About Me

Award winning filmmaker James Grisom is an LA based storyteller from Lynwood, California. He is a USC School of Cinematic Arts MFA graduate and George Lucas Scholar recipient, one of USC’s prestigious awards.

​

He wrote for Village Roadshow & USC's feature script adaptation of New York Times best-selling author Don Yaeger's "Turning of the Tide: How One Game Changed the South". His short film, Eye for an i, is currently streaming on American Airline’s Inflight Entertainment. It premiered at the American Black Film Festival and has won multiple awards including the First Place Gold Circle Award from the esteemed Caucus Foundation and Best Narrative Short at the Sights + Sound Film Festival. His ballet short film, Bobby, has gotten into multiple festivals including Black Harvest Film Festival and New Filmmaker LA and is streaming now on KANOPY.

​

Aside from writing and directing, he has a keen ear for story as a composer and sound designer. He sound designed the Tribeca nominated Best Student Film and HBO MAX acquired, The Cypher and BAFTA shortlisted animated student film, Izzy Demons. He’s composed music for several documentaries, narrative shorts, and branded content.

​

Outside of filmmaking, he’s an autodidact who has a deep passion for learning, especially the intersections of philosophy, religion, and science. He loves watching anime and animated films/TV, playing narrative driven video games, and expressing himself through the piano.

 

Inspired by his community and loved ones, he finds purpose in sharing sincere stories about humanity through a lens of reflection and empathy.