Bio

James Velasquez is a Stockholm based freelance Director and 1st Assistant Director on feature films, commercials and television productions. He began his career in the film business in 1995 after graduating from the University of Arizona with a BFA in Media Arts/Filmmaking.

After college James moved to Los Angeles where he started as a production assistant and quickly worked his way through the ranks as a 3rd Assistant Director and 2nd Assistant Director. James has worked as 1st Assistant Director for the past 25 years; on over 100 feature films, Commercials, television productions and music videos, both in the US and in Sweden.

Over the course of his 1st Assistant Director career James has had the privilege of working with incredibly talented directors including Tomas Alfredson, Lars Von Trier, Mikael Marcimain, Julie Delpy, Pernilla August, Jens Sjögren and Jan Troell.

As a director, James has worked with both international and Swedish artists including Eagle Eye Cherry, Albin Lee Meldau and Darin. He puts the artist first scuplting the treatment and video so that the vision matches the image of the artist. It is a very unselfish process for James as he includes the artist in the treatment and pre-production process making it a completely collabrotive process.

In 2019 James had the opportunity to Co-write and Direct a Docu-series for Viaplay, titled The Last Journey of the Vikings. The 4 part series was produced by Mopar and filmed in Ireland and Stockholm. The series has been sold to over 30 countries.

In 2010, James was selected for and attended the FOCAL Production Value workshop which took place in Retz, Austria. The 7 Day workshop for 1st Assistant Directors and Line Producers is sponsored in part by the Swedish Film Institute, FOCAL and Creative Europe MEDIA.

James looks at each project as a challenge and a learning opportunity. His organizational skills and ability to solve problems in the moment make him an asset both as a Director and 1st Assistant Director. He is extremely proficient in using the Movie Magic scheduling program and holds 1st Assistant Director workshops teaching the movie magic program and other 1st Assistant Director techniques to new and aspiring assistant directors.

Giving back is important to James and his growth in the film business.