In 1986, Jordan Kerner and Jon Avnet formed The Avnet/Kerner Company, a production entity that developed both socially relevant and family-oriented motion pictures and television movies, series and mini-series.  With many acclaimed productions to its credit, the company established a reputation for high-quality, value-oriented, provocative entertainment. In the fall of 2001 the company split into two independent film entities: The Kerner Entertainment Company and Brooklyn Films. They strive individually to maintain the same orientation to high quality, value oriented, provocative entertainment.

Kerner Entertainment has been in a long term first look production arrangement at Paramount Pictures since 2002. The company currently has over 25 projects in development for theatrical, television, and video premiere release.

Mr. Kerner is in pre-production on the miniseries TALE OF TWO CITIES. It was written by Harley Peyton and Gordon Greisman. It will be shot on location in Eastern Europe and Paris.

Mr. Kerner is currently in the final stages of postproduction on a live action/CG photo real animated version of the classic CHARLOTTE’S WEB. It was written by Academy Award nominated Susannah Grant (ERIN BROCKOVICH) and Karey Kirkpatrick (CHICKEN RUN). It was directed by Gary Winick (13 GOING ON 30). This film is a faithful adaptation of the revered E.B. White book.  It stars Dakota Fanning as Fern. The animated voices include: Academy Award winner-Julia Roberts, Academy Award nominated-Oprah Winfrey, Academy Award winner-Robert Redford, NAACP Image Award winner-Cedric the Entertainer, Golden Globe nominated-Reba McEntire, Academy Award winner-Kathy Bates, Academy Award nominated-John Cleese, Golden Globe nominated-Steve Buscemi, Academy Award nominated-Thomas Hayden Church, and Grammy Award winner-Andre 3000.

In 2003 two “live action theatrical films made for video area” were released. Mr. Kerner produced GEORGE OF THE JUNGLE 2 and Executive Produced INSPECTOR GADGET 2. They sold over 2 million units each in their first months of release.

In 2002, Mr. Kerner had SNOW DOGS in theaters with over $135 million in box office. It was a Walt Disney feature set in Alaska telling the story of a father and his adult son who meet for the first time since birth. It also centers on his gaining ownership of and getting into trouble with seven sled dogs. SNOW DOGS stars Cuba Gooding, Jr. and James Coburn. A sequel to SNOW DOGS is in development at Disney.

Mr. Kerner also completed Madeline L’Engle’s classic coming of age novel A WRINKLE IN TIME for ABC starring Alfre Woodard, Kate Nelligan, Alison Elliott, Kyle Secor, Greg Smith, Katie Stuart, David Dorfman, and Chris Potter.

In the summer of 2000 Mr. Kerner produced A HOUSE DIVIDED starring Sam Waterson and Jennifer Beals. This Showtime original was nominated for numerous awards including NAACP awards, Diversity awards, and Golden Satellite awards.

In July of 1999 Kerner and Avnet’s live-action, motion picture version of “INSPECTOR GADGET” hit over $150 in worldwide box office. “INSPECTOR GADGET” starred Matthew Broderick in the title role and Rupert Everett as his chief adversary.  In addition, Mr. Kerner and Mr. Avnet produced a mini-series for CBS, which won it’s sweeps period for Nov. 1998, based on Alex Haley’s last book, “MAMA FLORA’S FAMILY”, a narrative about an African-American woman’s life based on personal stories from Mr. Haley, Mr. Kerner, and Mr. Avnet.  It featured Cicely Tyson, Blair Underwood, Mario Van Peoples and Queen Latifah.  They also completed a telefilm for ABC Television in early 1999, entitled “MY LAST LOVE”, a bittersweet love story of a woman’s losing battle with cancer and is effects on her lover and her young daughter. Nancy Travis and Scott Bairstow starred.

In 1997, Mr. Kerner produced the blockbuster, “GEORGE OF THE JUNGLE”, for Walt Disney Pictures, starring Brendan Fraser in the title role. “GEORGE OF THE JUNGLE” grossed nearly $200 million dollars and was the most successful film of 1997 for the Walt Disney Company.  Also in 1997, Mr. Kerner produced and Mr. Avnet directed and produced the controversial film “RED CORNER” for MGM.  Starring Richard Gere, this film looked at the world of business, politics and law in the Republic of China.

Mr. Kerner produced two motion pictures for release in 1996:  “UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL” for Touchstone Pictures, which was also directed and produced by Mr. Avnet and starred Robert Redford and Michelle Pfeiffer; and “D3: THE MIGHTY DUCKS” for Walt Disney Pictures, the final chapter of the Mighty Ducks saga, starring Emilio Estevez, Josh Jackson and Joss Ackland. 

In 1995 Universal released “THE WAR”, produced by Mr. Kerner and directed and produced by Mr. Avnet, and which starred Kevin Costner and Elijah Wood.  Later that year, Avnet/Kerner executive produced the romantic comedy “MIAMI RHAPSODY” starring Antonio Banderas, Mia Farrow and Sarah Jessica Parker.

