Michael Thomas James

Michael Thomas James

Birth : , Chicago, Illinois, USA

History

Michael Thomas James is a Chicago-based editor who graduated with high honors from Columbia College Chicago. He has edited narrative features such as Range Runners, as well as documentaries such as the Emmy award winning Pooh: The Derrick Rose Story. He believes editorial is more artistic than technical, and that there should be room to breathe, create, and dream within each project. He is occasionally known by his nickname "Contact" among his industry peers.

Profile

Michael Thomas James

Movies

The Class
Editor
A coming of age film about a group of high school seniors forced to spend a Saturday at school completing an exam they either missed taking or failed. By the end of the day, they find their own values, betrayals and love within themselves and their classmates.
Christmas with Felicity
Editor
A struggling young baker in no mood for the holidays returns to her small hometown, where her festive family and a handsome farmer try to get her back in the Christmas spirit.
Intersect
Editor
Alone at her lake house, Quinn awaits her husband’s arrival as they plan for a relaxing weekend up at the lake. Encountered by an ominous visitor, her plans rapidly derail as Quinn realizes she is not alone anymore.
Disturbing the Peace
Editor
A small-town marshal who hasn't carried a gun since he left the Texas Rangers after a tragic shooting must pick up his gun again to do battle with a gang of outlaw bikers that has invaded the town to pull off a brazen and violent heist.
EmBlem
Editor
A genetically enhanced soldier discovers that she's been misled by her boss while on assignment. Feeling betrayed, she must decide between completing her mission or carving a new path.
Range Runners
Editor
A woman thru-hiking an isolated trail runs into trouble when her pack is hijacked by two men hiding out in the woods, desperate and on the run. Now, stranded and left to fend for herself, she has a choice: crawl back to her normal life in defeat, or push forward and take back what was stolen from her.
Pooh: The Derrick Rose Story
Online Editor
A never before seen look at the meteoric rise of Derrick Rose, the young Chicago superstar that was suddenly derailed by devastating injuries and unrealistic expectations for a hometown hero.
Pooh: The Derrick Rose Story
Editor
A never before seen look at the meteoric rise of Derrick Rose, the young Chicago superstar that was suddenly derailed by devastating injuries and unrealistic expectations for a hometown hero.
Groupers
Editor
A grad student kidnaps two homophobic high-school bullies to use as her subjects in an experiment performed at the bottom of an empty swimming pool.
Cellar Door
Editor
When a teenage girl goes missing in the woods, it's up to an aging sheriff to find her. With his deputy questioning his every move, this small town sheriff will have to face the wrath of the girl's abusive father in order to bring her home safe before it's too late.
The Monster Project
Online Editor
When aspiring horror filmmakers post an online casting call looking for "real life" monsters to interview for their upcoming documentary called, The Monster Project, they find three individuals claiming to be a skin-walker, a vampire, and a demon. Meeting these monsters at a remote mansion in the woods on the night of a total lunar eclipse, the filmmakers invite the three subjects to share their haunting, personal experiences. Working on the crew is a recovering drug addict who suffers withdrawal and paranoia. As a person of faith, he fears his friends underestimate the dark powers they are summoning. When the interviews turn deadly, he must battle the demons, inside and out, to escape the house and defeat the rise of evil incarnate.
The Monster Project
Additional Editor
When aspiring horror filmmakers post an online casting call looking for "real life" monsters to interview for their upcoming documentary called, The Monster Project, they find three individuals claiming to be a skin-walker, a vampire, and a demon. Meeting these monsters at a remote mansion in the woods on the night of a total lunar eclipse, the filmmakers invite the three subjects to share their haunting, personal experiences. Working on the crew is a recovering drug addict who suffers withdrawal and paranoia. As a person of faith, he fears his friends underestimate the dark powers they are summoning. When the interviews turn deadly, he must battle the demons, inside and out, to escape the house and defeat the rise of evil incarnate.
Signature Move
Online Editor
A secret new romance with Alma forces Zaynab to confront her complicated relationship with her recently widowed mother. In this coming-of-age Muslim melodrama, Zaynab copes by taking up Lucha-style wrestling.
Signature Move
Additional Editor
A secret new romance with Alma forces Zaynab to confront her complicated relationship with her recently widowed mother. In this coming-of-age Muslim melodrama, Zaynab copes by taking up Lucha-style wrestling.
The Orange Story
Assistant Editor
The Orange Story is a narrative short film that tells the story of an elderly Japanese American man who must sell all his belongings and report to a temporary detention center during WWII from where he will be forcibly removed to an undisclosed location. The film also uses archival radio, film, and photographic sources to complement this narrative, providing a strong historical context for the story.
Kickboxer: Vengeance
Foley Artist
Eric and Kurt Sloane are the descendants of a well-known Venice, California-based family of martial artists. Kurt has always been in older brother, Eric's shadow, as he lacks the instincts needed to become a champion. Against Kurt's concerns, Eric accepts a paid offer and travels to Thailand to challenge the Muay Thai champion Tong Po and fails with dire consequences. Kurt sets out for revenge. He trains with his brother's mentor, Master Durand, for a Muay Thai fight against the merciless champion, Tong Po. Durand first thinks Kurt is impossible to train, but through a series of spiritual exercises and tests, Durand discovers that Kurt has a deeper strength that will carry him through his final showdown with Tong Po.
Vera
Second Assistant Camera
VERA is a sci-fi drama short film that focuses on an astronaut who is stranded alone in space and is now headed on a collision course with the Sun. Adam struggles with isolation and his sanity on the ship while dealing with emotions from his past and future.