James Kicklighter
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James Kicklighter | |
---|---|
Born | June 26, 1988 |
Alma mater | Georgia Southern University |
Years active | 2006–present |
James Kicklighter (born June 26, 1988) is an American film director, producer, and writer from Bellville, Georgia.[1][2]
Biography
Kicklighter grew up in Bellville, Georgia.[2][3] He was inspired to take up storytelling as a coping mechanism after his father died from SARS when he was 12 years old.[2][4] As a youth, he entered his films into film festivals including as The National Film Festival for Talented Youth.[1] He graduated from Georgia Southern University with a degree in Public Relations.[1][2]
He was recognized by Heather Huhman's series in the National Edition of Examiner.com as one of the Top CEO's Under 25 in America. Outside of his professional work, he serves as a mentor and documentary advisor for "Ambition", a non-profit based in Los Angeles sponsored by high-end boutique JAMAH, promoting entrepreneurship among high school students.[5] JAMAH named The Kicklighter bag in his honor.[6] He has credited Bobby Zarem for being a mentor in his life.[7]
He currently resides in Los Angeles, California.[8]
Career
He began his career at 18, as co-executive producer[9] of That Guy: The Legacy of Dub Taylor,[10] interviewing the late actress Dixie Carter, rocker John Mellencamp, director David Zucker, actor Buck Taylor.[11][12][13] In an interview with Seattle Youth Media, he stated "the great thing about living today is that anybody can make a film. So if you want to make a film right now, you can run out there with a camera, edit it and produce that film, but the question is, can you tell a story?".[14]
During his studies at Georgia Southern University, he, under the supervision of a professor and along with a fellow student,[15] helped to kick off a decade-long celebration of the Golden Age of Radio for the Broadcast Education Association.[16] While directing the film that became Theater of the Mind, he met Edith Ivey, who starred in his short film, The Car Wash.[17]
The Car Wash has won numerous awards and was mentioned in the Rome-News Tribune,[18] including Audience Choice Award at the National Film Festival for Talented Youth,[19] the largest youth film festival in the world.[20]
Followed,[21] based on the story by Will McIntosh, was one of 24 films to win an Audience Choice Award at the 2011 National Film Festival for Talented Youth,[22] and has been picked up by Dragon Con, The Rome International Film Festival, Garden State Film Festival and Central Florida Festival, with international press coverage.[23][24][25][26] Ain't it Cool News gave the film a positive notice for his direction, stating "Directed with a delicate and gentle hand, FOLLOWED is probably the most unexpected horror surprise I've seen in quite a while."[27]
His 2012 film Final Acts was a finalist in the Macon Shorts Competition, part of the Gateway Macon Initiative. The film won Grand Prize.[28]
His first feature film was the international crossover Desires of the Heart, which shot in Savannah, Georgia and Rajasthan, India[2] in 2012 with numerous releases to film festivals in 2013 and 2014.[29][30][31][32] Jitenda Mishra was one of the film's producers.[33][34] The film was released in theaters across India in November 2015.[35][36] It won Best Foreign Film at the La Femme Festival in Los Angeles.[37][38][39] It was also screened at the Cannes Film Festival.[40]
Film Threat stated, "The cinematography in the film matches its narrative's expansive ambitions with gorgeous visions that turn both Georgia and India into almost permanent states of postcard-friendly imagery,",[41] and The Independent Critic noted Desires of the Heart as "a beautiful and involving film featuring two fine performances by its leads who are tasked with bringing to life a film that is both intelligent and fantastic, no small task."[42] UK Film Review wrote, "This faux saccharine surface belies a superbly written and wonderfully understated supernatural mystery, which only takes off around the halfway point of the film."[39]
In 2015, he released the documentary A Few Things About Cancer, called "an intimate look at a newlywed couple's quarterlife crisis through stage four cancer.".[43] The film won Best Short Documentary at the 2015 FirstGlance Los Angeles Film Festival.[44]
His music video "Branches" for solo artist Shel Bee won Best Music Video at the 2016 Garden State Film Festival[45]
After the 2016 Garden State Film Festival, Kicklighter directed the documentary Digital Edition, a profile on the future of journalism framed through The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, which debuted to critical acclaim.[46][47][37][48] He was inspired to film the project after receiving an email from Bert Roughton, Jr., Senior Managing Editor of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.[49]
He was the Virginia filmmaker for Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign.[50][51][52] He worked with public figures such as Michelle Kwan and Miley Cyrus on material promoting the campaign.[52][1][53] His experiences during the campaign observing political processes, polarization, and changes in voting, would later inspire him to direct the film The American Question.[2]
In 2017, he directed Angel of Anywhere, starring Briana Evigan, Ser'Darius Blain, David A. Gregory, and introducing Axel Roldos.[54][55] The short film was a collaboration with director of photography Jonathan Pope and writers Kate Murdoch and Casey Nelson.[56][57][58] Kicklighter cast Roldos in the project after meeting him at an Atlanta film festival.[57] The film received positive reviews from outlets such as The Utah Film Awards,[56] The Independent Critic,[57] Film Snob Reviews,[59] and UK Film Review.[58]
He spoke about his start in filmmaking at the Directors Guild of America[60] and the importance of networking [61] in March 2018.
