James grew up in Dublin, Ireland, where his love for movies took hold early. By seven, he was already captivated by film, and by ten, he was devouring books on filmmaking. At fourteen, he shot his first short film, a four-minute piece called “Chase.” He continued making movies as he got older, picking up awards and accolades and screening his work at respected festivals around the world, including the Dallas International Film Festival and the Burbank International Film Festival.