OG: Approved - Jason Zada
Featuring the Next Generation of Storytellers Rising from the Creator Economy
Welcome to OG: Approved—where rule-breaking creators shape the future. Hand-picked by Open Gardens, they’re not following the playbook—they’re writing the next one.
Name: Jason Zada
Instagram: 8.1k Followers
X: 10.2k Followers
Who Is Jason Zada?
There’s been a large wave of resistance from traditional filmmakers, writers and directors against the recent wave of technological advances. AI has been seen as an enemy to those that value the traditional nature of their respected crafts.
Enter Jason Zada. Originally embarking on a career as a traditional filmmaker, Zada was an early adopter of the technological revolution and has leaned in full tilt.
Gaining traction as a forward thinking filmmaker and marketer with innovative projects such as Take The Lollipop, an interactive horror short film through Facebook Connect that attracted 100 million views and 13 million likes (and earned Zada a Daytime Emmy amongst other accolades), Zada has moved onto new frontiers.
In 2023, Zada founded Secret Level, an AI-native entertainment studio dedicated to redefining storytelling through advanced technology. The studio focuses on creating participatory, interactive, and immersive experiences across various platforms, including AI, XR, and gamified content.
Zada recently attracted national attention with his AI short film, The Heist. During this past year’s Sundance, he also participated on a panel discussing the future of AI storytelling.
Boasting a repertoire of content that features music videos, narrative and cutting edge advertising, Zada has risen to become one of the most innovative minds in AI driven and experimental content.
Three Things We Like About Jason Zada
Bridging Hollywood and Digital Innovation: While many legacy filmmakers hesitate to embrace new technologies, Zada moves fluidly between traditional cinema, interactive media, and AI-generated content. From directing a feature film (The Forest) to redefining AI storytelling with projects like Echoes of You, he’s proof that the best creators don’t choose between old and new—they blend both into something groundbreaking.
Master of Immersive Storytelling: Whether it’s through interactive horror or AI-generated narratives, Zada has consistently been ahead of the curve in creating experiences rather than just stories. His work isn’t passive—it pulls the audience in, making them participants rather than spectators.
Turning Tech into Emotion: Zada doesn’t just use technology for the sake of novelty—he finds ways to make it deeply personal. Take This Lollipop was more than a viral gimmick; it was an unnervingly intimate horror experience that made audiences feel seen in the most unsettling way possible. His AI-driven storytelling continues this tradition, proving that tech can amplify emotional resonance, not just replace human creativity.
