James Allan Schamus (born September 7, 1959) is an American screenwriter, producer, business executive, film historian, professor, and director. He is a frequent collaborator of

Ang Lee Ang Lee (; born October 23, 1954) is a Taiwanese filmmaker. His films are known for their emotional charge and exploration of repressed, hidden emotions. During his career, he has received international critical and popular acclaim and List o ...

, the co-founder of the production company

Good Machine Good Machine Productions was an American independent film production, film distribution, and foreign sales company started in the early 1990 by its co-founders and producers, Ted Hope and James Schamus. David Linde joined as a partner in the l ...

, and the co-founder and former CEO of motion picture production, financing, and worldwide distribution company

Focus Features Focus Features LLC is an American independent film production and distribution company, owned by Comcast as a unit of Universal Pictures, which is itself a unit of Comcast's division NBCUniversal. Focus Features distributes independent and fore ...

, a subsidiary of

NBCUniversal NBCUniversal Media, LLC (abbreviated as NBCU and Trade name, doing business as NBCUniversal or Comcast NBCUniversal since 2013) is an American Multinational corporation, multinational mass media and Show business, entertainment conglomerate (comp ...

. He is currently president of the New York–based production company Symbolic Exchange, and is Professor of Professional Practice at

Columbia University Columbia University in the City of New York, commonly referred to as Columbia University, is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Churc ...

, where he has taught film history and theory since 1989.

Life and career

Schamus was born in Detroit, Michigan, to a

Jewish Jews (, , ), or the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation, originating from the Israelites of History of ancient Israel and Judah, ancient Israel and Judah. They also traditionally adhere to Judaism. Jewish ethnicity, rel ...

family. He is the son of Clarita (Gershowitz) Karlin and Julian John Schamus, and was raised in Los Angeles. He is married to writer Nancy Kricorian, with whom he has two children. His output includes writing or co-writing '' The Ice Storm'', '' Eat, Drink, Man, Woman'', ''

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon ''Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon'' is a 2000 epic romantic drama wuxia martial arts film directed by Ang Lee and written for the screen by Wang Hui-ling, James Schamus, and Tsai Kuo-jung. The film stars Chow Yun-fat, Michelle Yeoh, Z ...

'' and ''

Hulk The Hulk is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in the debut issue of ''The Incredible Hulk (comic book), The Incredible Hulk ...

'' (all directed by

), and producing ''

Brokeback Mountain ''Brokeback Mountain'' is a 2005 American neo-Western romantic drama film directed by Ang Lee and produced by Diana Ossana and James Schamus. Adapted from Brokeback Mountain (short story), the 1997 short story by Annie Proulx, the screenplay ...

'' and '' Alone in Berlin''. At Focus he oversaw the production and distribution of '' Lost in Translation'', ''

Milk Milk is a white liquid food produced by the mammary glands of lactating mammals. It is the primary source of nutrition for young mammals (including breastfeeding, breastfed human infants) before they are able to digestion, digest solid food. ...

'', ''

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind ''Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind'' is a 2004 American surrealist science fiction romantic drama film directed by Michel Gondry and written by Charlie Kaufman from a story by Gondry, Kaufman, and Pierre Bismuth. Starring Jim Carrey a ...

'', ''

Coraline ''Coraline'' () is a 2002 British dark fantasy horror children's novella by author Neil Gaiman. Gaiman started writing ''Coraline'' in 1990, and it was published in 2002 by Bloomsbury and HarperCollins. It was awarded the 2003 Hugo Award for ...

'', and '' The Kids Are All Right''. In addition to his tenure at Columbia University, he has also taught at

Yale University Yale University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701, Yale is the List of Colonial Colleges, third-oldest institution of higher education in the United Stat ...

and at

Rutgers University Rutgers University ( ), officially Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, is a Public university, public land-grant research university consisting of three campuses in New Jersey. Chartered in 1766, Rutgers was originally called Queen's C ...

