Today we’d like to introduce you to James Newman.
Hi James, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers.
My dad introduced me to blockbusters at an early age. We were always a movie night family. Since I was about 9/10 years old, I knew I wanted to make films in some form. I started with stop-animation using LEGOs and then did backyard films with my childhood friends throughout grade school. From there I attended film school in New York and adjacently worked as a PA on major productions in the city thankfully through distance relative connections. I kept at the PA work until I found and learned about stunts. Ironically, I was training Jiu-Jitsu for years while my film career was starting, so I naturally combined the two into a stunt career in NYC. That started in 2013, and I’ve been working in the film industry as a stunt performer/ fight choreographer ever since.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Learning where you belong in the film industry can take a while. Luckily, working as a PA allows you to see every department at work from a great perspective. I think before even getting onto a set is a struggle for some people. It is a bit of a bubble, and it’s hard to break in because everyone inside knows how hard it was for them to find their way in. You also have to be committed 100% to it. If you’re unsure about it, I think people pick up on that. It is also much easier to enter at a younger age where you can take more risks and dive in. I was lucky enough to start along with my education.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I work as a fight coordinator or a fight choreographer. I also sometimes work as just a stunt performer as well the former tasks me with the action design process, training actors, and how the action takes us from A to B. The latter comes with different responsibilities, and I can be working as an actor’s stunt double or as a non-descript role like a soldier or a goon. I’ve been lucky enough to design action for some actors I look up to like Mark Dacascos and Jay Ellis. I worked on The Blade of the 47 Ronin, which you can find on Netflix, where I was a part of the action team and designed the choreography you see them perform in the film. Recently, I worked on a film titled “Freaky Tales” set in the 80’s in Oakland, CA. It stars Pedro Pascal and Jay Ellis. It opened the Sundance Film Festival this year with a great reception. We’re all eagerly waiting for its theatrical release. Both films have heavy Eastern martial arts inspiration, and that is something I pull from when it comes to action design. The Matrix is a huge inspiration for me, and as of late, indie Japanese action films have given me excitement and inspiration. Intricate martial choreography mixed with character motivation is someone I specialize in, and with each day, I’m excited to continuously explore and hone that facet of my design and style.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you, or support you?
I’m always filming and developing my own action projects. The film industry is known for the collaboration of creative minds. I would love to meet and work with new people who want to create possibly the next great action film. It’s a period where the industry is turning toward independent voices and projects so now is the perfect time to meet new collaborators who want to join the film industry.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4210057/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_1_tt_0_nm_8_q_james%2520newman
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/newmied00d/
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@jaynewman089?si=H9eDLCfom-mxeKe9
- Other: https://vimeo.com/user3197248