Kicklighter directed the feature documentary The Sound of Identity, profiling Lucia Lucas's performance of Don Giovanni at the Tulsa Opera for 2021 release.[62][49][63][64][65] Kicklighter and executive producers Russ Kirkpatrick and Andy Kinslow decide to collaborate on the film after meeting through the organization Tulsa Tomorrow.[3] It was distributed by Shout! Studios in North America.[64] The film also reunited Kicklighter with cinematographer Jonathan Pope.[64] Its score was provided by composer Nicolas Repetto.[66][67] It was praised by publications such as The Washington Blade,[68] Film Inquiry,[69] and Film Threat.[70] It received an approval rating of 91% on the review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes.[71]
Kicklighter is developing a biopic on football legend Erk Russell,[72][73][74][75][76][77] who started the football program at Kicklighter's Alma Mater, Georgia Southern University, which named him to their inaugural "40 Under 40" Alumni list.[78]
Filmography
FilmTitle | Type | Year | Producer | Writer | Director | Ref |
That Guy: The Legacy of Dub Taylor | Documentary film | 2007 | Yes | [9][10] | ||
Di Passaggio | Documentary film | 2009 | Yes | Yes | [79][80][81] | |
Theater of the Mind | Documentary short | 2009 | Yes | [82][83] | ||
The Car Wash | Short film | 2010 | Yes | Yes | Yes | [18][19] |
Followed | Short film | 2011 | Yes | Yes | [84] | |
Final Acts | Short film | 2011 | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
Desires of the Heart | Feature film | 2013 | Yes | Yes | [85] | |
A Few Things About Cancer | Documentary short | 2014 | Yes | Yes | [86] | |
Shel Bee: Branches | Music video | 2015 | Yes | Yes | Yes | [45] |
Atul: Emotions | Music video | 2015 | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
Digital Edition | Documentary short | 2016 | Yes | Yes | [46][47][37][48] | |
Angel of Anywhere | Short film | 2018 | Yes | Yes | [54][56][57][58] | |
Every 9 Hours | Short film | 2019 | Yes | Yes | [3] | |
The Sound of Identity | Documentary film | 2020 | Yes | [49][64] | ||
The American Question | Documentary film | TBA | Yes | Yes | Yes | [3][82] |
References
- ^ a b c d Local Stories. "Meet James Kicklighter, Film Director in Culver City - Voyage LA Magazine | LA City Guide". voyagela.com. Retrieved Jun 14, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f Berinato, Christopher. "New documentary examines first transgender singer in opera history to perform in a principal role". Savannah Morning News. Retrieved Jun 14, 2021.
- ^ a b c d "Award-Winning Filmmaker James Kicklighter Directs Documentary "The Sound of Identity"". ProductionHUB.com. Retrieved 2022-03-29.
- ^ "Meet James Kicklighter | Film Director". SHOUTOUT LA. 2020-10-12. Retrieved 2022-03-29.
- ^ "Our Visual Team – In True Fashion". Intruefashion.org. Archived from the original on 2012. Retrieved 2016-09-26.
{{cite web}}
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(help) - ^ "THE KICKLIGHTER". JAMAH. Retrieved 2022-03-16.
- ^ "After 84 Years, Good Night, Bobby Zarem".
- ^ Valdez, Jonah (2021-12-20). "6.2 earthquake strikes off Northern California coast, shattering windows and rattling nerves". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2022-03-29.
- ^ a b "Video biography of character film actor premiers at museum | The Augusta Chronicle". Chronicle.augusta.com. Retrieved 2016-09-26.
- ^ a b "Archive.is". Archived from the original on 2012-08-02.
- ^ "February/March 2011 by Macon Magazine". Issuu.com. Retrieved 2016-09-26.
- ^ "James Kicklighter: Camera with a Conscience". Scribd.com. Retrieved 2016-09-26.
- ^ "The Curious Case of James Kicklighter: Painfully Young Filmmaker on the Rise | Antics in Candyland". Anticsincandyland.wordpress.com. 2011-02-18. Retrieved 2016-09-26.
- ^ "NFFTY 2010 on Vimeo". Vimeo.com. 2010-08-12. Retrieved 2016-09-26.
- ^ "AFTRA Atlanta Members Interviewed for Student Doc". AFTRA Magazine. AFTRA. Spring 2009. Retrieved April 11, 2012.
- ^ "Archive.org". Archived from the original on 2011-07-15.
