James Bang | Filmmaker

CV

 

CURRICULUM VITAE

James J. Bang | (917) 743-7263 | jamesbang@gmail.com

SUMMARY

Award-winning filmmaker who excels in all aspects of production. Passion for storytelling and leading a creative team. Self-motivator and intuitive problem-solver committed to delivering high-quality results. Energized, organized and professional.

  • Solid understanding of story structure, elements, and characters 

  • Skilled in film directing, screenwriting, cinematography and film editing

  • Strong knowledge of film theory, film language and script analysis

EDUCATION

Columbia University, School of the Arts: MFA – FILM (Directing & Screenwriting)

New York University, SCPS: Film Production

HB Studios: Acting & Script Analysis

Binghamton University, School of Management: BS - MIS

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

THE NEW SCHOOL  |  Adjunct Professor |  NYC  |  Aug. 2018 – Present

  • Film Production: Intermediate Film Production (Film 2), Advanced Film Production (Film 4), and Documentary Production Workshop. Taught start-to-finish filmmaking courses, covering all stages of pre-production, production, and post-production. Counseled students on screenwriting, directing, producing, and editing techniques. Guided students through the creation of short films.

  • Screenwriting: Script Analysis. Taught students how to analyze screenplays by defining and studying narrative elements of award-winning screenplays. Scripts were read, analyzed, then watched. Clarified the dynamic functions of the story elements in a screenplay. Intro to Writing for Screen. Taught the underlying theory and form of writing for the screen. Examined and studied the characters, story element, conflict, scene construction, and act structure in short films, feature films, and TV series.

COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY   |  Adjunct Instructor (Film)  |  NYC  |  Jul. 2009 – May. 2010

  • Selected by program director Annette Insdorf to teach Laboratory in Fiction Filmmaking Workshop class to undergraduate students. Taught fundamentals of film production, screenplay, cinematography, directing, working with actors, art direction, editing, sound, and score. Curriculum was designed so students could analyze, study, and understand the filmmaking elements and apply them effectively in their filmmaking exercises and short films. 

COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY  |  Teaching Assistant  |  NYC  |   Sept. 2007 – May 2009

  • Provided hands-on training on film and HD cameras, lighting equipment, and lighting setups for Cinematography I & Cinematography II classes.

  • Assisted professors in mentoring students with different acting methods in Directing the Actors I and Directing the Actors II classes.

PROFESSIONAL FILM EXPERIENCE

HIERARCHY PICTURES, INC. |  Screenwriter  |  Los Angeles  |  Jan. 2016 – Present

  • Worked as lead screenwriter for feature screenplays from concept and development to final draft.

  • Collaborated with executive producers in creating stories for motion picture screenplays.  

  • Served as creative script consultant to writers, directors, and producers.

BRIOBLUE PICTURES LLC  |  Partner & Filmmaker  |  NYC & Seoul, Korea  | Jan. 2008 – Present

  • Wrote, produced and directed award-winning films with social awareness content.

  • Developed, produced and directed sports and music documentaries.   

  • Wrote narrative screenplays and pitched to producers and production companies.  

  • Collaborated as cinematographer for narrative films, documentaries, and commercials. 

LIKELY STORY  |  Development Intern & Producer Assistant  |  NYC  |  Jan. 2008 – Dec. 2008

  • Read incoming screenplays and books, and wrote coverage for materials.  

  • Assisted producers and production office during pre-production and production for Charlie Kaufman’s Synecdoche, New York and Nicole Holofcener’s Please Give.

BUSAN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, ASIAN CINEMA FUND  |  Post-Production Supervisor  

Seoul, Korea  |  May 2007 to Dec. 2007

  • Coordinated/oversaw post-production process for two feature films from final cuts to final A-prints for recipients of Asian Cinema Fund feature film post-production awards: Aditya Assarat’s Wonderful Town and Robin Wang’s Fujian Blue.

PROFESSIONAL CORPORATE EXPERIENCE

ZURICH NORTH AMERICA  |  Sr. Project Manager  |  NYC  |  Feb. 2002 – Aug. 2005

Managed customized software development projects throughout their life-cycles. Lead a team in developing and providing an Internet Technology solution to clients. Maintained client relationships and expectations, assured project deliverables were on time and within budget.