. He is the author of ''Carl Theodor Dreyer's Gertrud: The Moving Word'', published by the University of Washington Press. He earned his BA, MA, and Ph.D. in English from

University of California, Berkeley The University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley, Berkeley, Cal, or California), is a Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Berkeley, California, United States. Founded in 1868 and named after t ...

. Schamus made his feature directorial debut with '' Indignation'', an adaptation of

Philip Roth Philip Milton Roth (; March 19, 1933 – May 22, 2018) was an American novelist and short-story writer. Roth's fiction—often set in his birthplace of Newark, New Jersey—is known for its intensely autobiographical character, for philosophical ...

's novel of the same name. Schamus also wrote the script for the film, which stars Logan Lerman, Sarah Gadon, and Tracy Letts, and is the story of a Jewish student at an Ohio college in 1951. The film premiered at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival, and was theatrically released by

Roadside Attractions Roadside Attractions, LLC is an American independent production company and film distributor based in Los Angeles, California, founded on July 27, 2000, by Howard Cohen and Eric d'Arbeloff. Lionsgate Films Lionsgate Films (spelled as Lions ...

on July 29, 2016. He was president of the jury for the

64th Berlin International Film Festival The 64th annual Berlin International Film Festival was held from 6 to 16 February 2014. Wes Anderson's film ''The Grand Budapest Hotel'' opened the festival. British film director Ken Loach was presented with the Golden Bear#Golden Bear .E2.80. ...

. He has also been on the jury of the New York International Children's Film Festival, and has served on the editorial boards of ''

Film Quarterly ''Film Quarterly'' (FQ), published by University of California Press, is a journal devoted to the study of film, television, and visual media. When FQ was launched in 1945 (then called ''Hollywood Quarterly''), it was considered "the first serious ...

'' and ''

Cinema Journal The ''Journal of Cinema and Media Studies'' (formerly ''Cinema Journal'' and ''The Journal of the Society of Cinematologists'') is the official academic journal of the Society for Cinema and Media Studies (formerly the Society for Cinema Studies ...

'', as well as on the board of

Creative Capital Creative Capital is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization based in New York City that supports artists across the United States through funding, counsel, gatherings, and career development services. Since its founding in 1999, Creative Capital has co ...

and the Heyman Center for the Humanities. In 2016,

Outfest Outfest is an LGBTQ-oriented nonprofit that produces two film festivals, operates a movie streaming platform, and runs educational services for filmmakers in Los Angeles. Outfest is one of the key partners, alongside the Frameline Film Festival ...

established the James Schamus Ally Award to honor individuals who give prominence to LGBTQ narratives, with winners including

James Franco James Edward Franco (born April 19, 1978) is an American actor and filmmaker. He has starred in numerous films, including Sam Raimi's Spider-Man (2002 film series), ''Spider-Man'' trilogy (2002–2007), ''Milk (2008 American film), Milk'' (200 ...

Rita Moreno Rita Moreno (born Rosa Dolores Alverío Marcano; December 11, 1931) is an American actress, dancer, and singer. With a career spanning eight decades she is known for her roles on stage and screen, and is one of the last remaining stars from t ...

Sandra Oh Sandra Miju Oh (born July 20, 1971) is a Canadian and American actress. She is known for her starring roles as Rita Wu in ''Arliss (TV series), Arliss'' (1996–2002), Cristina Yang in ''Grey's Anatomy'' (2005–14), and Eve Polastri in ''Kill ...

Octavia Spencer Octavia Lenora Spencer (born May 25, 1970) is an American actress. She is the recipient of various accolades, including an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, and a Golden Globe Award, in addition to nominations for two Primetime Emmy ...

, Andra Day,

Melissa McCarthy Melissa Ann McCarthy (born August 26, 1970) is an American actress, comedian, screenwriter, and producer. She is the recipient of List of awards and nominations received by Melissa McCarthy, numerous accolades, including two Primetime Emmy Award ...

and

Ben Falcone Benjamin Scott Falcone (born August 25, 1973) is an American actor, comedian and filmmaker. He is married to actress Melissa McCarthy, with whom he frequently collaborates. Falcone made his directorial debut in 2014 with ''Tammy (film), Tammy'', ...

