Documentary Storyteller
James Cameron Starr
Documentary Storyteller
Est .1991
Philadelphia
Phone:
+1 267-256-9129
Email:
A Bit About Me
I am a self taught writer and filmmaker from Philadelphia.
Ever since a young age I've been fascinated with the very real impact imagination has on people. It felt like books and movies could speak a truth that no one else could.
Then an idea took hold of me - what if these stories didn’t just have to be in books? What if we could live them?
Well once a thought like that gets into someone’s head, there’s really no turning back.
Since then I've traveled half the world, worked with everyone from princes to vagabonds, and found common cause among them: to live an honest story.
My mission: to ensure those stories are told.
Curriculum Vitae (cv)
2025 - Dream Job
2022 - Return to Philadelphia
2019 - Millionaire in Trees
2015 - The Vagabond Cookbook
2011 - Filmmaker or bust
2010 - Americorps
2007 - First Gig
Traveling the world. Telling stories that can change lives.
That inspire me greatly, and are often one incredible adventure after another.
This has always been my dream job. And I'm very grateful to be doing it full-time. How did I get here?
After 7 years living abroad I still haven't found a city that inspires me more than my home. I want to help foster Philly's legacy as a world class city by highlighting the people here who are striving for change and growth.
Planting 1 million trees is no easy task, but we did it... 10 times.
In 2019 I joined up with a small tree planting company in the UK as their creative director. We went from working out the back of a van to working across over a dozen countries; a deep dive into the world of forestry and climate action.
I always wanted to travel. So what better job than international documentary filmmaker? Only I couldn't find anyone to pay me. So I decided to take my savings and pay myself. Somehow it managed to stretch over 4 years and 40 countries. Mainly thanks to a Chef and the project we started together - The Vagabond Cookbook.
I began studying film at Temple University, only to drop out after a near death experience. I would become a filmmaker on my own terms (and without the debt).
Instead of going to University I joined Americorps NCCC. I got to experience what a 60 hour week of manual labor felt like - for 6 months. We built houses in New Orleans, among other things.
I was selected to be the unit's photographer.
There comes a moment when every artist realizes they can get paid to practice their craft. This was mine: producing a video for the "multicultural festival" at my high school. Kind of fitting in retrospect.
