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PRODUCTION HISTORY: Birth of The Child King It is a bittersweet irony that The Child King, an inspirational tale of love and redemption, was born in the midst of a famously tragic event in American history. 
In 1993, Jeff Kerr was a federal agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) assigned to the siege of David Koresh's Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas- a siege that would end in a horrific loss of life. On the day of his departure for Waco, Jeff had a chance encounter at the Federal Building in Boston, Massachusetts with a fellow agent who had brought along his three year-old son for a visit. The boy was captivating, energetic, full of affection… he also had Down syndrome. In the following weeks during the long siege at Waco, Jeff found free time to begin developing an idea about two brothers traveling to the North Pole to find Santa Claus. Recalls Jeff, "The Child King was written during off-duty time and while sitting in one of the Jeeps surrounding the Branch Davidian compound. Our Jeep was stationed way out in the dark countryside, the middle of nowhere, with nothing but cows and bulls for company. There were two agents assigned per Jeep and we alternated taking hour-long breaks. During my off-time I would scribble The Child King under a flashlight." The story he scribbled needed a hero. Inspired by his earlier meeting with a certain precocious young man in Boston, Jeff made his hero a teenager with Down syndrome. Twelve years later he would team with brother Frank, a longtime filmmaker, to finally realize the feature motion picture, The Child King. PRODUCTION HISTORY: Making The Child King Before embarking on their feature film, the producer's first priority was finding a teenaged boy with Down syndrome who could handle the lead role of Jeremy West, the brother who takes his younger sibling on a quest to find Santa Claus at the North Pole. The network of families that have children with Down syndrome is tightly knit, and producer Jeff Kerr was eventually introduced to the Johnson family of Scituate, Massachusetts, whose sixteen year-old son, Peter, was eager to accept the acting challenge. After auditioning for Jeff's brother, film director Frank Kerr, Peter had the part. It is of interest to note that, in cinema history, only a handful of actors with Down syndrome have successfully tackled leading roles in feature films. Thanks to his starring turn in The Child King, Peter Johnson has now joined that exclusive club. To play the part of Jarret, Jeremy's younger brother, the producers selected Will Kellem, the energetic eight year-old son of a childhood friend. Like Peter, Will had no acting experience, but he possessed the most important quality any good actor requires-the ability to "be himself" before the camera. Rounding out the supporting cast of The Child King was a host of talented New England actors, sports celebrities and one Boston-based comic legend, Lenny Clarke (Uncle Teddy on Fox Network's dramatic series "Rescue Me"). Filmed over the course of one summer, The Child King benefited, in no small measure, from the generous contributions of numerous individuals and organizations in the Boston area. The feature includes a soundtrack of beloved holiday songs performed by some of America's best-known recording artists, including Martina McBride, Randy Travis, Aaron Neville, Willie Nelson, Brian Setzer, Jessica Simpson and Vince Gill. THE CHILD KING SYNOPSIS When little brother, Jarret (Will Kellem) expresses doubts about the existence of Santa Claus, his older sibling, Jeremy (Peter Johnson), a teenager with Down syndrome, takes him on a journey to the North Pole to prove Santa is real. In the course of their magical adventure, the brothers encounter a host of colorful characters-- none more fascinating than a large man with a snow-white beard who mysteriously appears in various guises, offering the boys a guiding hand on their way North. Paralleling this story is their mother's ancient bedtime fable of a child prince, banished for his disabilities by an intolerant king, who returns one day to reclaim his throne-- a tale that makes an especially strong impression on Jeremy. Like the fabled child king he so admires, Jeremy safely returns with his little brother from the quest and, although Santa remains elusive, their lives are forever changed by the experience. To view The Child King trailer click here. SELECTED CAST BIOS