, and

Shirley MacLaine Shirley MacLaine (born Shirley MacLean Beaty; April 24, 1934) is an American actress and author. With a career spanning over 70 years, she has received List of awards and nominations received by Shirley MacLaine, numerous accolades, including a ...

Filmography

Awards and nominations

Career recognition and honors

Galway Film Festival Galway ( ; , ) is a City status in Ireland, city in (and the county town of) County Galway. It lies on the River Corrib between Lough Corrib and Galway Bay. It is the most populous settlement in the province of Connacht, the List of settleme ...

Award for Outstanding Achievement, June 2019 * AACTA Award, Best Feature Length Documentary, "Casting JonBenet," December 201719th Annual

GLAAD GLAAD () is an American non-governmental media monitoring organization. Originally founded as a protest against defamatory coverage of gay and lesbian demographics and their portrayals in the media and entertainment industries, it has since ...

(Gay Lesbian Alliance Against Discrimination) Media Awards, Golden Gate Award, May 2008 * Golden Horse Award, Best Film, Best Screenplay Adaptation (James Schamus and Wang Hui-ling), "Lust, Caution," 2007 *

Producers Guild of America The Producers Guild of America (PGA) is a 501(c)(6) trade association representing the interests Television producer, television producers, Film producer, film producers and emerging media producers in the United States. The PGA's membership inclu ...

, Darryl Zanuck Award for Producer of the Year, 2005 *

Los Angeles Film Critics Association The Los Angeles Film Critics Association (LAFCA) is an American film critic organization founded in 1975. Background Its membership comprises film critics from Los Angeles–based print and electronic media. In December of each year, the organi ...

, Best Picture of the Year, "Brokeback Mountain," 2005 *

New York Film Critics Circle The New York Film Critics Circle (NYFCC) is an American film critic Film criticism is the analysis and evaluation of films and the film medium. In general, film criticism can be divided into two categories: Academic criticism by film scho ...

, Best Picture, "Brokeback Mountain," 2005 *

Out Magazine ''Out'' is an American LGBTQ news, fashion, entertainment, and lifestyle magazine, with the highest circulation of any LGBTQ monthly publication in the United States. ''Out'' was owned by Robert Hardman of Boston, its original investor, until 2 ...

, Out 100 Award, 2005 *

Grammy The Grammy Awards, stylized as GRAMMY, and often referred to as The Grammys, are awards presented by The Recording Academy of the United States to recognize outstanding achievements in music. They are regarded by many as the most prestigious a ...

Award Nomination, Best Song Written For A Motion Picture, Television, Or Other Media, " A Love Before Time" from ''

'', 2002 *

Hugo Award The Hugo Award is an annual literary award for the best science fiction or fantasy works and achievements of the previous year, given at the World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon) and chosen by its members. The award is administered by th ...

, Best Dramatic Presentation for ''Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon'', 2001 * The Philip and Ruth Hettleman Award,

Columbia University School of General Studies The School of General Studies (GS) is a liberal arts college and one of the undergraduate colleges of Columbia University, situated on the university's main campus in Morningside Heights, Borough (New York City), New York City. GS is known prima ...

, 1996 * Independent Spirit Brian Greenbaum Memorial Award for Producing, 1994

Writing

Books

* ''Taking Woodstock''. New York: Newmarket Press, 2009. Screenplay and Introduction. * ''Carl Theodor Dryer's Gertrud: The Moving Word''. Seattle: University of Washington Press, 2008. * ''Lust, Caution''. New York: Pantheon, 2007. Screenplay (with Wang Hui-Ling) and Introduction. * ''The Hulk''. New York: Newmarket Press, 2003. Screenplay and Introduction. * ''Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Portrait of the Ang Lee Film''. New York: Newmarket Press, 2000. Screenplay (with Wang Hui-Ling) and Notes. * ''Ride With the Devil''. London: Faber & Faber, 1999. Screenplay, Introduction, and Notes. * ''The Ice Storm''. New York: Newmarket Press, 1997. Screenplay, Introduction, and Notes. * ''Two Films By Ang Lee: "Eat Drink Man Woman" and "The Wedding Banquet"''. New York: The Overlook Press, 1994. Introduction and Screenplays (with Ang Lee, Neal Peng, and Wang Hui-Ling).

