Overactive Imagination Pictures 3iAtlas

We are storytellers who believe in the harnessing of our overactive imaginations through meditation. We create films that aren’t afraid to laugh through the tears, face the shadows, or celebrate the messy brilliance of being human. Our stories reveal hidden truths, awaken possibility, and honor the uniqueness  of every heart. Through humor, emotional courage, and cinematic wonder, we make films that help us feel more alive, more connected, and more ourselves. Because when we feel deeply, we remember our humanity — and that’s where transformation begins.

At Overactive Imagination Pictures, we believe story is medicine. We craft bold, tender, and profoundly imaginative films that make us laugh, cry, and see ourselves more clearly. By revealing truth through humor, heart, and human connection, our stories help us remember who we are — and who we can become. Woven into the code of everything we do is a program for the protection of the human heart.

 
Ken_Sheetz_FilmmakerKen Sheetz fulfilled his dream of filmmaking after a successful commercial real estate career. As a top Chicago developer, he oversaw over $1 billion in projects, including Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Studios. Since 2000, he has created a dozen screenplays, four documentaries, and eight short films, one starring Ed Asner. His 2000 PBS documentary, “A Kid’s View of the US,” and its 2008 follow-up, “Kids Talk Politics,” both became hits, with the latter amassing 11 million views and topping Amazon’s DVD charts for 10 years.
 
In 2009, Ken launched BuzzBroz.com, producing 1,000+ SMM corporate and PSA videos with over 40 million views across the web. He’s currently hosting Seniors on Soapboxes with his wife and creative partner, Elizabeth England—co-producer of the acclaimed documentaries The Coolest Meditation Ever: Antarctica 12.12.12 and The Flanagan Experiments. Ken Sheetz wrote and directed both films, blending spirituality with cinematic imagination. Since 2024, the duo has turned their lens toward healing America’s political divide through their Political Cool Down meditation series, offering viewers brief but powerful escapes from the stress of our polarized age. Now, they’re developing a feel-good slate of three screenplays from Ken’s twelve-script collection—stories designed to uplift, inspire, and remind audiences of our shared humanity. Ken’s IMDB here.
About Ken Sheetz

Kenneth W. Sheetz

Kenneth W. Sheetz is an American filmmaker, screenwriter, producer, real estate developer, and commercial broker. His career spans Chicago commercial real estate in the 1980s and early 1990s, major development work including One North Franklin and the Harpo Studios deal for Oprah Winfrey, and later documentary and narrative filmmaking through Overactive Imagination Pictures, the production company he co-founded with producer Elizabeth England.

His work has been covered by the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, Los Angeles Times, Reuters, and regional film and festival outlets. Film projects associated with Sheetz include A Kid’s View of the U.S., Kids Talk Politics, The Coolest Meditation Ever: Antarctica 12.12.12, The Flanagan Experiments, Political Cool Down, and current feature development including Summer Rules, Secret Ingredients, Jellybeans, and Elvis and Armageddon.

Overview

Kenneth W. Sheetz built an unusually cross-disciplinary career. Before moving into film, he worked in Chicago commercial real estate during a volatile expansion-and-contraction cycle that produced some of the city’s best-known office and redevelopment projects. Later, he transitioned into documentary and narrative filmmaking, combining production, writing, direction, crowdfunding, media outreach, and long-form project development.

For Overactive Imagination Pictures, that mix matters. Sheetz’s background combines project assembly, public-facing storytelling, and long-cycle development work—skills that now converge in a film slate that includes documentaries, narrative features, and market-facing development presentations. Sheetz launched Buzzbroz in 2009 as the marketing arm of Overactive Imagination Pictures and for corporate work. It’s currently the Youtube channel, youtube.com/buzzbroz, with over twenty-two million views.  

Filmmaking

Sheetz’s filmmaking career includes documentary, political, educational, and narrative projects. His documentary A Kid’s View of the U.S. was produced with Wisconsin Public Television and aired nationally on PBS during the 2000 U.S. presidential election season. Later, Kids Talk Politics received national media coverage during the 2008 election cycle, including coverage from Reuters and the Los Angeles Times.

He also directed Zack’s Machine, a short narrative film starring Ed Asner, and later developed documentary and educational media through BuzzBroz and related channels, including projects tied to the Flanagan / Neurophone orbit. In 2015, Sheetz and Elizabeth England co-produced The Coolest Meditation Ever: Antarctica 12.12.12, which premiered at the Sedona International Film Festival in 2016 and later screened regionally in Santa Fe and Boulder.

Sheetz and England later collaborated on the feature documentary The Flanagan Experiments, which premiered at the Sedona International Film Festival in 2019, and on Political Cool Down, which premiered there in 2024.

Current Work

Sheetz is developing feature projects through Overactive Imagination Pictures, including Summer Rules, Secret Ingredients, Jellybeans, and Elvis and Armageddon. He is also working with producer Darren Dean on Secret Ingredients.

In 2025, several screenplays associated with Sheetz, including Summer Rules, were evaluated by Largo.ai. Following that evaluation, Overactive Imagination Pictures participated in an analytics-focused presentation event at the American Film Market.

