Short Films

ATHLETES IN MOTION: HARDCORE BONSPIEL

Small town Tuesday night Ladies’ League curling couldn’t be more humdrum until iconic writer Douglas Coupland offers an accidental glimpse into the strangely beguiling daydream of local skip Jen, played by World Champion Curler Jennifer Jones. Directed by John Kerr, various touchstones of our shared experience are thrown down the ice to the idiosyncratic rhythms of Gordon Downie in a wry and blissful celebration of nothing less than what it is to be Canadian.

THE EMPEROR

Set in 1922 against the wild landscape of Canada's Rocky Mountains and based on actual Prohibition-era incidents along the Alberta-British Columbia border, "The Emperor" is a dramatic restructuring of the events surrounding the tragic shooting death of Alberta Provincial Police Constable Steven Oldacres Lawson,and the subsequent trial, conviction,and execution of notorious Crowsnest Pass bootlegger Emilio "Emperor Pic" Picariello and his housekeeper, Florence Losandro, for the policeman's murder.

Imitating the tones and textures of early silent films, "The Emperor" traverses a landscape of memory, history, myth and nostalgia, marrying music and spectacle with the language and syntax of cinema to create a thrilling and dramatic wordless play, complete with a chilling ending that will haunt audiences for years to come. Like a vast distorting mirror, the same events are seen through the eyes of both Emilio Picariello and Florence Losandro as they await their executions, forcing each of us to reflect on the very nature of reality and truth as we are confronted with the question: Who killed Constable Lawson?

Leadership

John Kerr is an award-winning writer, producer, and director in motion picture, television, and digital media. His track record as producer and director boasts award-winning short films, commercials, music videos, viral campaigns, corporate projects, and television. John creates memorable characters and tells compelling stories in a business fueled by dreams. 

Mr. Kerr has produced many television commercials, music videos, and broadcast concert shows for various clients, including but not limited to: CBC, CMT, Corb Lund & The Hurtin’ Albertans, George Canyon, Johnny Reid, Paul Brandt, Sara Evans, Aaron Lines, Aaron Pritchett, The Road Hammers, All Weather Windows, Canadian Mental Health Association, AUDI, Chrysler, AMA, The Calgary Stampede, Jayman Homes, Alberta Dental Association, Bayer Crop Sciences, Milestone Homes, ATB Financial, Alberta Motor Transport Association, Calgary Waterworks, First Calgary Financial, Western Canada Lotteries Corporation, Travelodge, UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, and AXE Body Spray.                         

Mr. Kerr’s directing credits include but are not limited to: “For Country”, “Cowboys” (Pilot), “City Chase” (Calgary 2008), Joshua’s Habit “Whiskey & Women”, Corb Lund & The Hurtin’ Albertans “Family Reunion”, Subway “Sub! Sub! Sub!”, Alberta Teacher’s Association “Stories”, United Way “Red Handed”, SHAW Communications “One Channel At A Time”, Corb Lund & Ian Tyson “The Rodeo’s Over”, Ubisoft “Subsessed!”, Joshua’s Habit “Drama Queen”, AXE Body Spray “Ravenstoke Alaska” (Additional Photography), Milestone Homes “The Brownstones”, and “The Emperor”.             

Mr. Kerr is also involved in local independent film and video production in Calgary and is a production member of the Calgary Society of Independent Filmmakers. In July 2002, John joined the board of directors for the Calgary Society of Independent Filmmakers as Executive Vice-President, and later served two consecutive terms as President in 2003-2004 and 2004-2005.       

John is currently completing “For Country” a feature length documentary about a fallen soldier for Canada whose legacy of courage, loyalty to family, and duty to country inspires his family, who are themselves all soldiers, to battle grief and the armed agents of the Taliban on a unique healing journey, retaining to the last its sense of hope and human dignity.