Profile

James leads Screen Academy Scotland's postgraduate screenwriting programmes and combines teaching with his practice as a screenwriter.

He has credits in TV, Film, Theatre, Radio and Opera, winning numerous awards and award nominations. Current projects include a feature film adaptation of The Confessions of a Justified Sinner by James Hogg (1824) with author Ian Rankin and producer Peter Broughan with development from the UKFC and Scottish Screen. He has been commissioned by Stephen Fry's company Sprout Productions to adapt Ian Rankin's novel Doors Open for ITV. In 2010, James wrote and produced a short film Disco as a collaborative research project with staff, students and industry professionals.

Background

Reichenbach Falls (BBC, 2007). Single drama based on short story by Ian Rankin.
Brittle. Short story published in Work (Polygon, 2007). Joint Winner: ‘The Scotsman/Orange short story competition’.
Red Cap (BBC, 2005). Two series of military police drama.
Monarch of the Glen (BBC, 2000). Episode of popular TV series.
Split Second (BBC, 1999). Original 90-minute thriller starring Clive Owen.
Doctor Finlay (ITV, 1994). Winner: ‘Bafta Scotland Best Series’.
Out of Season (Garden Venture, 1992). Libretto for short opera. Nomination: ‘Laurence Olivier Award for Outstanding Contribution to Opera’.
Terminal (Shadow Syndicate, 1990). Stage play. Winner: ‘The Scotsman Fringe First Award’.
Terminal (BBC Radio 3, 1992). Radio adaptation. Nominations: ‘Prix Futura’.
Education and Professional Development
PG Certificate in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (completion 2010).
MA English Language and Literature, Edinburgh University.
National Film and Television School, screenwriting short course.
As participant: Moonstone Screenwriters Lab; PAL Screenwriters Lab; Equinoxe Screenwriters Atelier, Versailles.
As tutor: Arvon Foundation, Scottish Screen, Skillset.
Full member of BAFTA and the Writer’s Guild of Great Britain.
External Examiner for the MA Writing for the Media at Bournemouth University.

Research Interests

Creative approaches to adaptation. 'Adapt or Die' Edinburgh International Film Festival 2010.
Short film narrative.

Links

http://imdb.com/name/nm0561394/
http://www.saylescreen.com/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcfour/cinema/features/reichenbach-falls.shtml