New York Art Life Magazine publishes exclusive Cat Zheng interview

New York Art Life Magazine has released a new interview with production coordinator Cat Zheng, whose credits include work for Tyla, Kelela, Pampers and Lexa Gates. The feature, published this week, traces Zheng’s path from Shanghai and Hong Kong to New York’s production scene and highlights the coordination work behind music videos, commercials and live activations.

Why it matters: - Cat Zheng is part of a growing class of behind-the-scenes production talent shaping major music, brand and film projects in New York City. - The interview gives a rare look at how production coordinators keep shoots, activations and commercial campaigns moving under tight deadlines. - New York Art Life Magazine is using the feature to spotlight the people behind the city’s creative economy, not just the finished work.

What happened: - New York Art Life Magazine published an exclusive interview with production coordinator Cat Zheng this week on its digital platform. - The feature centers on Zheng’s path from Shanghai and Hong Kong to New York City and into a fast-moving production career after graduating from the School of Visual Arts. - The interview covers 16 questions and answers, plus an extended introduction and links to recent work.

The details: - Zheng’s 2026 credits include the Tyla video “She Did it Again,” featuring Zara Larsson and produced by Radiance Pictures. - Zheng also coordinated the Pampers Swaddlers Demotainment and Cheek Test activation at ICON Park in Orlando for Pique Global. - Other 2026 work includes the Hi Tec commercial “The UnAdventurer” for Rabbits Black and the IAM Activation for Lexa Gates with 6DEGREES Films. - The Lexa Gates activation drew attention when Gates walked for ten straight hours on a human-sized hamster wheel at Jeffrey Deitch gallery on Wooster Street, with the event livestreamed on Twitch and open to the public. - Zheng previously coordinated “Idea 1,” the Kelela music video with Pyramyd Studios. - Earlier credits include production manager and coordinator roles on campaigns for Snipes x New Balance, Adidas Football x Soccer Bible, Swarovski with designer Kari Alexandra, and Zara Shahjahan’s Eid Collection 2026 campaign. - Zheng said her interest in filmmaking began at age seven after watching Avatar in a theater and staying through the credits. - Zheng studied directing at the School of Visual Arts because the school did not offer a producing major, then pushed to graduate with her producing work as her thesis. - Zheng describes her work as translating between departments on set, using English and Chinese to bridge communication across grip, electric, camera and art teams. - Zheng said shoot days can feel like a high-pressure final test, where planning has to come together in real time. - During the Lexa Gates activation, Zheng coordinated with the Mayor’s office almost daily and applied lessons from film production to public events. - For “The UnAdventurer,” the team worked through permits and New York blizzards in a controlled production setup. - For “The Onlooker” for Snipes x New Balance, the crew used a faster run-and-gun approach across multiple locations. - Zheng produced “Blue Moon Angels,” a slasher short by Clementine Narcisse that won the 2024 New Voices Filmmaker Grant from NewFest and Netflix. - Zheng also produced “A Portrait of Two Faces” for Isabella Pardo, which screened at the New York Shorts International Film Festival in 2025. - Zheng said independent shorts depend on community support and sustained effort from filmmakers and crews. - Zheng’s daily tools include Movie Magic, Hot Budget, Notion and Asana. - Zheng’s stated motto is: plan as if everything depends on you, then trust the room as it depends on everyone.

Between the lines: - The interview frames production coordination as a creative discipline, not just logistics. - Zheng’s background across Shanghai, Hong Kong and New York appears to have become a practical advantage in a role that depends on adapting quickly and communicating across teams. - The mix of music, commercial and indie film credits suggests a coordinator building range across the parts of the industry that often overlap in New York.

What’s next: - New York Art Life Magazine says the full feature includes direct links to Zheng’s recent work, including the Tyla and Kelela videos and the New York Shorts International Film Festival program. - Zheng’s rising profile suggests more high-visibility production work is likely as she continues building credits across music, branded content and independent film. - The magazine will likely continue leaning on interview-driven coverage of creative workers behind major cultural projects.