Jerri Sher (born Jerri Iris Kaplan, also known as Jerri Kaplan Sher) is an American director, writer, producer, and author known for her work on documentary films such as Quiet Explosions: Healing the Brain and Santa Monica Cares: Step Up, which won an Emmy Award,[1] as well as television series Live Life.[2] She has also written two books: How to Have a Successful Bridal Shower A to Z, with More Than 500 Creative Ideas[3][4] and The Twig Painter.[5]

Jerri Sher
Other namesJerri Iris Kaplan, Jeri Kaplan Sher
Alma mater
  • University of Massachusetts Amherst (B.A.) (BFA)
  • Springfield College (M.F.A.) ( M.Ed.)
Occupation(s)Film director, screenwriter, producer and author
Known forWriter and Producer of Quiet Explosions: Healing the Brain
Websitewww.jerrisher.com

She received two Los Angeles Emmy Awards in the category Public, Municipal, and Operator Produced Cable at the 67th LA Area Emmys for her work on the short film Santa Monica Cares: Step Up.[6][7][8]

Early life

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Sher grew up in Fall River, Massachusetts.[2] She attended B.M.C. Durfee High School, graduating in 1966.[2] She went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and a master’s degree in art education from Springfield College.[2]

Career

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Prior to her career in film, Sher worked as an art professor at Springfield College, an elementary school teacher, and a sales and marketing manager for the trucking company Guaranteed Overnight Delivery.[2]

Sher joined the Directors Guild of America in 1998.[5] She produced the 1999 film The Autumn Heart, which starred Tyne Daly and Ally Sheedy.[9]

Sher also directed the documentary Soul of an Empire, which focused on New York City’s 42nd Street. For Soul of an Empire, Sher received the Best Documentary Award at the Big Bear Lake International Film Festival and the Tampa Bay Festival.[2] Soul of an Empire also received the Special Jury Award at Savannah Film & Video Festival.[2]

In 2009, Sher published her first novel, The Twig Painter.[10] The novel is a medical mystery that centers on finding the cure for HIV/AIDS.[2][4] Sher also produced and directed the short film Live Life A-Z, which was released in 2011.[11] The film was chosen as a winner in the Experimental category of the 2011 My Hero International Film Festival.[12]

Sher produced and directed the Step Up segment of the documentary program Santa Monica Cares, which won two Los Angeles Emmy Awards in 2015.[9][13][14] The segment centered on Leroy Simpkins, a former homeless man who went on to become a physical trainer and board member of the nonprofit Step Up.[13]

In 2017, Sher published the nonfiction book How to Have a Successful Bridal Shower A to Z, with More Than 500 Creative Ideas.[4][3]

Sher wrote, directed, and produced the documentary Quiet Explosions: Healing the Brain, which was released in 2020.[15][16] The film premiered at Spokane International Film Festival,[16] before being screened as a limited release at locations such as the Laemmle Theater in Glendale, California[17] and Big Horn Cinemas in Cody, Wyoming.[18] The film featured interviewees such as Mark Rypien, Anthony Davis, and Joe Rogan.[16][17][19]

Sher also directed and co-produced the series Live Life: Awaken Your Inner Power with Discovery Communications, which is set to be released by Tri-Continental Distribution in 2022.[1][4]

Filmography

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Film

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Title Type Year Producer Writer Director Ref
The Autumn Heart Feature film 1999 Yes [9]
Soul of an Empire Feature film 2006 Yes Yes Yes [2][20]
Live Life A-Z Short film 2011 Yes Yes Yes [21][22]
Smiles in Tecate Short film 2016 Yes Yes Yes [23][24]
Quiet Explosions: Healing the Brain Feature film 2020 Yes Yes Yes [16][15]

Television

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Title Type Year Producer Writer Director Ref
Santa Monica Cares: Step Up TV program segment 2014 Yes Yes Yes [1][25][13]
Live Life Series 2022 Yes Yes Yes [2][4]

Bibliography

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  • 2017, How to Have a Successful Bridal Shower A to Z, with More Than 500 Creative Ideas[3][4]
  • 2019, The Twig Painter[5]

Awards and nominations

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In addition to the film awards below, Sher was awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award by the Durfee High School Alumni Association in 2019.[1]

