Today we’d like to introduce you to Mike James.
Hi Mike, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
The first time I made the connection that filmmaking was a job you could do was when I was 9 years old. At the very end of the “Nightmare Before Christmas” VHS tape, after credit roll, was a behind-the-scenes making-of featurette demonstrating the stop motion capture that was done for the film. It was the first huge “light bulb” moment of my life. From that moment on all I wanted to do was make movies. Shortly thereafter my dad purchased a VHS-C camcorder. After about a year of filming action sequences of my G.I. Joe’s I got frustrated with editing in camera. I watched my Dad record a movie on TV, I think it was Guns Of Navarone, he got up every time there was a commercial and hit the record button. He was editing out the commercials. This was the next “light bulb” moment. I hooked the VCR up to the camcorder, using the camcorder as the player and the VCR as the recorder deck I started editing. Now I could create cuts in the G.I. Joe action sequences. I couldn’t get enough. All I ever wanted for birthdays or Christmas was tape. I’d wear them out because I loved when a previous shot leftover from the last shoot would pop up. Creating chaos and randomness in the final product was absolutely the funniest thing on the planet. The thrill of laughing uncontrollably at something you made and seeing others laugh as well got into me pretty early.
I grew up in rural Indiana and I’m 6’5. Playing basketball wasn’t really a choice for me, it was a mandate from God. I wanted to go to film school more than anything but the idea of going to USC growing up where I did was preposterous. I might as well of said I wanted to be President of the Ocean. The best option was take a scholarship to play D 3 basketball at a school that had a great journalism program and access to camera equipment. Franklin College, south of Indianapolis IN. my alma mater, had an intensive single course study January term. My first J-term I took “Making Videos For Money”. Another “light bulb” moment. I read the entire book overnight and tested out at the end of the week. By the end of the month, I was teaching everyone how to edit on The Avid. It did not take long for me to march into Coach’s office and tell him that I was done with this whole basketball thing. I was anticipating him to be pissed but surprisingly he offered me a job to make their “year in review” video for the season. He became my first client and paid well. In my four years of college I really only needed that one-month class.
Day after I graduated college I packed up and moved to Hollywood. Got a studio at the top of Argyle Ave off Franklin. DeMille Manor, built by Cecil B. DeMille to house aspiring starlets in the silent era. The place was an absolute shit hole, roach-infested and everyone that lived there was barely hanging on. It was awesome. I started classes at UCB down the street at the theater there in Franklin Village. Did a couple of open mics at the Bourgeois Pig. The biggest advance I made in my comedic pursuits (really had no rudder, no idea what I should do) was purchasing a Canon 5D Mark II camera. I quickly discovered the comedy circles I was running in needed a dedicated camera guy.
I worked as a freelance camera operator and editor then for many years. It eventually lead me to 5secondfilms.com. When I met them I knew there was no way I would ever leave them. They were going to take me in whether they liked it or not. My free camera rental and always showing up to film with beer helped probably more than my good looks or charm. I paid the bills making reality TV like VH1’s “Celebrity Rehab” and countless other garbage shows. 5sf got our big shot to make a feature at the completion of five years of never missing a day, Monday-Friday, of uploads to our Youtube channel. Our Kickstarter succeeding in its goal of raising $250k. We made our debut feature comedy film “Dude Bro Party Massacre 3” in 2015.
5secondfilms closed up shop and I went from band member to forming my own solo project. For the last seven years, I’ve been writing scripts and pitching. In 2017, I made my first short film “Smiley’s”. I decided after the first short that I would find a way to keep doing it. I made another short film titled “Influenced” starring Kelsey Gunn from 5sf. Two more shorts after that, “The Last House” which won the Indy Film Fest in 2021 and “Renegade” (yet to be released).
I’m currently in pre-pro on a documentary series and pitching feature and tv scripts. I still edit to pay the bills.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has not been a smooth road no. Everything is a struggle. Time and money are constantly in short supply, in every context imaginable. You have to work to have money to make the movie but then you can’t work while making your movie so you don’t have money to live. It’s constant gambling with no promise of ever working out… whatever “working out” might be. When I was 29 right before my 30th birthday my father passed away. I had to move back to Indiana to take care of my mom and handle my families’ affairs. When a life disruption like that occurs your life stops but the rest of life goes on. My career growth abruptly stopped when prioritizing my family and it was really difficult. I’ve felt at times that I’ve lost years due to this. Thought I would be further along had he not died and I was able to continue. The truth is you can’t do much to avoid the pothole in the road of life. Life happens and you can veer off-road pretty easily. Making my first short was the first step towards getting myself back on the road I wanted to be on. Then I took another step and another and another. I surrounded myself with people that loved and supported me and I loved and supported them. The road will not be getting any smoother but I am grateful for the struggles I’ve had because I’m prepared for whatever difficult situation that’s going to get thrown at me in the future.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a filmmaker. I write, direct, produce and edit. For the last 15 years, I’ve worked as a camera operator and editor in reality tv, commercial, independent film and digital production. In the last seven years, I’ve opened up my own company Pot Luck Pictures. We produced four award-winning short films, writing scripted features, developing narrative and docu-series. In 2015 I co-starred and co-wrote “Dude Bro Party Massacre 3” as a member of the youtube comedy collective 5secondfilms.com. The work I produce is unique in its sincerity, surprising in it’s storytelling and above all else incredibly fun.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
Currently reading the “Red Mars” by Kim Stanley Robinson. I’m really into his stuff right now. “Myth America” by Kevin Kruse, who is one of my favorites follows on Twitter. I love the Moleskin notebooks. I do the notebook then also the calendar. I have to write everything down to be able to remember it. I listen to The Daily every morning while I walk my dogs. My Breville espresso machine probably is the one item that does a lot of heavy lifting in helping me do my best in life.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.heymikejames.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/heymikejames
- Facebook: facebook.com/mikejamesproductions
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heymikejames/
- Twitter: twitter.com/heymikejames
