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 is 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 actors, writers, museums and visual artists groups. He currently is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, the Producers Guild and the American Film Institute.

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 San Francisco 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,” “SPENSER: FOR HIRE” and “CALL TO GLORY.”

Mr. Kerner was named the Producer of the Year by the Hollywood Entertainment Museum at its 2006 Legacy Award Event. He has won numerous awards over the years including The Critics Choice Award, The Christopher Award, numerous Golden Reel Awards for Sound Editing, the Cable Ace Award, National Educational Association Award, and many others. His films have received nominations for multiple Academy Awards, Emmy Awards, Golden Globe awards, DGA Awards, WGA Awards, The Humanitas Award, NAACP Award, The Diversity Award, The Golden Satellite Award, The Art Directors Guild Award and Visual Effects Society Awards.

Mr. Kerner’s feature film credits include: SMURFS (2011), CHARLOTTE’S WEB (2008), SNOW DOGS (2002), INSPECTOR GADGET (1999), GEORGE OF THE JUNGLE (1997), UP CLOSE & PERSONAL (1996), WHEN A MAN LOVES A WOMAN (1994), THE THREE MUSKETEERS (1993), THE MIGHTY DUCKS TRILOGY (1992, 1994, 1996) FRIED GREEN TOMATOES (1991), and many others.

Kerner Entertainment has a first look deal with Walden Media in Century City, Calif.  Walden was a co-financier of CHARLOTTE’S WEB, which Mr. Kerner produced.

Mr. Kerner’s most recent film, SMURFS, was written by David Stem & David Weiss, and Jay Scherick & David Ronn for Sony Pictures. SMURFS was directed by Raja Gosnell. It stars Neil Patrick Harris, Hank Azaria, Sophia Vergera, Jama Mayes, and Tim Gunn. It is voiced by Jonathan Winters, Katy Perry, George Lopez, Fred Armisen, Alan Cumming, Anton Yeltchin, Jeff Foxworthy, Keenan Thompson, BJ Knovak, Paul Reubens, John Oliver, Gary Basaraba, Jon Kassir and Wolfgang Puck as Chef Smurf. The SMURFS set was the first opportunity for UNCSA’s film students to participate in the new UNCSA Shadow Intern program. Over 50 students were given the unique opportunity to spend time learning from key crew members during production on the set in New York as well as in the film’s post-production facilities and orchestral recording sound stages in Los Angeles. Each student sits with the professional as the film is being made. His/her only duty is to listen, watch and question. The program was an enormous success and has since been continued by other faculty members of UNCSA.