Zeke Zelker has been dedicated to building a filmmaking career for over twenty years, defying the conventional wisdom of pursuing opportunities in Los Angeles and New York by staying true to his roots in Allentown, Pennsylvania.
This determination has led him to create films that have garnered a global audience, while breaking down barriers in distribution. Despite the challenges, Zeke's approach to his craft has been shaped by his experiences, inspiring him to think outside the box.
One of his most notable projects is the transmedia project Pandemic, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. More recently, he produced part of David Cronenberg's Body Mind Change, which is touring museums worldwide.
Zeke's last feature film, InSearchOf, was a pioneering effort in embracing streaming platforms like Hulu, ultimately ranking in the top 20 dramas viewed on the platform for over seven years. InSearchOf was also the first virtually screened movie, exhibiting on Second Life alongside its theatrical, DVD, PPV/VOD release.
A product of the 1990s indie film scene, Zeke maintains a lean and mean approach to producing his projects, fueled by his unwavering commitment to his vision. He has worked multiple jobs, maxed out credit cards, refinanced assets, and taken calculated risks to bring his creative endeavors to life.
His latest project, Billboard, is a transmedia endeavor that tells a story across various mediums. The project began with the creation of WTYT960, a web site that functions as a "radio station" where bands from around the world can submit their music to be featured on the "station's" playlist, making them eligible for consideration in the project's various soundtracks.
The story unfolds across different platforms, seamlessly transitioning into live events. The feature film Billboard focuses on the radio station hosting the contest, while the thirty-episode web series The Billboard Sitters centers on the four individuals who entered the billboard sitting contest. An interactive play combines elements of both, allowing the audience to engage with the characters via a mobile app designed by Zeke.
The fun doesn't stop there. Zeke and his team host live events featuring bands from the project, bringing the story to life and helping to build an audience. He has been exploring ways to enable viewers to consume the feature film and web series within the same interface, seamlessly jumping between different aspects of the story.
This ambitious project has taken over eight years to develop and was executed on a budget that would purchase a modest house in Allentown, Pennsylvania.
Zeke is passionate about inspiring others to create and is the founder of Art Wars and Art Spark, organizations that encourage people to produce art in public spaces, gaining exposure, earning, and winning prizes. He is always willing to lend a helping hand.
Born to a preacher woman, Zeke began his career in the entertainment industry as a clown, peddling balloons at an amusement park founded by his great-grandfather. His first job in the film business was as a dancer in John Waters' film Hairspray.