Chicago Real Estate Career

Before filmmaking, Sheetz worked in Chicago’s commercial real estate sector during the 1980s and early 1990s. Coverage in the Chicago Sun-Times and Chicago Tribune identified him in brokerage, leasing, executive, and development roles connected to major downtown office projects during a period of rapid expansion and subsequent market contraction.

He held senior roles at Irvine Associates and later led Oxford Advisors / Oxford Holdings, with work spanning brokerage, leasing, development, and construction oversight. Coverage in the early 1990s also identified him as an executive vice president associated with Lincoln Property Company and quoted his market analysis regarding downtown office vacancy and absorption trends.

Manufacturers Hanover Plaza

While at Irvine Associates, Sheetz served as executive vice president and played a central role in leasing and positioning Manufacturers Hanover Plaza at 10 South LaSalle, a 37-story office tower developed by Fidinam (USA) Inc. Contemporary reporting highlighted the building’s wiring systems, design flexibility, and tenant-driven features.

One North Franklin

Sheetz was the original developer and managing partner of One North Franklin, a 38-story office tower in the Chicago Loop designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. Reporting in the Chicago Tribune identified him as managing partner of One North Franklin Associates and described the $150 million project as significantly leased ahead of its scheduled 1991 occupancy.

As the downtown office market shifted, the building remained part of broader coverage of Chicago vacancy trends, tenant movement, and mid-scale commercial development strategy. The Bank Administration Institute’s move into the building also drew Tribune coverage quoting Sheetz on leasing progress and tenant demand.

Harpo Studios and Oprah Winfrey

One of the most notable development stories attached to Sheetz is the Harpo Studios project on Chicago’s Near West Side. In 1990, the Chicago Sun-Times credited Sheetz with “putting the deal together” to keep The Oprah Winfrey Show in Chicago. Through Oxford Holdings, he assembled the real estate, construction, and renovation plan that enabled Oprah Winfrey to establish Harpo Studios in the city.

The project combined new construction with the rehabilitation of the former Fred A. Miles Studios complex and became part of a broader redevelopment story on the Near West Side. Later coverage recognized the renovation as a major adaptive-reuse success.

 

 

 

Selected Filmography

Documentary

  • A Kid’s View of the U.S. — writer, director, producer
  • Kids Talk Politics: A New Puppy in the White House — writer, director, producer
  • The Flanagan Experiments — writer, director, producer
  • Discover Me! — writer, director, producer
  • The Neurophone Experience — writer, director, producer
  • Political Cool Down — writer, director, producer

Narrative

  • Zack’s Machine — writer, director, producer
  • The Coolest Meditation Ever: Antarctica 12.12.12 — writer, director, producer
  • Steps — writer, director, producer
  • Orange Alert: Plastic & Duct Tape — writer, director, producer
  • Desert Silhouettes — writer, director, producer

Projects in Development

  • Summer Rules — writer, producer
  • Secret Ingredients — writer, producer
  • Jellybeans — writer, producer
  • Elvis and Armageddon — writer, producer

References

Note: Some older print-era sources below do not have publicly accessible URLs in the material provided. Those are marked accordingly.

