Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr has added an Oscar win to his illustrious career achievements, serving as an executive producer for the documentary short "All the Empty Rooms," which claimed the Academy Award. The 35-minute film, directed by Joshua Seftel, poignantly explores how broadcast journalist Steve Hartman and photographer Lou Bopp document the memorialised bedrooms of children lost in mass shootings across the United States.
Kerr's Personal Connection to Gun Violence Advocacy
Kerr, whose father Malcolm Kerr was assassinated in 1984 while serving as president of American University in Beirut, has long been a vocal advocate for common-sense gun regulation. In a statement on Monday, Kerr expressed immense pride in his association with the project, despite not being directly involved in its creation. "I didn't have anything to do with the making of the film," Kerr admitted, "but I am very proud to be associated with it."
A No-Brainer Decision for the Coach
The nine-time NBA champion as both a player and coach, who also led USA Basketball to Olympic gold at the 2024 Paris Games, revealed that he did not hesitate when approached about the role. "They called me about a year ago and asked if I would like to be an executive producer, which meant basically put my name on it and help promote it," Kerr explained. "It was a no-brainer, just given my passion for the issue. And then after watching the film, I was just blown away by how beautiful it was and poignant it was. It was an easy decision."
Promoting the Film and Its Powerful Message
In recent weeks, Kerr has actively supported the documentary by organising screenings for Netflix and penning an op-ed for the Los Angeles Times. In his written piece, he detailed his admiration for the film's approach, which focuses on giving families a dignified platform to share their stories without political exploitation. "What mattered to me right away was how the film listens to families," Kerr wrote. "It gives them room to speak about their children without exploiting their stories into politics or spectacle. There’s a dignity in that choice, which is difficult to find in the way our country usually talks about gun violence."
Emotional Oscar Acceptance Speech
During the Oscar ceremony on Sunday night, director Joshua Seftel accepted the award and then handed the microphone to Gloria Cazares, mother of nine-year-old Jackie, who was killed in the Uvalde, Texas school shooting. "My daughter Jackie was 9 years old when she was killed in Uvalde," Cazares said on stage. "Since that day, her bedroom has been frozen in time. Jackie is more than just a headline. She is our light and our life. Gun violence is now the No. 1 cause of death in kids and teens. We believe that if the world could see their empty bedrooms, we’d be a different America."
Warriors' Oscar Legacy Continues
Kerr becomes the second member of the Golden State Warriors organisation to be involved in an Oscar-winning documentary in recent years, following guard Stephen Curry's executive producer role on "The Queen of Basketball," which won for short subject documentary in 2022. Kerr missed the Oscars due to a Warriors game on Sunday night, learning of the win through a family group text, and clarified that he will not receive a statuette. "I’m very passionate about the cause," Kerr stated, "but I don’t think this is going to turn me into a filmmaker."
