Nick Karner's journey in the entertainment industry began with his appearances in various theatrical productions across the United States, starring in lead roles in productions such as Beauty and the Beast, Macbeth, Brigadoon, Hamlet, Man of La Mancha, The Taming of the Shrew, and Isolation.
Karner's fascination with film was sparked by a documentary about Stanley Kubrick, which led him to become an avid film enthusiast with a deep appreciation for movie history and trivia. He joined his friends in London, England, and started making short films, eventually directing the film A Little Harmless Murder, which received an award at the Festival De Cinema Du Bruxelles.
Returning to his hometown of Raleigh, North Carolina, Karner made his first feature documentary, Babs Johnson and the Cavalcade of Perversion: An Exploration in Exploitation, which tested the limits of good taste and was banned from several screenings due to its graphic content. Despite the challenges, the film received five international honors, including Best Director and Best Cinematography.
In 2002, Karner began compiling interviews with actors and directors in the North Carolina community theatre scene, eventually creating his second feature documentary, Paid To Play, which explored the art of auditioning and celebrated small-town community theatre. The film received the Accolade Award of Excellence in 2005.
Karner continued to be active in the film industry, directing films such as Kamikaze, which premiered at the Pinwheel Film Festival and received the Best Screenplay award at the Festival Du Cinema De Paris, and the controversial PRANk, which caused a stir at the San Francisco Film Festival and won him a Best Director award. He also directed and starred in Ray Cooney's Run For Your Wife, which was a commercial success and set box office records.
Since 2007, Karner has directed music videos, internet commercials, promotional videos, and short films, while also appearing in several films, including Foodie, which has won several film festival awards. He has also served as the director of photography for Jay O'Berski, the artistic director of Little Green Pig Theatrical Concern, on two films, Basilisk and Nadia.
