After graduating as valedictorian from his film school, James moved to Los Angeles in 2012 with no job, no car, nowhere to live, and an overdrawn bank account. Over a decade later he is now a creative powerhouse of film and TV, breaking into the industry as a producer on some of the biggest TV shows of all time including Big Brother, Project Runway, and Hell’s Kitchen.

 

He wrote and directed his first feature film, a very satirical comedy titled Safer at Home (and later re-titled to Coronavirus Conspiracy by Lionsgate), in the summer of 2020. The film marked one of the first union-approved indie features to shoot in Los Angeles after the start of the Covid-19 lockdowns and was featured in The Hollywood Reporter. His award winning short film Curiosity was in the Oscar qualifying 2022 LA Shorts Film Festival, and as a writer James has also semi-finaled the biggest screenwriting competition in the world, the Academy Nicholl Fellowship. His next feature film, Killing Mary Sue, stars Sierra McCormick, Dermot Mulroney, Sean Patrick Flanery, and Jason Mewes and has been featured on Deadline.

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"James is my first call when building a story team. He's a talented storyteller, a dynamic manager, and leader in the field and in the edit bay."

-Faye S, Executive Producer for CBS & ABC

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"James Sunshine is one of the brightest producers I've ever worked with. His work ethic is outstanding and his attention to detail is exemplary. He really is that good. Also, his t-shirt game is legendary."

-David D, Executive Producer for Fox & HGTV

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“There is a great feeling when you connect with a director. James is that that director. Always prepared and ready to meet you at an emotional and creative level. And he has an instinctive knowledge of what plays well to an audience.”

-John S, Cinematographer for Killing Mary Sue