James is a member of BMI, The Dramatist Guild of America, The American Composers Forum, and The Playwrights Center. He is the Executive Director of the Laity Institute of the Arts, a Private Arts Foundation which teaches the visual and performing arts to children and adults. He is also an accomplished playwright and composer. He learned to hone his skills in musical theatre through New Musicals Inc. formerly the Academy for New Musical Theatre.
He studied music under Emmy Award-winning and Academy Award-nominated composers such as Gerald Fried (Roots, Roots: The Next Generation, Star Trek, Napoleon, and Josephine) Thom Sharp (When Harry Met Sally, City Slickers, Aladdin, Little Mermaid) Jerry Grant (Quantum Leap, Hired to Kill, Hunter) and composition under Dr. Russel Steinberg one of America's leading Neo-Classical composer, conductor and music educators.
James was also the subject of an original autobiographical television pilot written by Jeffrey Alan Fiskin and produced by Linda Obst and Stacey Sher called "Homeboyz" dealing with the care and nurturing of hardened gang members and student dropouts in Watts and South Central Los Angeles in the 1990s. James has been directly or indirectly involved in the entertainment industry for over 30 years.
He has a BA in Theatre from California State University Dominguez Hills and later attended UCLA where he received his Teaching Credential and completed his training in Film Scoring from UCLA's Film Scoring program. He holds an Executive MBA from Grand Canyon University and is the President and CEO of VEL Productions LLC an indie film company.
Unique traits: I am a composer, director, and writer.
Too Much For Words Budget: $1M - $5M | Drama ⋄ Mystery A story of addiction, betrayal, and trust, as two women attempt to get their lives back on track in the wake of tragedy.
The Guardian Budget: $1M - $5M | Sci-fi The Guardian travels light-years through space pursued by an Assassin bent on his destruction and the conquest of the home planet.
For The Love of Tanya
(
Film (short)
by VEL Films LLC
Director A story of obsession, murder, and redemption as a woman tries to navigate her relationship between her daughter's father and her ex-boyfriend, who won't let her go.
2 Much 4 Words
(
Film
(Drama and Thriller)
Director/Writer Once at the top of her game writer Phoebe Green comes home to find her husband dead of an apparent suicide and her idealistic life suddenly spins out of control. Determined to fight her way back to stability she learns her life was not what it appeared to be.
Potiphar's Wife: Faithless
(
Video
(Drama and Short)
Director/Composer Tells the story of Christopher Allan, former football star now running for congress. He finds himself ahead in the polls, but his wife finds herself running behind as the faithful wife.
Bite of the Adder
(
Film
by VEL Films (Mystery and Short)
Director/Composer Two secret agents come to an agreement.
Jack Salmon
(
Film
by JSC Films & VEL Films (Drama and Short)
Composer Based on The Lovely Bones character Jack Salmon
Acts of Kindness
Composer
2008 Winner - Best Musical" Chameleon Theatre Circle's Tenth Annual New Play Contest!
(2008)
Grand Canyon University
(2013-2014)
UCLA
(1994-1995)
California State University - Dominguez Hills
(1983-1988)