Young Chinese American shows his talent in films

With both of his parents being top Peking Opera stars in China, Jack Zhang feels destined to follow an artistic path. However, his chosen mediums and formulas are film, video and an open heart.

Over the past four years, the 15-year-old has spent almost all of his spare time exploring cross-cultural topics, making friends, and honing his shooting and editing skills.

Perhaps more importantly, he continues to refine his own understanding of people-to-people exchanges between China and the US and beyond.

"I am a strong believer in humanity. I believe we share way more commonalities than our differences," said Zhang. "We all live on this same Earth under the same moon. Humanity connects us all."

It is that firm belief in sameness that inspires Zhang to capture "the profound bonding and appreciation of each other among people of different races", and it resonates this year in his seven-minute short film, A World of Peace and Happiness.

On Nov 9, the film brought him the International Communication of Chinese Culture Award at the 20th Chinese American Film and TV Festival. The top honor in the category also made him the youngest director at the annual cross-border movie industry celebration in Los Angeles.

"I feel so excited. I feel so happy seeing Jack's dreams coming true," said Guan Bo, Zhang's mother, the star actress at the China National Peking Opera Company in Beijing, who attended the awards ceremony.

The plot and scene setup are simple, Zhang said. "It's a group performance of 50 amateurs singing a famous Chinese poem, The Prelude to Water Melody, in Chinese." To assemble the troupe, he reached out to his neighbors, classmates and sports club buddies.

"A lot of pitching and public speaking, also an opportunity to let me introduce China and its culture to others," he said.

Lincheng Speer, a participant of the film, said, "Choreography, presentation, the arrangement of elements and shooting required so many do-overs. But no one complains."

"I will continue my quest to be the bridge of cross-culture exchanges," said Zhang. "Still, cameras and filming are my tools."