AFMA Presents

Junyao Zheng, also known as Joe Zen, director, editor and writer, is currently pursuing his MFA at

USC School of Cinematic Arts. Originally from Hupei, China, he grew up alongside the Yangtze River and eventually went to the Law School of Wuhan University at the age of 16.

 

After graduation in 2002, he began working as an assistant lawyer only to quit after a year and then spending a year travelling throughout China and Asia. In 2004, he attended Beijing Film Academy with a full state scholarship, majoring in Cinema Studies. After obtaining his MA degree, he taught film history and short film production in Communication University of China, Nanjing for three years. In those three years, he has found his life aim, and resolved to pursue a professional life in filmmaking.

 

In 2012, he came to Los Angeles to continue his life adventure exploring different cultures and currently an education in film production at USC with friends and peers. He is in good progress now, making shorts, and writing features, preparing for his career in the industry in the near future.