Crude Impact is James' filmmaking debut. Inspired by a trip to the rainforest in the summer of 2004 with The Pachamama Alliance, James read obsessively on the effects of oil exploration and use on the rainforest, world climate, humanity and other species. His passion for the issue motivated him to produce a film in order to bring awareness of the situation to a wider audience.
Though he had never made a film before, James wasted no time getting himself up to speed, studying filmmaking at both the Film Arts Foundation and the Bay Area Video Coalition in San Francisco, and creating his production company, Vista Clara Films. To produce Crude Impact, James assembled an inspired team with a common purpose, which included his wife and co-producer Jennifer Wood.
Prior to beginning a filmmaking career, James spent more than twenty years in the high technology industry. These days, in addition to filmmaking, his efforts are focused on supporting social profit organizations, such as the Pachamama Alliance, Search for Common Ground and others.
James holds a Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering from Pennsylvania's Villanova University and pursued graduate studies at Villanova and Drexel University in Philadelphia.
