Today we’d like to introduce you to James Cotten.
Hi James, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I was raised on the border of Arkansas and Oklahoma. I did everything you hear other filmmakers say they did in their youth, making movies in the backyard with a VHS camera. But being in the movie business never seemed like an option, never encouraged. Hollywood was a magic world on television, not “real life.”
By chance, HBO decided to come to my hometown area and make a movie, “Tuskegee Airmen.” Through pure coincidence, I ended up at an audition and got a small part. Suddenly. This small-town kid, with no direction, was getting my hair cut next to Lawrence Fishburne and Cuba Gooding Jr., and it all became possible.
Nothing was easy. Still isn’t, but I bumbled my way through an acting career. Eventually. I figured out that I wanted to tell stories more than I wanted to be in stories. That’s when I found the Los Angeles Film School.
Fate gave me a chance by going to that school at that time. Roger Corman was the guest speaker at my graduation and after making a deal with the school to produce a feature film, I was selected to direct. Three months after my graduation. I was making a movie for an industry legend.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Everyday in the movie business is a struggle. Every “good” project has hurdles. Every career, especially when you have no kingdom keys or the money to make your own way, is a challenge. Luck was my way in. Proving myself has lead to 20 years doing it. I’ve had crazy highs, like directing a top-five rental with Andy Garcia and Ray Liotta. That film made a lot of money. I was meeting everyone in town and getting offers. Then, my directing career went cold after a few projects fell apart through no fault of mine. Just as fate would have it. I think I’ve seen it all. I was once hired for a. $20 million dollar film, the best script I ever read, only to find out that the company, a big name, had optioned a plagiarized screenplay. I’ve been stranded in Mississippi after the producers took my project all the way to production without the funding. Not even a ride home. I’ve had my own money stolen from my project and moved to another. Once, I had talent so boozed that the prosthetics would not glue to their face. All you can do is get back on your feet, make the most out of what is presented to you, and learn your lessons. Be honest. Work hard. The good people will find you. One day, you’ll wake up a crusty war veteran of a dream career, too.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a filmmaker/storyteller with a pretty eclectic resume. I’ve directed four feature films and produced ten. I’ve written four produced-screenplays. I’ve been an editor, a casting director, and an actor. I’ve taught acting classes and owned a post facility called Local Hero, with over 150 credits. I’ve produced VFX and DI on some amazing movies, like “Captain Fantastic,” “Pitch Perfect,” and “Dope.” My film, “La Linea,” starring Andy Garcia and Ray Liotta, is a crime thriller set in Tijuana. It was a blockbuster exclusive and a top-five rental in America. My most recent film, “Painted Woman,” is a western opus. Two chapters of the life of Julie Richards, a young woman who awakens from her bondage and finds strength in the only person that matters… herself. I’m very proud of this movie. It was my years of experience that helped me construct this film in a way that was so creatively satisfying. It was a spotlight film at the Bentonville Film Festival and won 12 awards internationally. You can still catch it on Starz.
What’s next?
I have a whole bunch of ideas and always looking for good partners to get them done. More importantly, I hope that the world comes out of this challenge and that we can all get back to creating. Speaking of, my wife and I just had our daughter. That’s a pretty big change. Definitely, the best thing I’ll ever create.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.darkhighway.media
- Facebook: DarkHighwayFilms
- Twitter: @dark_highway
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCexUYGJ2BCOSFgPEEigtefw
Image Credits:
Daniel Corey