Essays and articles

"The 'Blurred Lines' of Columbia University's Task Force on Antisemitism"
'' Mondoweiss'', May 28, 2024.
“Hollywood thinks it can divide and conquer the writers’ strike: It won’t work"
''

The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in Manchester in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'' and changed its name in 1959, followed by a move to London. Along with its sister paper, ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardi ...

'', May 5, 2023.
“Rewriting Trauma: The Business of Storytelling in the Age of the Algorithm”
''

Literary Hub ''Literary Hub'' or ''LitHub'' is a daily literary website that was launched in 2015 by Grove Atlantic president and publisher Morgan Entrekin, American Society of Magazine Editors Hall of Fame editor Terry McDonell, and '' Electric Literatur ...

'', December 12, 2018.
“42 Directors Pick Their Favorite Movies of 2017"
'' IndieWire'', December 29, 2017.
“Rise of the Machines: Cathy O’Neil and James Schamus on How Algorithms are Changing Society — and Filmmaking”
''

Filmmaker (magazine) ''Filmmaker'' is a quarterly publication magazine covering issues relating to independent film. The magazine was founded in 1992 by Karol Martesko-Fenster, Scott Macaulay and Holly Willis. The magazine is now published by the IFP ( Independent ...

'', September 14, 2017.
"23 Fragments on the Future of Cinema"
''

'' , Winter 2015.
"Hollywood is Not American"
''

The Hollywood Reporter ''The Hollywood Reporter'' (''THR'') is an American digital and print magazine which focuses on the Cinema of the United States, Hollywood film industry, film, television, and entertainment industries. It was founded in 1930 as a daily trade pap ...

'', October 17, 2014.
"James Schamus Reveals Secrets of the Oscar Voting System"
''

Variety (magazine) ''Variety'' is an American trade magazine owned by Penske Media Corporation. It was founded by Sime Silverman in New York City in 1905 as a weekly newspaper reporting on theater and vaudeville. In 1933, ''Daily Variety'' was launched, based in ...

'', January 8, 2014.
"Raul Ruiz Remembered by James Schamus"
''

'', August 19, 2011.
"The Apartment"
''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

'', November 4, 2007.
"'Brokeback Mountain': An Exchange"
''

The New York Review of Books ''The New York Review of Books'' (or ''NYREV'' or ''NYRB'') is a semi-monthly magazine with articles on literature, culture, economics, science and current affairs. Published in New York City, it is inspired by the idea that the discussion of ...

'', April 6, 2006.
"Oy"
''Filmmaker'', March 24, 2006.

''Cinema Journal'', Summer 2004, Volume 43, Number 4.

''The New York Times'', May 11, 2003.
"Talking Pictures"
''Filmmaker'', Winter, 2001.

''The New York Times'', November 5, 2000.
"IFP Rant"
''Filmmaker'', Spring, 2000.

''The Nation'', April 5–12, 1999.
"Long Live Indie Film"
''Filmmaker'', Fall, 1995.

Profiles and interviews

“This is Who We Are: James Schamus”

Columbia University School of the Arts The Columbia University School of the Arts (also known as School of the Arts or SoA) is the fine arts graduate school of Columbia University in Morningside Heights, New York (state), New York. It offers Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degrees in Film, ...

