Steve James

Steve James

70 · Born: Mar 8, 1955

Personal Details

BornMar 8, 1955 Hampton, Virginia, USA

Biography

Steve James, a renowned documentary filmmaker, hails from Hampton, Virginia, USA, where he first took his initial breaths. Subsequently, he relocated to Chicago, Illinois, USA, a city that would become his creative hub for the remainder of his illustrious career.

Throughout his remarkable journey, James has garnered widespread acclaim for his thought-provoking documentary films, including the critically acclaimed "Hoop Dreams" released in 1994, which delved into the lives of two talented high school basketball players striving to achieve their dreams. His subsequent works, such as "Stevie" (2002),"The Interrupters" (2011),"Life Itself" (2014),and "Abacus: Small Enough to Jail" (2016),have further solidified his reputation as a masterful storyteller, adept at capturing the intricacies of the human experience.

In addition to his feature-length documentaries, James has also ventured into the realm of documentary series, crafting captivating and often provocative narratives that explore the complexities of modern society. His notable series works include "America to Me" (2018),"City So Real" (2020),and most recently, "The Luckiest Guy in the World" (2023),a testament to his unwavering commitment to shedding light on the most pressing issues of our time.

Career

{"id":11606,"title":"Heartbeats","year":"2010","character":"Party Lover (uncredited)","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/heartbeats-2010","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_11606.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_11606.jpg"},"released":1}
2010
Heartbeats
Heartbeats as Party Lover (uncredited)
{"id":2602,"title":"Hoop Dreams","year":"1994","character":"Narrator (voice)","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/hoop-dreams","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/2s8fd30h7fng.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/2s8fd30h7fng.jpg"},"released":1}
1994
Hoop Dreams
Hoop Dreams as Narrator (voice)
{"id":13666,"title":"Life Itself","year":"2014","character":null,"permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/life-itself","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/ok53v1ajfh00.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/ok53v1ajfh00.jpg"},"released":1}
2014
{"id":30502,"title":"These Amazing Shadows","year":"2011","character":null,"permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/these-amazing-shadows","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/72p7ig2l6r60.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/72p7ig2l6r60.jpg"},"released":1}
2011
{"id":147241,"title":"30 for 30","year":"2010","character":null,"permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/30-for-30-2010-2","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_147241.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_147241.jpg"},"released":1}
2010
{"id":25143,"title":"Stevie","year":"2002","character":null,"permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/stevie","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_25143.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_25143.jpg"},"released":1}
2002
{"id":208352,"title":"A Compassionate Spy","year":"2022","job":"Director, Writer","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/a-compassionate-spy","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_208352.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_208352.jpg"},"released":1}
2022
A Compassionate Spy
A Compassionate Spy as Director, Writer
{"id":109669,"title":"Abacus: Small Enough to Jail","year":"2017","job":"Director","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/abacus-small-enough-to-jail","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/5or6cle1e6k0.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/5or6cle1e6k0.jpg"},"released":1}
2017
{"id":13666,"title":"Life Itself","year":"2014","job":"Director","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/life-itself","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/ok53v1ajfh00.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/ok53v1ajfh00.jpg"},"released":1}
2014
Life Itself
Life Itself as Director
{"id":140774,"title":"We the Economy: 20 Short Films You Can't Afford to Miss","year":"2014","job":"Director","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/we-the-economy-20-short-films-you-cant-afford-to-miss-2014","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_140774.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_140774.jpg"},"released":1}
{"id":9624,"title":"Head Games","year":"2012","job":"Director","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/head-games","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_9624.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_9624.jpg"},"released":1}
2012
Head Games
Head Games as Director
{"id":8947,"title":"The Interrupters","year":"2011","job":"Director","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/the-interrupters","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_8947.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_8947.jpg"},"released":1}
2011
{"id":147241,"title":"30 for 30","year":"2010","job":"Director, Writer","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/30-for-30-2010-2","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_147241.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_147241.jpg"},"released":1}
2010
30 for 30
30 for 30 as Director, Writer
{"id":46839,"title":"At the Death House Door","year":"2008","job":"Director","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/at-the-death-house-door","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_46839.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_46839.jpg"},"released":1}
2008
{"id":10139,"title":"Reel Paradise","year":"2005","job":"Director","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/reel-paradise","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_10139.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_10139.jpg"},"released":1}
2005
Reel Paradise
Reel Paradise as Director
{"id":167928,"title":"The New Americans","year":"2003","job":"Director","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/the-new-americans","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_167928.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_167928.jpg"},"released":1}
2003
{"id":118480,"title":"Joe and Max","year":"2002","job":"Director","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/joe-and-max","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_118480.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_118480.jpg"},"released":1}
2002
Joe and Max
Joe and Max as Director
{"id":25143,"title":"Stevie","year":"2002","job":"Director","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/stevie","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_25143.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_25143.jpg"},"released":1}
Stevie
Stevie as Director
{"id":117949,"title":"Passing Glory","year":"1999","job":"Director","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/passing-glory","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_117949.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_117949.jpg"},"released":1}
1999
Passing Glory
Passing Glory as Director
{"id":8708,"title":"Prefontaine","year":"1997","job":"Director, Screenplay","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/prefontaine","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_8708.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_8708.jpg"},"released":1}
1997
Prefontaine
Prefontaine as Director, Screenplay
{"id":2602,"title":"Hoop Dreams","year":"1994","job":"Director, Writer","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/hoop-dreams","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/2s8fd30h7fng.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/2s8fd30h7fng.jpg"},"released":1}
1994
Hoop Dreams
Hoop Dreams as Director, Writer
{"id":215760,"title":"Grassroots Chicago","year":"1991","job":"Director","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/grassroots-chicago","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_215760.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_215760.jpg"},"released":1}
1991