Chezik Tsunoda is a visionary director, producer, founder, and advocate whose work focuses on confronting social issues and amplifying underrepresented voices. She began her career at Viacom, where she developed her storytelling skills at Rap City, writing and producing at MTV News, and her development skills as a Development Producer at VH1. She then honed her skills in marketing and advertising at Digital Kitchen, which eventually led her back to her passion of creating impactful documentaries.

 

She is the founder of Visually Inspired Productions, a company dedicated to telling stories of the unheard and shedding light on marginalized communities. Chezik is passionately committed to being a voice for equity, resilience, and systemic transformation. She also founded the nonprofit, No More Under to advance equity in water safety, advocate for systemic change, and expand access to swimming lessons in underserved communities. Through legislative efforts, community outreach, and impactful storytelling, she aims to shift narratives and foster social justice around water safety.

 

Her award-winning documentary, Drowning in Silence, about her personal journey of grief after losing her son to drowning, has received international recognition. Chezik recently directed Under a Million Stars, which intimately addresses the housing crisis in Seattle, and she is working on a memoir to share her story of resilience and resistance. A mother of four boys, Chezik continues to push for a more inclusive, compassionate media landscape, and use storytelling as a powerful tool for change and healing.