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Rising star follows his heart into world of film

Tuesday, 02 March 2010

THIS time last year, John Kennerk was at a crossroads in his life. He had just been let go from his job and was uncertain where his future lay. Sitting in Coffee Company in Temple Bar pondering what he was going to do next and how he was going to make ends meet, John, who is originally from North Strand, looked out the window and straight across the road was the Irish Film Academy. John (30) describes this moment as his revelation and how he felt in order for him to get over being made redundant and the negative feelings one experiences in those circumstances, he would take a chance and follow his heart into the world of film. How inspirational that decision proved to be. The rising TV star spent 2009 under the tutelage of Rachel Sarah Murphy at the Irish Film Academy and is now hoping to become a household name in 2010. Since entering the IFA in March 2009, John has been reinvented. He has rebuilt his confidence and is making steady progress towards a career in acting. Relaxing in his living room in North Dublin he reflects on a time when his outlook on life wasn’t so bright. “Like so many people in the country, I was let go from a good job and was very unsure about where I was going,” John tells Northside People.  “I worked for ADT Fire and Security for three years and was let go in February 2009, so I needed to look at my options.” John felt his next career move was crucial having reached this unexpected crossroads. “It’s funny when you have a full time job,” he says.  “It’s steady and you would never dream of being an actor, but it’s the best thing I have ever done. “Thanks to the IFA, I have learnt so much about myself, met exciting people, it has got my mind off losing my job and I have made great new friends and a new career.” Success has come relatively early for John. Under the guidance of the IFA, he recently starred as an IRA assassin in ‘Ceart Agus Coir’, currently showing on Thursday nights on TG4.  Shot in Ireland over six months, the series uses documentary and drama recreations to create, for the first time, some important chapters in Irish criminal history. John has also been cast as sociopath, ‘Happy’, for the pilot episode of ‘Tonic’. “I have already shot a few scenes for ‘Tonic’,” he states. “It is coming out later in the year. I cannot say too much but there is a big kidnapping scene involved in the first episode but it’s a very exciting project to be a part of.” The series, written and directed by Cassandra Lottering, will deal with deception and the destruction of families through crime and will star an ensemble cast of young fresh-faced Irish actors. John mentions Anthony Hopkins, Dustin Hoffman and Henry Fonda as his main acting influences and describes how Fonda’s performance in ‘12 Angry Men’ motivated him to become an actor. “The whole film is acting at its best,” he says. “There are no props, just 12 men in a jury room. It’s very inspirational to watch.” Using methods like emotional recall and affective memory, John is constantly looking for new ways to improve his acting skills. He calls on personal memories of situations similar to those of his characters and offers a profound and sensitive explanation to the method. “You let the audience see a part of your soul as an actor,” he explains. “It can be a very intimate experience showing how vulnerable you can be on stage.” John believes actors need to take their own emotion and personality to the stage and call upon it when playing their character. “I think you have to allow yourself to do that in order to progress,” he adds. “If you can get it right, it can be very rewarding.” John Kennerk is currently starring in ‘Ceart Agus Coir’ on TG4.