Today we’d like to introduce you to Brooke James.
Hi Brooke, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My first taste of the film/entertainment industry was when I was 15. My mum helped get me work experience at a local film festival in Australia and I instantly became obsessed. I spent hours watching short film submissions & figuring out what made a film engaging & what made me become instantly bored. A few months later, I turned 16, graduated high school & directed my first music video (in a bar I definitely wasn’t legal to be in)…& the rest is history!
I decided to go to college to pass the time, understanding that not only did I have a “baby face” but I was likely too young to be taken seriously – so I bought myself my first DSLR & began teaching myself the basics of film & photography whilst studying a Bachelor of Communication. I focussed on subjects like entertainment law, genealogy of rock and pop music, journalism, PR & marketing to familiarise myself with the business side of the industry while outside of college I was figuring out filmmaking through trial & error & Youtube tutorials.
I graduated from university at 19 & began working in fashion; directing & shooting fashion films & stills editorials whilst flying back and forth to LA to network, build my portfolio & continue shooting music videos. It took me until I was 28 to get an extensive enough portfolio to get a Visa (it took me 12 years, no joke!) & I moved to LA in 2020. Even though I moved during a really tumultuous time during the pandemic & the LA riots, I was fortunate enough to have an amazing & talented friend, Thom Kerr who was working as Bebe Rexha’s Creative Director & with rapper Iggy Azalea. Thom’s also Australian and we’ve been working together for the past decade & he hired me to start shooting digital content for both Iggy & Bebe.
From there, I began shooting anything and everything I could get my hands on. I began working with numerous Capitol Records artists such as Troye Sivan, Flecther & Aidan Bissett whilst shooting Academy Award winners Jane Fonda & Laura Dern for British Vogue & Elle Magazine. I was also fortunate enough to shoot iconic 90’s supermodels Christy Turlington, Shalom Harlow & Amber Valette for W Magaizne’s 50th Anniversary (I literally cried), alongside today’s supers such as Adut, Anok & Precious Lee. As well as The Backstreet Boys for a company called MeUndies. It’s been such a rollercoaster & I can’t wait to see where it leads.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
The biggest struggle I’ve faced is getting my American Visa. It took me over a decade to compile enough notable work to merit getting my O1. The thing that people don’t always understand is that there’s likely going to be a 60-year-old, regular man (or woman) sitting behind his desk, looking over HUNDREDS of applications every day; a person who doesn’t work in our industry, nor has no idea who these Australian models/celebrities are. Whilst they may be a big deal in Australia, people in America have never heard of them. So in order to work with the calibre of talent you need in your portfolio to obtain an O1, you have to make trips back and forth to the States for shoots or manage to shoot for international publications in Australia because the client or subject has to be an international household name. That whole process took me over a decade.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m a director and photographer specializing in music and fashion. I’m fortunate enough to work one-on-one with artists to bring their music to life in a visual form, create single & album rollouts and create a world in which their music/project lives. I work with their marketing teams to ensure that everything feels cohesive and has the right tone of voice not just in music videos but through their single artwork & digital content.
In terms of fashion, I direct & photograph fashion films/editorials & advertising campaigns. I’ve been fortunate enough to interview some incredible people; hear their stories, and what inspires and motivates them & have been allowed to have an intimate look into their life, homes & wardrobe which is such an honour. I feel as though the reason I’ve been hired to take on some of these jobs is due to my curiosity & inquisitive nature which lends itself to having in-depth conversations when interviewing people. Plus, I really listen, haha. This sounds like a no-brainer but it’s insane the amount of people that just read from a script to cross the question off the list and aren’t actually listening to the responses. I love hearing their perspectives on life & am genuinely interested in what they have to say & the conversation doesn’t stop once we stop rolling. I’m often having equally as engaging conversations with the talent off-camera, as I do on.
I think the project I’m most proud of is W Magazine’s 50th anniversary that I directed last year. I’ve spent 15 years flipping through W Magazine, inspired by some of the most iconic editorials & advertorials of all time. Fast forward & I’m sitting on the floor of a studio in New York flipping through original, 1 of 1 copies of W that are falling apart at the seams, so I can ask some of the most iconic supermodels on the planet what went on behind the scenes. To be able to sit down & have a conversation with Amber Valetta, Christy Turlington & Shalom Harlow, asking them about photoshoots they were a part of that went on to shape culture was truly a moment I’ll never forget. Also, knowing the philanthropic work these women have done over the years is really cool & something I’m deeply thankful for.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
I honestly wish that I had interned or found a mentor earlier in my career. I’m self-taught in almost everything and feel as though I would have been able to get to where I am a lot faster, had I had someone to seek advice from. It’s a lot of trial and error. In saying that, I have been really fortunate later in my career to have an incredible friend & big brother figure in Thom Kerr, who has put up with my never-ending list of questions. I feel as though it’s really important and beneficial to find someone you trust & learn from them & be able to bounce ideas off of them. One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is don’t be afraid to ask. No matter how silly the question feels, it’s probably not as stupid as you think it is.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.brookejamesproductions.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/brooketjames
