Executive producer Jonathon Ker has launched commercial production company Hobnob. The new venture, with EP Skot Bright, opens with a directorial roster that includes Angela and Ithyle, Mario Zozin, Senain Kheshgi, Pawel, Pawlikowski, Ben Perry, Marc Rissman, and Todd Kellstein for exclusive U.S. representation.
Initial projects produced by Hobnob include work for Ortho (via Planet Propaganda/Wisconsin) directed by Angela and Ithyle, who previously were included in SHOOT’s 2011 New Directors Showcase; five short web films directed by Kheshgi for ITVS called The Divas of Karachi; Kheshgi’s The Path, documenting the class/honor struggle of Pakistani children; and Kellstein’s documentary short with Rainn Wilson about the 4,000 Haitians stranded in Tijuana. Hobnob is currently in production on a VR film directed by Ben Perry (and co-produced with Visyon), about Cornerstone’s foster care for abused and neglected children.
“While so much has changed in the content landscape, the importance of cultivating directorial talent and merging it with outstanding creative remains a constant,” said Ker, who, over the course of a two-decade career, earned a reputation as a career-builder with a keen eye for talent and a steadfast ability to execute top-tier commercial film production.
In addition to his work with Hobnob, Ker recently enlisted a small crew to capture a candid FaceTime conversation between Lady Gaga in LA (with Prince William in London) to discuss mental health and Kensington Palace’s Heads Together charity. “A call came in from Barnaby Spurrier of Tomboy Films London asking for some help with a worthy cause,” said Ker. “Heads Together” launched April 18 to extensive coverage, nationally and internationally. “Ultimately, what drives you in this industry are your relationships and the shared desire to create impactful work.”
Ker began his advertising career as head of TV at Bartle Bogle Hegarty in London. Arriving in L.A., he launched the commercial division of music video company Limelight and later opened Palomar Pictures. A successful tenure at Tight Productions followed, during which he brought Outsider and The Viral Factory stateside. This was the beginning of a long and successful partnership with world class director Iain Mackenzie, with whom Ker started Paydirt Pictures in 2008.
Ker’s most visible long form work includes: the documentary I Just Wasn’t Made for These Times, chronicling the musical genius of legend Brian Wilson and directed by Grammy-winning music producer Don Was; and the HBO original film Always Outnumbered, written by Walter Mosley, directed by Michael Apted, and starring Laurence Fishburne. These works received countless awards and garnered widespread critical acclaim. More recently, Ker produced the Kellstein-directed documentary feature Buffalo Girls, which follows two 8 year-old girls in Thailand that compete in Muay Thai boxing to support their families. The film premiered at the 2012 Slamdance Film Festival to much praise, landing a worldwide distribution deal.
“Jonathon and I have collaborated many times over the last few years, and Hobnob is our opportunity to make great content together again,” said Bright, who first met Ker amidst the thriving music video business of the early ‘90s. Bright had already established himself as a leading music video producer working with directors such as Mark Romanek, Zack Snyder and Big TV, when he joined Ker at Palomar Pictures, where he served as head of production managing the music video and television divisions. Over the next decade, Skot produced hundreds of music videos for Janet Jackson, U2, Eminem, Madonna and more, as well as commercials for brands such as Ford, Cadillac, Miller, and Levis. While at Palomar, Skot developed and produced a variety of long form content for VH-1, MTV and Comedy Central. Bright has since developed and produced a variety of film and television projects including the Emmy-winning Disney Channel series Imagination Movers, Dave Chappelle’s Block Party, directed by Michel Gondry, and the Grammy-winning documentary Runnin’ Down A Dream: Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers directed by Peter Bogdanovich. Skot recently completed production on two features, Hillsong: Let Hope Rise and The First Monday In May.
