John Hoernschemeyer
- Producer
- Writer
- Script and Continuity Department
Based in Germany, John is Co-Managing Partner of the Bavarian production company Penned Pictures GmbH, and a partner of the Frankfurt-based animation company, White Spot Films GmbH. A writer and producer of features, series, and documentaries, he began his involvement in the film industry by producing a number of shorts, including the award-winning drama, "Fragile Storm", starring Lance Henriksen, before venturing into the production of features and creating Penned Pictures.
Penned Pictures' previous projects include Torsten Rüther's feature film "Leberhaken" starring Hardy Krüger Jr., which celebrated its world premiere as the opening film of the 28th Oldenburg International Film Festival in September 2021 and is now a Paramount + Original.
Recent and current projects include "Uppercut", the English-language remake of Leberhaken with Ving Rhames (Mission Impossible), which celebrated its world premiere as the Closing Night film of the 30th International Film Festival Oldenburg, "The Academy" shot in Munich in July and August 2023 with renowned cinematographer, Luca Bigazzi (The Great Beauty) and a cast that includes Jean-Marc Barr, Andreas Lust, Michael Brandner and Luise Aschenbrenner, and "Ei koskaan yksin! (Never Alone!)", a WWII drama by renowned Finnish director Klaus Härö, which was shot in Estonia and Finland in September and October 2023.
Other projects in development include "In a Heartbeat", a biopic about Chris Norman, the lead singer of 80s band Smokie, and "Villa Aurora", a mini-series project starring Malcolm McDowell.
The company also develops, produces and distributes documentary films via its "Docs Best Friend" label, including titles such as "There's a Hole in My Bucket", narrated by Benedict Cumberbatch, involving Oscar winning director, Peter Jackson, John Rhys-Davies and Billy Boyd, "Woolf Women" that was part of the official selection of the 2020 Raindance Film Festival in London, and the award-winning documentary "My Way" that received the highest film rating of 'Prädikat besonders wertvoll' (Outstandingly valuable) from the German Film and Media Rating organisation 'Deutsche Film- und Medienbewertung' in 2021.
In 2021, along with Jan Bonath, Vice-Chairman of the German Film & TV Producers' Alliance, and Chairman of the Animation Section, Penned Pictures created a new company, "White Spot Films", dedicated to the production of animation films.
Another of John's interests, the exploration of innovative story formats and cross-media technologies, resulted in the development of the German/US transmedia mystery series 'Lostfriesland'. Destined for the mobile generation, it explores interactive storytelling through the use of multiple media platforms, and VR technologies, immersing the audience in the story. The unique concept aroused such interest in Germany that the German TV channel NDR filmed the 'making of' the proof of concept teaser.
Penned Pictures' previous projects include Torsten Rüther's feature film "Leberhaken" starring Hardy Krüger Jr., which celebrated its world premiere as the opening film of the 28th Oldenburg International Film Festival in September 2021 and is now a Paramount + Original.
Recent and current projects include "Uppercut", the English-language remake of Leberhaken with Ving Rhames (Mission Impossible), which celebrated its world premiere as the Closing Night film of the 30th International Film Festival Oldenburg, "The Academy" shot in Munich in July and August 2023 with renowned cinematographer, Luca Bigazzi (The Great Beauty) and a cast that includes Jean-Marc Barr, Andreas Lust, Michael Brandner and Luise Aschenbrenner, and "Ei koskaan yksin! (Never Alone!)", a WWII drama by renowned Finnish director Klaus Härö, which was shot in Estonia and Finland in September and October 2023.
Other projects in development include "In a Heartbeat", a biopic about Chris Norman, the lead singer of 80s band Smokie, and "Villa Aurora", a mini-series project starring Malcolm McDowell.
The company also develops, produces and distributes documentary films via its "Docs Best Friend" label, including titles such as "There's a Hole in My Bucket", narrated by Benedict Cumberbatch, involving Oscar winning director, Peter Jackson, John Rhys-Davies and Billy Boyd, "Woolf Women" that was part of the official selection of the 2020 Raindance Film Festival in London, and the award-winning documentary "My Way" that received the highest film rating of 'Prädikat besonders wertvoll' (Outstandingly valuable) from the German Film and Media Rating organisation 'Deutsche Film- und Medienbewertung' in 2021.
In 2021, along with Jan Bonath, Vice-Chairman of the German Film & TV Producers' Alliance, and Chairman of the Animation Section, Penned Pictures created a new company, "White Spot Films", dedicated to the production of animation films.
Another of John's interests, the exploration of innovative story formats and cross-media technologies, resulted in the development of the German/US transmedia mystery series 'Lostfriesland'. Destined for the mobile generation, it explores interactive storytelling through the use of multiple media platforms, and VR technologies, immersing the audience in the story. The unique concept aroused such interest in Germany that the German TV channel NDR filmed the 'making of' the proof of concept teaser.
