[1] Jack Neo, who wrote and directed Homerun, placed a newspaper advertisement about auditions for a role in the movie, stating that he was looking for a "girl about nine, who is dark, skinny, and can cry and act".
After seeing the advertisement, Zheng's father joked that she fitted the bill, prompting the girl to call Neo's J Team Productions and arrange an audition.
[1][2] During the school holidays, Zheng and the rest of the Homerun cast flew to Malaysia for on-location shoot.
Seeing Zheng crying uncontrollably while shooting a particularly emotional scene, an impressed Xiang Yun commented "Wah, this little kid is very absorbed in her role".
One of the other nominees, Ariel Lin, was subsequently disqualified after it was revealed that she had previously made an unreleased movie.