I grew up knowing the name Ken Cockrel long before I understood the man. My dad was a welder at Rouge Steel and a member of UAW Local 600. The work Ken and his colleagues did, fighting for safer conditions, fair wages, and basic dignity on the floor - directly shaped my family’s life. He was part of the reason my dad could come home from work a little safer. And a little prouder.
Years later, I became close friends with Ken’s daughter, Katy. I was running my own production company and doing a lot of work centered on Detroit. She approached me about making a film about her father.
As I dug in, I began to understand just how vital Ken’s legacy really was. Especially his role in dismantling STRESS, a Detroit police unit that killed 22 Black Detroiters in just two years.
My first film, Dare to Struggle Dare to Win, centered more around policing and STRESS, because I simply didn’t have enough footage of Ken… But three years ago, we found a mislabeled box in the library that contained several 16mm reels of Ken.
Subsequently, a clip of Ken on Tony Brown’s Black Journal went viral on TikTok. We tracked down the original broadcast, and together with the 16mm footage, everything changed. For the first time, I could make a true biopic. One that allowed Ken to finally speak for himself.
Since 2016, I’ve worked closely with Katy and Ken’s widow, Sheila Cockrel, to bring this film into the world. Over time, it’s become more than a project.
It’s become a responsibility. In many ways, it’s become my life’s work.
Thank you for watching.
-Christopher “Zoz” Gruse
Director’s Statement
Christopher “Zoz” Gruse was born the youngest of 9 in a factory town, has lived in Detroit with his wife and two children since 2006.
Zoz has built a career defined by striking composition, layered storytelling, and a relentless attention to detail. His recent work includes a high-octane Super Bowl commercial for Kawasaki titled “Mullets,” the NBA Finals spot “The Toast,” and standout campaigns for Resy and Google. His ability to blend emotional resonance with visual ingenuity has earned him industry recognition, including a Cannes shortlist and millions of viewers worldwide.
He has long used Detroit as both inspiration and backdrop. He got his start directing music videos for artists like Big Sean and Jack White, and his viral short film for an X Games bid helped redefine how the world saw the city—resilient, electric, and unapologetically alive.
Director’s Bio
Founded by Bryan Buckley and Hank Perlman, Hungry Man is a global production company with offices in New York, Los Angeles, London, and Brazil. The company is home to a diverse slate of 34 filmmakers and has consistently been ranked among the top production companies globally since its inception.
Hungry Man Entertainment continues the company's historic run with narrative features and television, with an emphasis on supporting gifted and emerging filmmaker. As a director-owned and operated company, our existence is dedicated to finding, incubating, protecting, and shepherding strikingly singular visions all the way to the screen.