- ^ McDougald, Mike. "Southeast Georgians cross paths in a small world". Northwest Georgia News. Retrieved 2022-03-29.
- ^ a b "Archive.is". Archived from the original on 2012-09-19.
- ^ a b "National Film Festival for Talented Youth". Short Film Central. Retrieved 2016-09-26.
- ^ "Our Organization". Nffty.org. Archived from the original on 2016-09-23. Retrieved 2016-09-26.
- ^ "Zombies take over as movie begins filming in Macon | The Telegraph". Macon.com. 2010-12-12. Retrieved 2016-09-26.
- ^ "NFFTY 2011 Award Winners". Nffty.org. Archived from the original on 2016-10-08. Retrieved 2016-09-26.
- ^ "Inferno » Vídeo del Día: "Followed"". Inferno.blogs.fotogramas.es. 2012-02-06. Archived from the original on 2013-07-14. Retrieved 2016-09-26.
- ^ "AICN HORROR looks at new horrors: FOLLOWED Short Film! CANNIBAL: THE MUSICAL 13th (or so)". Aintitcool.com. Retrieved 2016-09-26.
- ^ "Interview with Director of "Followed" - James Kicklighter". Blank Stage Productions. 2012-01-09. Retrieved 2016-09-26.
- ^ "Might of the Living Dead | Georgia Music". Georgiamusicmag.com. Retrieved 2016-09-26.
- ^ "Aicn Horror News: Almost Human! Science Team! Desires Of The Heart! The Last Halloween! Witchfinder!". Aintitcool.com. 2014-03-04. Retrieved 2016-09-26.
- ^ "Archive.org". Archived from the original on 2012-03-27.
- ^ "Todd Sandler". Toddisandler.com. Retrieved 2016-09-26.
- ^ "Alicia Minshew - Prism Awards 2012 Red Carpet". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 2016-09-26.
- ^ Ford, Rebecca (13 August 2012). "'All My Children's' Alicia Minshew Nabs Lead in 'Desires of the Heart' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2016-09-26.
- ^ "US actors to shoot in India". Timesofindia.indiatimes.com. 2012-09-22. Retrieved 2016-09-26.
- ^ OdAdmin (2022-03-21). "Jitendra Mishra selected Jury for Japan's largest film festival – KINEKO 2022". Odisha News | Odisha Breaking News | Latest Odisha News. Retrieved 2022-03-29.
- ^ "Odisha-born producer Jitendra Mishra to promote ten films at Cannes fest". The Indian Express. 2015-05-12. Retrieved 2022-03-29.
- ^ "Desires of the Heart Releasing on 6th Nov in India". Enewsodia.com. Retrieved 2016-09-26.
- ^ "Odisha-born producer's Hollywood film 'Desires of the Heart' released". In.news.yahoo.com. 2015-11-06. Retrieved 2016-09-26.
- ^ a b c "The Independent Critic - "Digital Edition" Follows the Changing World of Journalism". theindependentcritic.com. Retrieved 2016-05-19.
- ^ "Desires of the Heart review (2015)". Retrieved 2022-03-29.
- ^ a b Tilby, Darren (2019-06-08). "Desires of the Heart review". UK Film Review. Retrieved 2022-03-29.
- ^ "Rajesh Rathi's 'Desires of the Heart' travels to Cannes Film Festival". The Indian Express. 2014-05-14. Retrieved 2022-03-29.
- ^ "Film Threat". 2016-12-18. Archived from the original on 2014-02-26.
- ^ ""Desires of the Heart" an Ambitious, Involving Film". The Independent Critic. Retrieved 2016-09-26.
- ^ "Archive.org". Archived from the original on 2015-03-13.
- ^ "2015 Los Angeles Award Winners – FirstGlance Film Festival". Firstglancefilms.com. 2014-06-20. Archived from the original on 2016-04-20. Retrieved 2016-09-26.
- ^ a b "Garden State Film Festival 2016 Winners". Broadwayworld.com. Retrieved 2016-09-26.
- ^ a b "Shorts: Digital Edition (2016) | Crushed Celluloid". crushedcelluloid.com. Retrieved 2016-05-19.
- ^ a b "Digital Edition (2016) short film review". screencritix.com. Retrieved 2016-05-19.
- ^ a b "Digital Edition". indyred. Retrieved 2016-05-19.
- ^ a b c BWW News Desk. "LUCIA'S VOICE Documentary To Feature First Transgender Lead In U.S. Opera". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2019-12-29.
- ^ "Entertainment Weekly". Entertainment Weekly. 2016.
- ^ "Hillary Clinton Campaign". Jameskicklighter.com.
- ^ a b "Michelle Kwan if Working for Hillary Clinton". New York. 2016.
- ^ "Michelle Kwan And The 1st Filming Experience With Hillary For America. | Director James Kicklighter". Retrieved 2022-03-29.
