James is an award winning director and producer -

James didn't go to film school. He taught himself how to read and write in prison after being tried as an adult and convicted at 15 after taking the wrong path in his youth. Following his release, James concentrated his efforts on documentary filmmaking to develop an award-winning career and a reputation for bold, cinematic storytelling. He is personally invested in creating character-driven stories that take on complex issues, and is known for his ability to gain unique access to difficult spaces.

James is an Emmy Award-winning Director and Producer, a Sundance Institute fellow of 2020, he was selected for the Saatchi & Saatchi New Director Showcase at Cannes Lion in 2016, won the TriBeCa Film Festival Special Jury Award in 2015, and was nominated for the D&AD Next Director Award in 2017. In 2017 James created the Solitary Confinement Project, a month-long 24 hour livestream in which James voluntarily entered into solitary confinement for 30 days and broadcast his time inside. The project was nominated for a Webby Award in 2018. James has also worked as a Director and Producer at VICE for eight years and has made over a 100 documentaries that have garnered hundreds of millions of views. His films and work in television have premiered and been screened on platforms such as Netflix, SHOWTIME, Hulu, NatGeo, Independent Lens, Vice on HBO, VICE.TV, Amazon Prime, The New Yorker, the Atlantic, NOWNESS, and Vimeo Staff Picks. His most recent films have premiered at TIFF, SXSW, and Tribeca FIlm Festival.

He is currently directing and developing multiple projects for TV and film.

In addition to his film work, James has directed commercials, music videos, and branded content for clients such as: Superdry, Asics, NBA, Warner Brothers, Warp Records, London Home Office, US Olympics, and DoorDash.