards across 22 provinces in Indonesia, reaching over 90% of the Indonesian population (ranking as the 4th largest globally). This video was released throughout Pixel Indonesia’s digital billboards alongside online and social media platforms.
Zheng also wrote for the Lowell Milken Center for Music of American Jewish Experience video, where it premiered at the Schoenberg Hall at UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music, and attended by Lowell Milken, the UCLA Chancellor Gene Block, the Dean of UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music Eileen Strempel and philanthropic leaders in Los Angeles.
Zheng’s work not only garners success but also accolades; his work for Vibrant Jakarta earned him a Silver Telly Award for excellence in branded content. While adorned with achievements, Zheng remains grounded, guided first and foremost by the values of resilience and community. He views setbacks as opportunities for growth and advocates for the importance of building meaningful relationships within the industry. Further illustrating that commitment, Zheng serves as a board member of FilAm Creative, contributing to the organization’s mission of promoting diversity and inclusion in the entertainment industry.
As Ken Zheng looks ahead, he envisions a future filled with limitless creative possibilities. With a solid foundation of success behind him, the gifted filmmaker aspires to deepen his impact on the film scene from the entertainment hub of Los Angeles to across the globe. His ultimate goal is to create films that entertain and provoke thought, inspire change, and celebrate the rich diversity of human experiences. Taking the role of filmmaker to new levels, Zheng remains a visionary whose passion for storytelling is abundant fuel for his current and future successes.
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