Rising Stars: Meet K$haun Kortéz of Atlanta

Today we’d like to introduce you to K$haun Kortéz.

Hi K$haun, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m originally from South Carolina, but Atlanta is where I really started shaping myself as an artist, actor, filmmaker, and creative. I’ve always had a love for storytelling, music, film, and building worlds that feel honest to real life. For a long time, I was mainly focused on music and developing my identity as K$haun Kortéz, but over time I realized I didn’t just want to release songs — I wanted to create visuals, characters, stories, and moments that people could actually feel.

That eventually led me to building Nine5TV, which started as a creative outlet and has grown into my independent production brand. Nine5TV is where I develop original series, visual projects, short films, skits, and creative content rooted in Atlanta culture, real life, humor, struggle, love, ambition, and growth.

A big part of my journey has been learning how to create with limited resources. I’ve had to fund a lot out of pocket, teach myself the business side, build relationships, organize shoots, cast actors, work with crews, and figure things out as I go. It hasn’t always been easy, but it made me more serious, more disciplined, and more intentional about the kind of work I want to make.

Right now, I’m focused on growing as both an actor and filmmaker while continuing to build Nine5TV into a real platform for original stories. Projects like Introvert, GA, Situationship, Fever Dream, and other Nine5TV concepts are all part of that bigger vision. I’m still in the early stages, but I’m proud of the foundation I’m building because it’s coming from a real place. My goal is to keep creating, keep learning, and eventually make Nine5TV a respected home for independent storytelling.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No, it definitely hasn’t been a smooth road, but I think that’s what made the journey real.

One of the biggest struggles has been building with limited resources. A lot of what I’ve done has been funded out of my own pocket, so I’ve had to learn how to be creative with what I have. Sometimes that means wearing multiple hats — artist, actor, writer, producer, director, promoter, and business person — even when I’m still learning as I go.

Another challenge has been trying to build something serious while still handling real-life responsibilities. I’ve had to balance work, bills, personal growth, relationships, creative pressure, and the financial side of production. There are times where I’ve had the vision before I had the money, the team, or the full resources to execute it the way I saw it in my head. That can be frustrating, but it also forced me to become more disciplined and intentional.

I’ve also had to learn that everybody won’t understand the vision right away. When you’re building something from the ground up, people may not take it seriously until they see the results. So a big part of my growth has been learning to keep going even when the support is limited, the budget is tight, or the process feels slow.

But I don’t look at those struggles as reasons to stop. I look at them as part of the foundation. Every challenge has taught me something — how to lead better, how to communicate better, how to prepare better, and how to move more like a real creative professional. The road hasn’t been easy, but it’s shaping me into the person I need to become.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m an artist, actor, filmmaker, and creative entrepreneur. I’m originally from South Carolina, but Atlanta is where I really began shaping my creative identity and building my work more seriously. I go by K$haun Kortéz, and I’m the founder of Nine5TV, which is my independent production brand and creative platform.

My work sits at the intersection of music, film, short-form storytelling, and visual culture. I specialize in creating projects that feel cinematic but still grounded in real life — stories about relationships, ambition, struggle, humor, growth, and what it feels like to be figuring life out while trying to become something greater.

Through Nine5TV, I develop original series, skits, visual projects, short films, and creative concepts. Some of the projects I’m building include Introvert, GA, Situationship, Fever Dream, and other visual storytelling ideas connected to the Nine5TV universe. I’m also growing as an actor and recently booked a featured extra role in Her Secret Obsession, which is another step in building my presence in film and television.

I think what I’m becoming known for is being a creator who doesn’t wait for permission. I write, produce, act, cast, organize, promote, and build from the ground up. A lot of my work comes from real experience, so even when it’s funny, stylish, or dramatic, there’s still honesty behind it.

What I’m most proud of is building Nine5TV with limited resources and still pushing it forward. I’ve had to fund projects myself, learn production the hard way, work with different collaborators, and figure out how to turn ideas into something people can actually see. It’s not easy, but I’m proud that I keep going and keep treating the vision like it’s worth the work.

What sets me apart is that I’m not just trying to be one thing. I’m not only an artist, only an actor, or only a filmmaker. I’m building a full creative world and a platform that can eventually open doors for other actors, artists, writers, and filmmakers too. My goal is for Nine5TV to become a respected home for independent storytelling — something rooted in culture, honesty, creativity, and real growth.

What do you like and dislike about the city?
What I like best about Atlanta is the creative energy. There’s so much talent here — actors, musicians, filmmakers, photographers, designers, writers, content creators — and everybody is trying to build something. That kind of energy can inspire you to take yourself more seriously.

I also love how Atlanta has its own identity. The culture, the music, the film scene, the neighborhoods, the language, the humor, the ambition — it all has a real personality. It doesn’t feel like the city is trying to be anywhere else. Atlanta has its own rhythm, and that has influenced a lot of how I create through Nine5TV. I like telling stories that feel grounded in real life, Southern culture, and the kind of people you actually meet here.

What I like least is that sometimes the creative scene can feel very image-based. There are a lot of talented people, but there can also be a lot of ego, clout-chasing, unclear communication, and people saying they want to collaborate without really understanding the work or business side behind it. As a filmmaker, I’ve learned that “let’s work” only means something when people are serious, prepared, and respectful of each other’s time.

But even with that, I still think Atlanta is one of the best places to grow as a creative and an overall entrepreneur. The city teaches you how to network, how to hustle, how to stand out, and how to keep going even when things aren’t easy. It pushes you to become sharper.

Contact Info:

• Website: @nine5tv_
• Instagram: @kshaunkortez
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@nine5tv?si=MdBSfTC0KBYnEBjD