  1. Davis, Jerry C. “Winfrey’s Studio Should Invigorate Near West Side.” Chicago Sun-Times. July 30, 1990. Archive lookup recommended.
  2. Lion, Lea. “No Child Left Behind in This Election.” Los Angeles Times. September 11, 2008. View source
  3. Noxon, Christopher. “Family Life: Kids, Got Homework, Lunch, Political Rhetoric?” Reuters. September 22, 2008. Archive lookup recommended.
  4. “American Film Market & Marché du Film Announce Collaboration on New Innovation Hub and AI Programming for AFM 2025.” American Film Market. View source
  5. “Independent Filmmakers Spotlighted at AFM Pitch Conference with Analytics-Driven Projects.” Yahoo Finance / syndicated release version recommended. View source
  6. IMDb. “Kenneth W. Sheetz.” View source
  7. Davis, Jerry C. “Money Walks – The Financial District Is Expanding West from Its La Salle Street Home.” Chicago Sun-Times. September 30, 1986. Archive lookup recommended.
  8. Davis, Jerry C. “Hat Dance – Real Estate Industry Sprouts Lot of Changes as Hedge Against Future.” Chicago Sun-Times. June 18, 1990. Archive lookup recommended.
  9. Davis, Jerry C. “Realty Experts Find Some Hope Amid the Gloom.” Chicago Sun-Times. December 24, 1990. Archive lookup recommended.
  10. Chicago Tribune. “Tall Order.” July 18, 1993. Archive lookup recommended.
  11. Davis, Jerry C. “Developers Unfazed by Sears’ Big Move.” Chicago Sun-Times. November 10, 1988. Archive lookup recommended.
  12. Chicago Tribune. “Oxford’s Sheetz Unfazed by City Vacancy Report.” June 2, 1991. Archive lookup recommended.
  13. Davis, Jerry C. “Tall Trio – Less Is More in 1991’s Smaller Skyscrapers.” Chicago Sun-Times. April 9, 1991. Archive lookup recommended.
  14. Chicago Tribune. “Business Scoot.” August 2, 2000. Archive lookup recommended.
  15. Chicago Tribune. “Easy Access to Wiring Attracts Office Tenants.” February 9, 1986. Archive lookup recommended.
  16. Davis, Jerry C. “2 Loop Towers Get Go-Ahead.” Chicago Sun-Times. February 10, 1989. Archive lookup recommended.
  17. Chicago Tribune. “How Developers Park Their Dollars.” September 24, 1989. Archive lookup recommended.
  18. Davis, Jerry C. “Inland’s Hot Around the Collar.” Chicago Sun-Times. December 15, 1992. Archive lookup recommended.
  19. Chicago Tribune. “Bank Group Returning to Chicago.” September 29, 1990. Archive lookup recommended.
  20. Wisconsin Public Television. “A Kid’s View of the U.S.” National PBS broadcast. October 11, 2000. Archive lookup recommended.
  21. The Courier-News (Bridgewater, New Jersey), TV listings, October 11, 2000. Archive lookup recommended.
  22. Leader-Telegram (Eau Claire, Wisconsin), TV listings, October 11, 2000. Archive lookup recommended.
  23. Kugel, Allison. “Ed Asner, a Passionate Crusader for Victims of 9/11, Makes a Statement with the Film ‘Zack’s Machine’.” PR.com. August 19, 2007. View source
  24. Indiegogo. “Buzzbroz.com / Ken Sheetz – NEO Neural Efficiency Optimizer (Neurophone).” View source
  25. EDN. “NEO Neurophone ultrasonic wearable tech chosen by Indiegogo for InDemand status.” View source
  26. PR Newswire. “First Ever Techno-Group Meditation: June 13th at Flanagan NEO Neurophone Release Party.” April 22, 2015. View source
  27. IMDb. “Elizabeth England.” View source
  28. PR Newswire. “The Coolest Meditation Ever: Antarctica 12.12.12.” November 11, 2016. View source
  29. Sedona International Film Festival. “The Coolest Meditation Ever: Antarctica 12.12.12 (screening listing).” View source
  30. Santa Fe New Mexican. “What’s Showing in & Around Santa Fe.” View PDF
  31. Albuquerque Journal, movie listings, June 16, 2017. Archive lookup recommended.
  32. Healing Sounds Facebook post regarding Boulder screening. Primary / social source.
  33. Event poster for Boulder screening. Primary source.
  34. Verde News. “Sedona Film Fest presents ‘The Flanagan Experiments’ premiere Jan. 17.” View source
  35. Sedona International Film Festival. “The Flanagan Experiments.” Official Festival Program, 2019. Archive lookup recommended.
  36. Sedona International Film Festival. “Political Cool Down.” View source
  37. Fleming, Mike Jr. “Sylvester Stallone Invests In Largo.ai, The AI Platform Helping Producers & Studios Assess Film Projects.” Deadline. February 2025. View source
  38. Largo.ai / YouTube. “AFM Pitch Conference Presentation – Overactive Imagination Pictures.” November 15, 2025. View source

FAQ

Who is Kenneth W. Sheetz?

Kenneth W. Sheetz is an American filmmaker, screenwriter, producer, real estate developer, and commercial broker known for Chicago development work and later documentary and narrative film projects.

What is Ken Sheetz known for in Chicago real estate?

He is associated with the original development of One North Franklin and with assembling the real estate and construction plan that enabled Harpo Studios for Oprah Winfrey on Chicago’s Near West Side.

What films has Kenneth Sheetz made?

His work includes A Kid’s View of the U.S., Kids Talk Politics, Zack’s Machine, The Coolest Meditation Ever: Antarctica 12.12.12, The Flanagan Experiments, and Political Cool Down.

What projects is he developing now?

Projects in development include Summer Rules, Secret Ingredients, Jellybeans, and Elvis and Armageddon.

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Elizabeth EnglandElizabeth England is a producer, writer, and creative strategist whose work blends storytelling, consciousness, and social impact. She is the co-founder of Overactive Imagination Pictures, producing transformational media and wellness projects that inspire personal sovereignty and collective responsibility. Elizabeth co-produced the films The Coolest Meditation Ever: Antarctica12.12.12, and The Flanagan Experiments, and is currently developing a trilogy of screenplays that celebrate American archetypyes and ordinary people facing extraordinary challenges. A military veteran turned meditating filmmaker, Elizabeth creates stories that challenge systems, celebrate truth, and remind humanity of its own divine plot twist. Her background spanning corporate environments, military operations, and digital entrepreneurship brings a rare combination of strategic precision and artistic intuition. Her work champions social justice, holistic well-being, and the evolution of human consciousness and global meditation communities. Whether writing, producing, or speaking, Elizabeth’s mission is to tell stories that awaken agency, elevate humanity, and help people remember who they truly are.  Elizabeth’s IMDB here.