, December 1, 2023. * “Hollywood On Strike!” ''Film Quarterly'' Webinar, 4 August 2023.
“Writers Strikes Throughout History”
''Let’s Talk Film'' podcast, Woodstock Film Festival, July 13, 2023. * “In the Footsteps of Giants: James Schamus - A Banquet of Inclusion,” ''Produced By: The Official Magazine of the

'', June/July 2023, p. 62. * “''The Ice Storm'': Interview with James Schamus and Ted Hope,” ''Hollywood Gold'' Podcast, March 1, 2023.
“Entertainment Educators of the Year: Entertainment Educators Discuss Teaching Cinema’s Next Gen and the Importance of Diverse and Impactful Storytellers”
''Variety'', April 28, 2022.
"The Aesthetics of Cinema: Interview with James Schamus"
''Gadfly Magazine'', March 1, 2021.
"James Schamus: financial models of SVoD giants cannot be sustained"
''

Screen Daily ''Screen International'' is a British film magazine covering the international film business. It is published by Media Business Insight, a British B2B media company which also owned '' Broadcast''. The magazine is primarily aimed at those involv ...

,'' October 12, 2020.
"James Schamus' New Short Film Explains the 124-Year-Old History of Cinema in 3 Minutes"
'' Indiewire'', November 27, 2019.
“Filmmaker James Schamus Slams ‘Predator’ Harvey Weinstein and His ‘Factory of Abuse"
''

'', October 11, 2017
“Berlin: Kitty Green and James Schamus on doc Casting JonBenet”
''

'', February 14, 2017.
“James Schamus Interview: There are Two Kinds of Asshole Directors”
''

Independent Independent or Independents may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Artist groups * Independents (artist group), a group of modernist painters based in Pennsylvania, United States * Independentes (English: Independents), a Portuguese artist ...

'', November 15, 2016.
“Ang Lee, James Schamus, and Sony Pictures Classics’ Michael Barker Reminisce About Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”
''The Playlist'', October 20, 2016.
“Interview: James Schamus (''Indignation'')”
''OnWriting'', WGA East, September 13, 2016.
"''Indignation'' director James Schamus: Film is Dead, And That's Okay"
''Indiewire.'' August 1, 2016.
"''Indignation'' Interview"
''Indiewire''. February, 2016.
"James Schamus Directing Debut ''Indignation'' Wins Over Sundance Audience"
''The Wrap''. January 24, 2016.
"''Indignation'': Sundance Review"
''The Hollywood Reporter''. January 25, 2016.
"Accidental CEO
''The College''. Summer 2014.
"Case Study: James Schamus"
''Produced By''. October 2014.
"James Schamus: 'The job is an ego crushing ass-kick to the soul. I love it!'"

. January 28, 2014.
"On James Schamus and Focus Features"
''Filmmaker''. October 3, 2013.

. November 26, 2010.
"Ang Lee + James Schamus: A Pinewood Dialogue"

Museum of the Moving Image The Museum of the Moving Image is a media museum located in a former building of the historic Astoria Studios (now Kaufman Astoria Studios), in the Astoria neighborhood of Queens in New York City. The museum originally opened in 1988 as the Am ...

. November 9, 2007.
"The Professor in the Back Lot"
''The New York Times''. September 17, 2006. * "A Conversation with Tony Kushner," ''On Writing'' (

Writers Guild of America, East The Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE) is a trade union, labor union representing writers in film, television, radio, news, and online media. The WGAE and the Writers Guild of America West (WGAW), though independent entities, jointly brand the ...

): New York. Fall, 2005.

References

External links

*
The Career Cookbook James Schamus ProfileColumbia University Faculty

Interview
at '' The Minnesota Review'' {{DEFAULTSORT:Schamus, James 1959 births Film producers from Michigan Jewish American screenwriters American male screenwriters Columbia University faculty Filmmakers who won the Best Film BAFTA Award Living people Writers from Detroit Screenwriters from New York (state) Screenwriters from Michigan Nebula Award winners American film production company founders Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Screenplay winners 21st-century American Jews Hugo Award–winning writers