About James.
JAMES ADOLPHUS crafts globally resonant films that navigate the profound intersections of social, cultural, and political landscapes. His journey in cinema and storytelling is profoundly marked by his unique personal history and professional pursuits. Born to a bi-racial family, with one half descended from Black Americans subjected to enslavement and the other from Spanish and Portuguese New World colonizers, Adolphus has navigated life beyond the conventional ethnic and racial throughlines of America. This heritage has provided him with a deeply painful and exceptionally insightful perspective, fostering a commitment to storytelling that upholds the highest standards of journalistic ethics.
Recently, Adolphus' keen vision found a canvas in the HBO Original, BEING MARY TYLER MOORE, a feature documentary that unveiled the spring season on HBO/MAX. Garnering a Prime Time Emmy Nomination for Best Documentary, this cinematic exploration, co-produced by Lena Waithe's Hillman Grad and Adolphus' Good Trouble Studios (co-founded with Ben Selkow), delves into the pioneering trajectory of Mary Tyler Moore. This iconic figure's career is a testament to her transformative impact on the entertainment realm and societal perceptions of women's roles.
With an unwavering commitment to authenticity, Adolphus is at the helm of GIFTED & BLACK for Amazon Studios. This ambitious project paints a vivid tapestry of Black creativity in music, tracing its rich lineage from historical plantations to the Pulitzer Prize.
Boasting nine Emmy nominations and winner of three, James directed SOUL OF A NATION for ABC News, an unprecedented Black news magazine television series. This poignant series offers a candid lens into the lived experiences of Black Americans, especially in the wake of the profound societal upheavals following George Floyd's tragic passing.
In 2004, Adolphus traveled to the West Bank, Palestine, during the Second Intifada. His ethnic background gave him a unique viewpoint in a region marked by conflict. That experience has profoundly influenced his filmmaking, leading to projects in Palestine and Israel, including the short film currently being developed into his first scripted feature film, THE WARREN, based on those experiences and his guilt over the tragic loss of a student while navigating the nuance and complexities of life under occupation.
His directorial endeavors include Netflix's DATING AROUND, Quibi's YOU AINT GOT THESE, and the thought-provoking LITTLE WHITE LIE for Independent Lens. Adolphus' cinematic expertise also graces projects like Disney Plus's ENCORE!, HBO's REAL SPORTS WITH BRYANT GUMBEL, Netflix's RAPTURE, and CNN’S BELIEVER WITH REZA ASLAN, showcasing his versatility and profound understanding of the human experience.
The documentary VISIONS OF LIGHT inspired Adolphus's cinematic path and was nurtured at the American Film Institute (AFI). His potential was recognized with the Fisher Fellow Scholarship, laying the groundwork for his career. His achievements include three Peabody Awards for Cinematography, an Emmy Award for direction, two Emmy Awards for producing, and a Critics Choice Award for Best Archival Documentary for BEING MARY TYLER MOORE.
Through his films and experiences, James Adolphus presents cinematic narratives and reflections of a life lived at the crossroads of diverse cultures and backgrounds.