1993/1994 saw a trio of Avnet/Kerner productions for Walt Disney/Touchstone Pictures:  “WHEN A MAN LOVES A WOMAN”, produced by Mr. Kerner and starring Meg Ryan and Andy Garcia which took a touching and troubling look at the effects of alcoholism and recovery on a family;  “THE THREE MUSKETEERS”, executive produced by Kerner and Avnet, starring Kiefer Sutherland, Charlie Sheen, Chris O’Donnell and Rebecca DeMornay; and “D2: THE MIGHTY DUCKS”, produced by Mr. Kerner and starring Emilio Estevez and Josh Jackson.

The Mighty Ducks movie franchise began when Mr. Kerner, on behalf of Avnet/Kerner, produced “THE MIGHTY DUCKS” in 1992, starring Emilio Estevez and Josh Jackson, which popularized ice hockey nationwide for kids and families.  In the Holiday period of 1991, Mr. Kerner and Mr. Avnet produced the critically acclaimed “FRIED GREEN TOMATOES” for Universal, which marked the directorial debut for Mr. Avnet.  The movie starred Kathy Bates, Jessica Tandy, Mary Stuart Masterson and Mary-Louise Parker and was nominated for two Academy Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, including Best Picture and received the Writer’s Guild of America Award for Best Screenplay.

 The Avnet/Kerner Company’s first motion picture production was “LESS THAN ZERO”, starring Robert Downey Jr., James Spader, Andrew McCarthy and Jami Gertz.  The project was the first anti-drug film released by a major studio and the soundtrack resulted in a #1 album, song and video.

In the television arena Mr. Kerner’s production credits include: “THE SWITCH” for CBS, focusing on the right to die and independent living from the perspective of a quadriplegic, starring Gary Cole, Craig T. Nelson and Beverly D’Angelo; “FOR THEIR OWN GOOD” for ABC, exploring sexual discrimination in the workplace and starring Elizabeth Perkins and Laura San Giacomo, which won the Environmental Media Nancy Susan Reynolds Award;  “SIDE BY SIDE” for CBS, starring Milton Berle, Sid Caesar and Danny Thomas; “MY FIRST LOVE” for ABC, starring Bea Arthur;  the Emmy-nominated “DO YOU KNOW THE MUFFIN MAN” for CBS, starring Pam Dawber, Stephen Dorff and John Shea; and the highly acclaimed TNT movie “HEATWAVE”, starring Blair Underwood, Cicely Tyson, James Earl Jones and Sally Kirkland, which received four Cable ACE Awards, including Best Picture, an Emmy Award, the WGA Award and the NEA award. 

Other Avnet/Kerner productions include “THE NIGHTMAN” for NBC, starring Joanna Kerns and written by John Wells; “BACKFIELD IN MOTION” for ABC, starring Roseanne and Tom Arnold; “BREAKING POINT” for TNT, starring Corbin Bernsen, Joanna Pacula and John Glover; and “FUNNY ABOUT LOVE” a feature film for Paramount, starring Gene Wilder, Christine Lahti and Mary Stuart Masterson.

President of Kerner Entertainment and previously a founding partner in The Avnet/Kerner Company, Mr. Kerner began his career in the entertainment industry working in various capacities for CBS affiliate KPIX-TV.  He relocated to Los Angeles and worked in the Motion Picture Department of Ball, Hunt, Brown and Baerwitz, a Beverly Hills law firm.  Two years later, Mr. Kerner joined CBS as a Talent and Program Negotiator in the network’s Business Affairs Department.  From 1978 to 1981 he held positions in development at Universal and QM Productions, until moving to ABC Entertainment as Director of Dramatic Series Development.  He became Vice President of that division in 1983.  While at ABC, Mr. Kerner was responsible for developing shows such as “MOONLIGHTING”, “MACGYVER”, “DYNASTY”, “SPENCER FOR HIRE” and “CALL TO GLORY”.

Mr. Kerner was a Trustee of the Starbright Foundation and an Executive Producer of its Diabetes and Asthma CD-Rom games; a Trustee of Tel Aviv University’s School of Film and Television; a member of General Wesley Clark’s Four Star Council in his bid for the Presidency; a member of Senator Dianne Feinstein’s California Cabinet; and has served on the Board of Directors for the Media Office, established by the California Governor’s Committee for Employment of Disabled Persons; the President’s Advisory Council for the City of Hope; the Chrysalis Foundation, and a former Director of the Show Coalition,.  Mr. Kerner is also a former Governor of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and the Beverly Hills Bar Association Barristers.  He is the Founder and former Co-chairman of the Committee for the Arts of the Beverly Hills Bar Association, an organization providing legal aid to indigent performing artists, with educational programs and speakers for disabled and arts/entertainment groups.  Mr. Kerner was member of the Planned Parenthood’s political action arm and a member of the Earth Communications Office. He currently is a member of the NRDC, Human Right’s Watch, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, the Producer’s Guild and the American Film Institute.

A 1972 graduate from Stanford University, Mr. Kerner received a degree with distinction, and honors in Political Science and Communications.  He then earned a JD-MBA degree from the University of California at Berkeley and San Francisco in 1976, serving on the Law Review and founding COMM/ENT, the Journal of Communications and Entertainment Law.

Mr. Kerner currently resides in Los Angeles, California with his wife Nicola O’Shea, their daughters Haley, Grace and Lily; a golden retriever, Gowan; a chocolate lab Charlotte; a cat Lucy, and 7 Koi fish who have requested anonymity.