John Barker (filmmaker)

rdf:langString John Barker (filmmaker)

rdf:langString John Barker is a South African filmmaker based in Johannesburg. He is best known for his feature film directorial debut Bunny Chow. The film was officially selected to screen at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2006. The film received many awards. John is born to parents Clive Barker (soccer coach) and Yvonne Barker. During the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, John made a documentary Soccer: South of the Umbilo about his childhood growing up in the southern suburbs of Durban, which produced many talented soccer players and coaches including his father Clive Barker. John wrote, directed and produced South Africa's first music mockumentary Blu Cheez. He next directed the music documentary Kwaito Generals produced by Kutloano Skosana of Black Rage, which focused on the stars who were at the forefront of the Kwaito movement of the late nineties and early 2000s. During this time he joined The Pure Monate Show. He directed sketches in season one and directed and co-wrote sketches for second season. He then wrote, produced and directed Bunny Chow which employed a retro scripting technique with the actors improvising their dialogue to communicate the outlined script written by Barker, David Kibuuka, Kagiso Lediga, Joey Rasdien and editor Saki Bergh. The successful SA film franchise was next with John directing Spud 3, Learning to fly with Troye Sivan, John Cleese and Caspar Lee. Wonder Boy for President is his second retro scripted film with many of his collaborators from Bunny Chow, the film is a satricial look at South African politics. John recently completed The Umbrella Men, selected to screen at the Toronot International Film Festival.