- ^ a b https://www.angelofanywhere.com/. Retrieved 2019-05-10.
{{cite web}}
: Missing or empty|title=
(help) - ^ "Angel of Anywhere". Jameskicklighter.com.
- ^ a b c "Angel of Anywhere – Review – The Utah Film Festival". Retrieved 2022-03-29.
- ^ a b c d "The Independent Critic - "Angel of Anywhere" the Latest Kicklighter Flick". theindependentcritic.com. Retrieved 2022-03-29.
- ^ a b c Review, UK Film (2017-09-07). "Angel of Anywhere short film". UK Film Review. Retrieved 2022-03-29.
- ^ Morgan, Melanie (2017-09-11). "Review: Angel of Anywhere". FilmSnobReviews. Retrieved 2022-03-29.
- ^ "James Kicklighter at the DGA Director's [sic] Guild of America on Starting a Career in Film". Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved Jun 14, 2021 – via www.youtube.com.
- ^ "James Kicklighter on Networking in Filmmaking at the DGA — Director's [sic] Guild of America". Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved Jun 14, 2021 – via www.youtube.com.
- ^ "Sacramento Opera Star Lucia Lucas Pushes Industry Boundaries — and Beyond". KQED. 2019-09-15. Retrieved 2019-12-29.
- ^ IndieWire Staff; Staff, IndieWire (2019-04-09). "Breaking Film Industry News — Awards, Acquisitions, Festival Buzz, Grants, and More". IndieWire. Retrieved 2019-12-29.
- ^ a b c d Ramos, Dino-Ray (Dec 21, 2020). "Shout! Studios To Distribute Docu 'The Sound Of Identity' Spotlighting Trans Opera Star Lucia Lucas". Retrieved Jun 14, 2021.
- ^ "Lucia Lucas Is Cracking Opera's Trans Glass Ceiling". www.advocate.com. Jun 1, 2021. Retrieved Jun 14, 2021.
- ^ "Frost alumnus sees STARZ! | University of Miami Development and Alumni Relations". news.miami.edu. Retrieved 2022-03-29.
- ^ "The Independent Critic - "The Sound of Identity" Begins Indie Festival Journey". theindependentcritic.com. Retrieved 2022-03-29.
- ^ King, John Paul (2021-05-27). "Trans performers blend success, visibility in two new docs". Washington Blade: LGBTQ News, Politics, LGBTQ Rights, Gay News. Retrieved 2022-03-29.
- ^ Alexander Miller (2021-06-17). "THE SOUND OF IDENTITY: The Artistic Pursuit". Film Inquiry. Retrieved 2022-03-29.
- ^ "The Sound of Identity | Film Threat". 2021-06-01. Retrieved 2022-03-29.
- ^ The Sound of Identity, retrieved 2022-03-29
- ^ "Archive.org". Archived from the original on 2012-09-05.
- ^ Hunker'd Down by Bernie (2012-09-02). "Bernie's Dawg Blawg: Erk Russell on the big screen". Berniesdawgblawg.com. Retrieved 2016-09-26.
- ^ Dal Cannady. "Movie on former GSU coach excites friends, former players - WTOC-TV: Savannah, Beaufort, SC, News, Weather & Sports". Wtoc.com. Retrieved 2016-09-26.
- ^ "Erk Russell Film Live Announcement at Paulson Stadium". YouTube. 2010-02-05. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 2016-09-26.
- ^ "Georgia Southern Alumni to Produce Film on Legendary Coach Erk Russell | Newsroom | Georgia Southern University". News.georgiasouthern.edu. 2012-09-03. Retrieved 2016-09-26.
- ^ "GSU grads to produce 'Erk'". Statesboroherald.com. 2006-09-08. Archived from the original on 2013-02-03. Retrieved 2016-09-26.
- ^ "First Class | Georgia Southern Magazine". News.georgiasouthern.edu. 2014-12-15. Retrieved 2016-09-26.
- ^ "DI PASSAGGIO | Film Threat". 2011-06-15. Retrieved 2022-03-30.
- ^ Reddish, David. "James Kicklighter raises the curtain on a transgender opera star in 'The Sound of Identity'". Queerty. Retrieved 2022-03-30.
- ^ Lehmann, Courtney (2014-09-26). Screen Adaptations: Romeo and Juliet: A close study of the relationship between text and film. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4081-9876-6.
- ^ a b Rockett, Darcel. "Do you share the same values as your neighbor? That's 'The American Question'". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2022-03-30.
- ^ "Comm Arts Talk". Georgia Southern University Comm Arts Talk. Fall 2009 – via Georgia Southern University.
- ^ "Zombie film with a heart". www.statesboroherald.com. Retrieved 2022-03-30.
- ^ "Desires Of The Heart Review". IndyRed. Retrieved 2022-03-30.
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