Year Work Category Film Festival Outcome Ref.
2006 Soul of an Empire Best Documentary Big Bear Lake International Film Festival Won [2]
2006 Soul of an Empire Best Documentary Tampa Bay Festival Won [2]
2006 Soul of an Empire Special Jury Award Savannah Film & Video Festival Won [2]
2015 Santa Monica Cares: Step Up Public, Municipal, and Operator-produced Cable (Producing and Directing) Los Angeles Emmy Awards Won [6]
2021 Quiet Explosions: Healing the Brain Best Documentary Action on Film Festival Won [4]
2021 Quiet Explosions: Healing the Brain Award of Excellence IndieFEST Film Awards Won [26]
2021 Quiet Explosions: Healing the Brain Lilac Award Spokane International Film Festival Won [19][27]
2021 Quiet Explosions: Healing the Brain Best Editing Documentary Feature & Best Documentary Feature MegFest Won [28]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "CSUN Prof Nominated for Emmy for Work Highlighting Services for the Homeless". CSUN Today. 2015-06-22.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Staff Writer. "Durfee Alumni Awards to be given to filmmaker Jerri Kaplan Sher, physicist Christopher Fontes". Fall River Herald News. Retrieved 2022-04-05.
  3. ^ a b c Sher, Jerri (2017-11-03). How to Have a Successful Bridal Shower A to Z, with More Than 500 Creative Ideas. Redwood Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-947341-10-4.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g "Spotlight on…Jerri Sher". greenlightwomen.org. 2021-11-01. Retrieved 2022-04-05.
  5. ^ a b c Sher, Jerri (2009-08-01). The Twig Painter. AuthorHouse. ISBN 978-1-4389-4957-4.
  6. ^ a b "67th LA Area Emmys: Public, Municipal, and Operator Produced Cable". Television Academy. Retrieved 2022-04-05.
  7. ^ T. H. R. Staff (2015-07-25). "KMEX Wins Big at Los Angeles Area Emmy Awards: Complete Winners List". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2022-04-05.
  8. ^ Variety Staff (2015-07-26). "Variety's 'Actors on Actors' Special on PBS Wins Emmy". Variety. Retrieved 2022-04-05.
  9. ^ a b c Levy, Emanuel (1999-02-25). "The Autumn Heart". Variety. Retrieved 2022-04-05.
  10. ^ Sher, Jerri (2009-08-01). The Twig Painter. ISBN 978-1-4389-4957-4.
  11. ^ "Live Life A-Z". The MY HERO Project. Retrieved 2022-04-20.
  12. ^ "2011 International Film Festival Winners". The MY HERO Project. Retrieved 2022-04-20.
  13. ^ a b c "This story of recovery is an Emmy winner!". Step Up. 2015-06-05. Retrieved 2022-04-05.
  14. ^ Reine, Mary (2015-08-06). "Former Marbleheader wins Emmy". wickerlocal.com.
  15. ^ a b ""Quiet Explosions": A Must-See Documentary". Psychology Today. 2020-12-30. Retrieved 2022-04-05.
  16. ^ a b c d "'Quiet Explosions' at SpIFF features Rypien, Spokane". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved 2022-04-05.
  17. ^ a b "QUIET EXPLOSIONS opens exclusively at the Laemmle in Glendale, CA Oct. 8-14". Jewish News. 2021-10-08. Retrieved 2022-04-05.
  18. ^ Enterprise, WENDY CORR For the Cody. "Free movie focuses on traumatic brain injuries, new treatments". Cody Enterprise. Retrieved 2022-04-05.
  19. ^ a b "Quiet Explosions TBI documentary explores treatment options". 2020-11-10. Retrieved 2022-04-05.
  20. ^ Clark, Stephanie (2005-03-17). "Student Documentary Examines Issue of Same Sex Marriage". The Brown Daily Herald. Retrieved 2022-04-05.
  21. ^ "Live Life A-Z". The MY HERO Project. Retrieved 2022-04-05.
  22. ^ "2011 International Film Festival Winners". The MY HERO Project. Retrieved 2022-04-05.
  23. ^ Kelliher, Judith (Spring 2016). "Short Takes". Triangle. 86 (2).
  24. ^ "Wkly Mtg: Jerri Sher". nyrotary.org. 2016-06-09. Retrieved 2022-04-04.
  25. ^ "Jerri Sher Explores Brain Trauma, Where Football & Rape Intersect". Golden Globes. Retrieved 2022-04-05.
  26. ^ "Winners August 2021". theindiefest.com. Retrieved 2022-04-20.
  27. ^ "A Brain That Went to War and Back". The Brain Health Magazine. 2021-03-11. Retrieved 2022-04-21.
  28. ^ "2021 HDIFF FILM RESULTS". AOF Megafest 20.21. Retrieved 2022-05-10.
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