It’s all about healing the brain! Prior to the release of her new film ‘QUIET EXPLOSIONS’ Jerri reveals to us a few secrets on how to succeed in Hollywood.
When you meet Jerri Sher she gives off the impression of a very kind, gentle, elegant and soft spoken person, but don’t be mistaken, she is a professional, strong, brave, adventurous and very talented woman. She is able to produce, direct and execute multi-million-dollar projects. She is a person to whom the word NO does not exist.
Jerri Sher’s story is unique. Without graduating from film school or having any formal education in film, and, starting her directors’ career in her late forties …. Yes! Forties; today she has become one of the best Documentary Film Directors in Hollywood.
It has taken 3 years of work to accomplish her new film QUIET EXPLOSIONS: Healing the Brain, which touches on one of the most important but not often discussed topics – various cures for PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is a Mental disorder that can develop after a person is exposed to a traumatic event; such as sexual assault, traffic collisions, child abuse, war and other events. The symptoms might include nightmares, anxiety, depression, self-destructive behavior, or social isolation.
Jerri, why did you decide to make a movie about PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder)?
Millions of people suffer from this illness. I was very inspired by the idea that there is a cure for people with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder that not many people know about. I felt this film might help many people. I was always motivated to make films that can touch people’s lives.
What was the most challenging part for you in this project?
The biggest challenge for me was getting an NFL football player to speak about something so personal in public. Everyone knows that many football players have brain problems from repeated concussions, but the NFL tries to downplay the effects. Their power and influence is so strong that it was extremely hard to convince someone to be in the movie. I was lucky to be able to convince Anthony Davis and Mark Rypien, Super Bowl XXVI MVP to take part in my film and share their stories.
You also have a very interesting story. How did you get into the movie business?
I grew up in Fall River, Massachusetts. I never dreamed that I would be a director. I had a Master’s Degree and I was an Art Professor. I didn’t know then that this experience would help me in the future to build the frame, colors and texture in each particular shot. After my two daughters were born, I went into the business world. That was the place where I learned how to produce. I was the first female in the Northeast corridor in the Trucking Industry. I was practically running the Company. I also dabbled in sales, and trading commodities. I ended up writing a story about a woman in the trucking business, and that was my foray into the movie business. After producing several movies, I asked myself – why am I producing these movies for other people? I want to produce and direct my own movie. I was told “You can’t be a director because first of all you are a woman, second you live in MA and third of all you never went to film school”.
The more they said I couldn’t, the more I knew I could.
We don’t see many female directors. What is it like to be a director in the male dominated Hollywood scene?
“Really Horrible”. (Jerri replies with a very big and charming smile)
It’s very challenging to be a woman director, you can count recognized female name directors on one hand. It’s a male dominated industry and it has been like this for many years. What I found is that I need to create my own work and not sit around waiting for someone to give me a project. If I control the project from inception, I can control the project to completion. Being always positive helps a lot as well. I always say, I am the best person to tell the story and it has nothing to do with being female or male. I say to myself “I am the most artistic, the clearest, with the best vision, to tell this amazing story that is going to move people and make people think”.
Many people have this dream of creating a documentary film, and encounter their greatest obstacle, not knowing where to start. In your opinion, what are the key steps towards a successful project?
There are so many steps in creating a successful documentary project, hundreds in fact. Doing the proper research is key so you understand what kind of story you want to tell. Having believable, authentic characters and subjects to relay their stories is also very important. Establishing the funding source in advance so you can hire the proper crew makes all the difference in the world. Being passionate and having perseverance are very vital ingredients in this exciting and often crazy film business.
In your new film ‘QUIET EXPLOSIONS’ you have worked with the team that every Hollywood director would be grateful to have. For example, Michael Minkler, who is an ultimate guru with sound in Hollywood, has 3 Oscars, and 12 nominations, including his most recent movie with Tarantino. The famous editor from Milano, Elisa Bonora, who works with Oliver Stone and more. How did you manage to create such a dream team?
Well, I think it’s really important to surround yourself with people as good as you are and even better. And you have to like people you work with. I like to be kind to my crew. I like to know everybody’s name and treat them with respect. I don’t act like a primadonna director
Where can we watch ‘Quiet Explosions’?
The movie is going to be the opening film at the 22nd SpIFF International Film Festival in Spokane, WA on February 28th at the Garland Theater. There will be a private screening for Veterans March 18th at the Hollywood Legion 43 Theater on North Highland Ave in Los Angeles. On April 13th at 3:00 P.M it will screen at the Laemmle NOHO 7 Theater in NOHO as the official selection in the North Hollywood Cinequest Film Festival. See updates at www.jerrisher.com. As things progress with the film, we will have information on our website www.quietexplosions.com. We will update the website so that people can see it once it is in theaters. After the theatrical release, it will then go to television and VOD.
We are currently looking for distributors and all rights are still available.
Who would you recommend to watch this film?
I think this movie is important for anyone who has any sort of brain problems, or anyone who is living with or connected to anyone with traumatic brain injury. People who played sports and were injured, people who were sexually assaulted, people who were in car accidents and especially anyone who is or has been in the military. There are so many people who have PTSD (Post Trauma Stress Disorder) and are searching for cures, and go through myriads of treatments, pills and other unnecessary therapies, which can sometimes make things even worse. We would like to reach as many people as possible in order to help improve their lives, give people hope and show that alternative treatments for this condition do exist. When the Vice President of Disney saw QUIET EXPLOSIONS, he told me that everyone should see this movie, because everyone has a brain and everyone will worry eventually about how to keep their brain active and in good shape.
Could you reveal to our readers one of the alternative treatments for PTSD that is highlighted in the movie?
When the brain gets hit, the pituitary gland is hurt and it doesn’t produce the hormones that are necessary in the brain. The brain needs about 18 hormones in certain amounts to work successfully and to thrive. This revolutionary therapy looks for a balanced treatment of all your hormones to work at the correct levels. Dr. Mark L. Gordon does lots of blood work and analyzes what’s missing. When he finds what is missing, he replaces those vital hormones. It could be cortisol, pregnenolone, free testosterone, etc. What is important, is that the hormones replaced are the exact levels that your brain would produce naturally before the injury or trauma.
You have already won twice the most prestigious TV award, EMMY. What’s the next step, is it Oscar?
Well, my two statues of Emmy feel quite lonely on the shelf. Oscar will definitely be a great addition to my collection 🙂