SELECTED CREW BIOS JEFF KERR, Writer/Producer Jeff Kerr is a special agent and group supervisor at the Boston field office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF). For fifteen years he was a member of the Bureau's Special Response Team (SWAT) and it was during this time that he wrote The Child King. The Child King is Jeff's first produced screenplay and third producing collaboration with brother, Frank. An advocate for those with intellectual disabilities, he is an active long-time supporter of Down syndrome causes, including The Special Olympics and the Law Enforcement Torch Run. Jeff is a graduate of the University of Maine and has two children. FRANK KERR, Producer/Director/Editor Frank Kerr is a former newspaper and television journalist with a Masters Degree in film from New York University. While attending NYU he was the recipient of several national and international film awards, including the FOCUS, presented to the top four university trained filmmakers in the United States. A member of the Writer's Guild of America, he has written, directed and line produced television programming, motion picture features, short subject films and scripted for numerous producing clients including Jerry Weintraub, David Kirshner, Charles Gordon, Joe Wizan and Steven Spielberg's Amblin' Entertainment. Married with two children, he resides in Norwell, Massachusetts. MARK WUERTHNER, Director of Photography Mark Wuerthner has been a Director of Photography in the Boston area for fifteen years. His work has included independent films, national commercials, broadcast design pieces and video art. Mark received his BA from Emerson College in Boston. A resident of Framingham, Massachusetts, he is married and has a son. ALVIN EALY, Composer A small town boy from Illinois, Alvin has had a life-long love affair with music, beginning when he heard his mother, grandmother and aunt signing hymns in church. He played in small bands in the St. Louis area then graduated to writing and recording his own music which was heavily influenced by his passion for jazz, blues, rock and classical. Alvin pursued a degree in Radio and Television Broadcasting before finally devoting himself to a career in music. He attended the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston, earning a degree in film scoring. Since then Alvin has composed for short films, independent features, theatrical plays and documentaries. TESTIMONIALS "The Child King is a holiday tale filled with life lessons and life experiences all of us will value." -Exceptional Parent Magazine "The Child King is an inspirational and adventurous tale that shows us those with intellectual disabilities are not to be underestimated, but rather looked to as examples of how to love unconditionally and transcend the stereotypes in our society." - Special Olympics International "A heartwarming holiday movie that shines a light on the gifts and talents of individuals with intellectual disabilities." - Best Buddies International "A new holiday classic… The Child King touches the heart and makes you believe that dreams do come true." - Down Syndrome Association of Los Angeles ENDORSEMENTS/AWARDS 
KIDS FIRST! endorsed media assures parents the program they are watching has met a high standard of quality and entertainment for children. Every KIDS FIRST! title has been evaluated and approved for its appeal, content, production quality and developmental benefits by both adult and children jurors. The KIDS FIRST! program is administered by the non-profit Coalition for Quality Children's Media, founded in 1991 to teach children critical viewing skills and increase the visibility and availability of quality children's media. The Coalition is comprised of more than 10,000 media professionals, lobbyists, policymakers, child advocates, educators, parents and families nationwide. For more information, visit the organization's web site in the LINKS section. Official Entry KID'S FIRST! Film Festival.  The Child King was an official selection of the Los Angeles International Children's Film Festival.  Feature Films for Families Award, Best Feature, 2007 Kids First! Film Festival THE CHILD KING FOUNDATION Founded in 2007 by Jeff Kerr, producer of the feature motion picture, The Child King, the non-profit Child King Foundation (CKF) administers funds and disburses grants to organizations, charities and individuals that assist those with intellectual disabilities. Foundation funds are generated by all producer’s profits from the sale of The Child King DVD and related merchandise, 100% of which are channeled to the CKF for disbursement. CKF grants are offered to eligible applicants after review by the Foundation’s awards committee. An advocate for those with intellectual disabilities, foundation founder Jeff Kerr is an active long-time supporter of Down syndrome causes, including The Special Olympics and the Law Enforcement Torch Run. For more information on The Child King Foundation click here. CONTACT INFO For media related questions and requests please send e-mail correspondence to: media@TheChildKing.com |
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The Foundation | Links | Contact UsCopyright 2007 © The Child King Movie | All Rights Reserved
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PETER JOHNSON
WILL KELLEM 
PAUL BLUMENFELD 
AMANDA GOOD
PATRICK ENGLISH 
TRUDI GOODMAN Librarian/Mrs. Claus
FRED SMERLAS Burper 
LENNY CLARKE