ABOUT.COM, Primedia Inc.  |  Project Manager  |  NYC  |  Apr. 2000 – Oct. 2001  

Led team in developing and providing internet technology solution to clients. Managed partnerships and acted as liaison between clients, sales team, system development, and user interface design team to develop and implement the client products into about.com. 

American International Group – AIG  |  Business Analyst  |  NYC  |  Nov. 97 – Apr. 00 

Analyzed users’ business requirements, functionality, processes and information flow. Worked in setting project scope and parameters of software application; worked closely with technical team in producing system architecture and design.

UNIVERSITY SERVICES

THE NEW SCHOOL, VOICE OVER. The 10th School of Media Studies Screenwriting Competition and Event. Faculty jury, 2019.

FILM CREDITS

  • Without You (Feature Narrative Film), Writer/Director, Brioblue Pictures, development, 2020

  • Bound (TV Drama Series), Co-Creator/Writer, Brioblue Pictures, pitching stages, 2020

  • Never Summer (Feature Documentary Film), Director/Producer, Brioblue Pictures, post-production, 2015-Present 

  • K-Popular (Feature Narrative Film), Screenwriter, Hierarchy Pictures, pre-production, 2019

  • Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Project, Cinematographer, Getty Image, 2019

  • Aside (Short Documentary), Writer/Director, Brioblue Pictures, 2018

  • Uniqlo (National TV Campaign), Second Unit Director, Boulder, Inc, 2018

  • Glimpse (Feature Film), Screenwriter, Brioblue Pictures, 2017

  • Hack My Life (TV series) - Freelance Creative Director – truTV, 2015

  • Kart Life (TV Series) - Freelance Creative Director – truTV, 2015

  • Best Buy (National TV commercial) Assistant Director – TK Digital Corp. 2014

  • Furia (Feature Film) - Screenwriter, Brioblue Pictures, 2012

  • Please Give (Feature Film) - Producer Assistant – Likely Story, Dir: Nicole Holofcener,  2010

  • Comfortable Distance (Short Film), Writer/Director, Brioblue Pictures, 2010

  • Habibi (Short Film), Cinematographer (Academy Award Nominee Dir: Sami Khan), 2009

  • Dash Cunning (Short Film), Assistant Director (Dir: William J. Saunders), 2009

  • Friends and Neighbor (Short Film), Assistant Director (Dir: Geoff Bailey), 2009

  • Wianbu — Comfort Woman (Short Film), Writer/Director/Producer, Brioblue Pictures, 2008

  • Synecdoche, New York (Feature Film), Producer Assistant, Likely Story, Dir: Charlie Kaufman, 2008

  • Fujian Blue (Feature Film), Post-production Coordinator, BIFF, 2007

  • Wonderful Town (Feature Film), Post-production Coordinator, BIFF, 2007

  • Three of Us (Short Film), Writer/Director, Brioblue Pictures, 2007

  • Blocked In (Short Film),Cinematographer (Director: William J. Saunders), 2007

  • Le Tour de Curb (Short Film), Cinematographer (Director: Jessica Rotondi), 2007

  • The Bride (Short Film), Cinematographer (Dir Sami Khan), 2006 

  • Inch (Short Film), Cinematographer (Dir: Michael L. Hill), 2006

  • Peso (Short Film), Writer/Director/Producer, 2005

HONORS & AWARDS

  • 35th Student Academy Awards® (Oscars) – East Coast Regional Winner & National Nominee 

  • National Board of Review of Motion Pictures – National Finalist

  • Telluride Film Festival – Filmmakers of Tomorrow

  • Strasbourg International Film Festival – Winner, Best Short Screenwriting Award 

  • Columbia University Film Festival – Faculty Honors Selection

  • Busan International Film Festival – Wide Angle Selection

  • Long Island International Film Expo – Jury Awards

  • Sehsuchte International Film Festival – Honorable Mention

  • New York Korean International Film Festival - Jury Awards

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

  • Center for Asian American Media (CAAM.org), Supporter

  • Busan International Film Festival. (www.biff.kr/eng/), Contributor 

  • New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF.com), Contributor 

  • International Documentary Association (documentary.org), Member 

  • Film Independent (filmdependent.org), Member

  • Independent Filmmaker Project (IFP.org), Member 

  • Columbia Alumni Association, Member

  • Washington Coalition for Comfort Women Issues, Inc. (comfort-women.org), Member