James first worked for the Natural History Unit in 1989, he has been in wildlife film making ever since. He has worked both at the BBC and also for independent companies: John Downer Productions (SuperNatural, Weird Nature 1997 - 2002) and Yaffle Films (The Meerkats 2006-2008).
Movies - director, story by
1. The Meerkats (Yaffle Films LTD for The Weinstein Company / BBC Films)
Released France, 15th October 2008 ‘La Famille Suricate’
Released UK, 7th August 2009 ‘ The Meerkats’
- Winner, Grand Prix Earth, Special Award, Tokyo International Film Festival
- Best of Festival, Wild Talk Africa Film Festival
- Winner, Best Editing, Wild Talk Africa Film Festival
- Winner, Best Sound Design, Wild Talk Africa Film Festival
- Nomination, Best Music, Wild Talk Africa Film Festival
- Nomination, Best Script, Wild Talk Africa Film Festival
- Winner, Best Editing, Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival
- Nomination, Best Writing, Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival
- Winner, Silver Teton, Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival
Television - producer/director
2. Natural World: Buddha, Bees and the Giant Hornet Queen (BBC / Discovery Channel)
- Winner Best Programme, IWFF Missoula, also nominations for cinematography, animal behaviour and music.
- Winner, Best People and Nature Award, Japan Wildlife Film Festival
- Nomination, Animal Behaviour, Jackson Hole
- Winner, Special Jury Prize, Festival de l’Oiseau
- Nomination, Parthenon Entertainment Award for Innovation, Wildscreen Festival
- Nomination, News & Documentary EMMY for outstanding individual achievement in a craft, cinematography
3. Freediver (Animal Planet)
4. Shark Therapy (BBC / Animal Planet)
5. Dive Galapagos (BBC / Animal Planet)
- Winner, Best Presenter, IWFF Missoula
- Winner, World Underwater Festival, Antibes
6. Diving with Whales (BBC / Animal Planet)
7. Journey of Life: Seas of Life (BBC / Animal Planet)
8. Wildlife On One: Dragonfly - beauty or beast? (BBC / Animal Planet)
- Nomination at Japan Wildlife Film Festival
- Winner at Festival International du Film Ornithologique de Ménigoute
- Nomination, Best Editing, Wildscreen
- Nomination, Editing, Broadcast Young Talent Award
9. Wildlife On One: Peregrine - Nature’s Top Gun (BBC / Animal Planet)
- Nomination at the European Nature Film Festival, Valvert
- Winner Best animal behaviour: International Festival de l’Oiseau
- Winner Grand Prix du Festival: Festival International du Film Ornithologique de Ménigoute:
10. Earth Ride (BBC / National Geographic)
11. Wildlife On One: Sensitive Scorpion (BBC / Animal Planet)
12. Weird Nature (John Downer Productions for BBC / Discovery Channel; Series Producer John Downer)
- Winner RTS Award for Picture enhancement and also Design and Craft Innovation
- Winner best animal behaviour and winner best TV series, IWFF Missoula. Also 4 craft merit awards.
- EMMY nominations in Cinematography and Best Direction (Prog 1)
- Winner Most innovative documentary award and winner Best Nature documentary award, Shanghai Film Festival
13. Wildlife On One: Pelicans (BBC / Discovery)
- Winner Grand Prix du Festival: International Festival de l’Oiseau
- Nomination, Best Cinematography, Jackson Hole
14. Supernatural (John Downer Productions for BBC / Discovery Channel; Series Producer, John Downer)
- Winner RTS Craft Award for Design and Craft Innovation
Thanks to the humans:
I’ve been helped in my career by a number of great people. I’d particularly like to thanks Michael Bright for giving me my first job, John Downer for encouraging me to think outside the box, Sara Ford for many years support on Wildlife On One. And thanks and great and respect to visionary execs, Tim Martin, Neil Nightingale and Joe Oppenheimer who I’ve worked with in more recent years. I’d also like to thank all my colleagues in the Unit, at JDP, at Yaffle and the freelancers – the camera and sound teams, editors, composers and writers – as well as the field guides and scientists in all the wild places we visit, for all the massive amounts of hard work, time and effort that goes into making our films.