Today we’d like to introduce you to Jonathan James.
Hi Jonathan, 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?
I was born in raised in the Northwest Suburbs of Chicago. I graduated from Columbia College Chicago in 2010 with a Bachelor’s in Film/Video Production. My first job working in the film industry was on the 2010 remake of A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET, starring a relatively unknown actress at the time named Rooney Mara. Later that summer, I made my big move out to Los Angeles where I attended the prestigious American Film Institute Conservatory and received my MFA in Screenwriting. It is here where I met my friend and current Producing Partner, Sabrina Cooper.
Shortly after AFI, I worked for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences while balancing various writing projects that seemed to go nowhere. It wasn’t until after working for the Academy that I found my passion for Producing after working for legendary and prolific producer John Davis (Predator, Jungle Cruise, Prey). I discovered that Producing combined both my passion for crafting and shepherding great stories and the innate business sense I had inherited from my Mom, who works in corporate real estate. It was shortly after working for Davis that I reconnected with Sabrina offering to partner with her at her production company Black Castle Productions, which had seemingly been laying dormant. I approached her with a plan to use the many connections we had made in the industry to begin producing and making low-budget content to both grow the business and, hopefully, create an opportunity for us to produce our first feature film.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has been far less than smooth. As I have worked and lived in Los Angeles for over a decade now, I’ve failed more times than I’ve succeeded. Whether it was projects that never got off the ground, jobs that never seemed to go anywhere, or many times working with friends and/or creative partners who just did not have the same drive and hunger as I have to succeed in this business. Not to mention money has always been a challenge. It is already hard to make any sort of film or project without monetary backing, but it’s 10x as hard in LA. Everyone here is either in the industry or industry adjacent and thinks that just because you are producing something, you have the million-dollar backing to throw money around. Sabrina and I always joke that we could make twice the films we make for half the price if we just went back to our hometowns.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am an independent producer that specializes in short-form content (short films, podcasts, and web series). Our most notable projects include our award-winning short film BEND IN THE ROAD, my sci-fi narrative podcast SPACE RANGER 421, and our recently completed short film, PORCELAIN which we produced during the 2020 COVID-19 closures, and recently started its film festival run by being selected for the Vesuvius International Film Festival in Italy.
While I am proud of all these projects, I am the most proud of what I have been able to accomplish with Black Castle Productions in the span of three years. 2020 was really a setback for us, but between 2020 to 2023, we have been able to complete five productions and are still going strong.
I think what sets me apart is my willingness to help others succeed. I have an incredibly strong drive and passion for great storytelling, and that means not always putting my vision or ideas first. I remember how difficult it has been for myself to find a creative partner or family that could assist me in bringing my ideas to life, and now I get to be that person for so many others. Film is a collaborative medium, as is almost any creative endeavor, no one person can get where they want to be on their own and the only way we can get to where we want to go is by lifting others up with us.
What matters most to you? Why?
The friends and creative partnerships I’ve been able to build through my work at Black Castle. Without these amazing people in my life volunteering their time, creativity and energy, I would still be struggling to get any projects off the ground. They allow me to do what I do, and they are the ones that inspire me every day to keep pushing forward.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.blackcastleproductionsca.com
- Instagram: @Jdubs22
- Facebook: facebook.com/blackcastleproductions
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jjwilliams12/
- Twitter: JJWriteStuff
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@JonathanJamesFilm
- Other: www.spaceranger421.com
Image Credits
Photo contains myself (Jonathan James) and Producing Partner Sabrina Cooper of Black Castle Productions at the Premiere of our Recent film Porcelain.
