Personal details
- Birth Date: 1979-11-02
- Height: 5′ 10″ (1.78 m)
- Birth Location: Palo Alto, California, USA
- Children: (5 children) Jonathan Heights
- Parents: Lawrence Chu
- Professions: Producer, Writer, Director
Jon rolled out of USC’s School of Cinema-Television with more trophies than your average Hollywood shelf can handle. We’re talking the Princess Grace Award, the Dore Schary Award from the Anti-Defamation League, the Jack Nicholson directing award (yeah, *that* Jack Nicholson), plus a nod as an honoree for the IFP/West’s Project: Involve. Basically, if you blinked, you missed him collecting another accolade. He made a splash with his student short film, “When the Kids Are Away,” which kind of blew up more than anyone expected. Next thing you know, William Morris Agency was all over him, pulling him into meetings left and right, connecting him with some seriously big-deal projects. It's wild how fast things can move when you’ve got that much heat behind your name. One moment you’re hustling to finish a class project, and then all of a sudden, you’re sitting across from people you used to read about in Variety. Jon’s path wasn’t just a straight line of wins—there’s hustle, late nights, and probably way too much bad coffee mixed in—but you can’t ignore the way he just kept stacking up those honors. That early recognition didn’t just open doors; it kind of blew them off the hinges. William Morris doesn’t just sign anyone fresh out of film school. Clearly, Jon had something that grabbed attention—talent, sure, but also a knack for being in the right place at the right time, and making sure his work actually said something.
movie trivia nSo, here’s a wild bit of Hollywood history—back when he was just a scrappy film student at USC, this guy made a short flick called “When the Kids Are Away.” No one really expected much, but then Steven Spielberg himself happened to catch it. Yeah, that Spielberg. Apparently, the short film made enough of an impression that Spielberg basically plucked him out of student life and threw him a shot in the big leagues. Talk about right place, right time. That’s how some careers kick off—one lucky break, and suddenly you’re on a whole different path. Imagine turning in a class project and waking up the next day with a Hollywood legend on the line. Makes you wonder how many other hidden gems are out there, just waiting for the right set of eyes. And honestly, Spielberg’s got an eye for talent, so if he’s interested, you know you’re onto something.
So, back in fifth grade, I basically hijacked the family vacation camera. My mom handed it over, probably thinking I’d film everyone doing the tourist thing—you know, grinning in front of Big Ben or the Eiffel Tower, that kind of deal. Nope. That’s not how my brain worked. Instead, I started casting my own family in these wild sci-fi flicks and murder mysteries. My little brother as the villain, my dad as the detective, everyone getting chased through hotel hallways or hiding in the bushes. Honestly, it was chaos, but the good kind. Every trip turned into a new movie set, and I’d come home with tapes full of ridiculous plot twists and dramatic fake deaths. Looking back, those little home movies had way more explosions than actual sightseeing. Guess I was always more into storytelling than travel brochures.
November 2, 1979
5′ 10″ (1.78 m)
Konidela Ram Charan
Palo Alto, California, USA
Yes, Jonathan Heights
Lawrence Chu and Surekha
45 years old