In the Press

JamesWorks Entertainment today announced First Read Studio, a Mac app that runs a film from first draft to final release. The public beta is open, and arrives on the Mac App Store in October.

We talk about “packaging” in scripted films, attachments, pre-sales, and budgets, but oftentimes overlook the importance of doing the same thing in documentary films.

From a tiny rural town in GA to LA, filmmaker James Kicklighter shares insights from his journey as a filmmaker, his latest film release “The American Question” and a potential studio project now in the works.

Check out our interview with filmmaker/director James Kicklighter where we talk about his new documentary The American Question, our increasing political and ideological divides, creating conversations, filmmaking, and more.

I’d encourage anyone feeling disenfranchised by recent events to consider James Kicklighter’s The American Question, not least because it’s free of hysteria and gaslighting, and attempts to understands all sides of a political argument.

Within the 90-minute documentary, viewers get a history lesson of a brief, yet monumental decade. This is one of those unique contributions to politics that left me optimistic, rather than stressed and anxious, about America’s future.

It doesn’t pretend to have all the answers but instead encourages viewers to ask themselves. What can we do to heal? The film’s greatest strength lies in its ability to humanize complex issues, reminding us that behind every statistic is a story, and behind every divide is an opportunity to rebuild.

A thought-provoking and explorative film, for audiences who want to learn and understand what is happening in and around America.

A compelling study of an imperilled country caught in a downward spiral, evoking profound comments and highlighting the issues burdening America. If you’re looking for the right answers, you needn’t look beyond The American Question.

An interesting film, that has a great deal of hope in in it. Assuming that the country hasn't shifted too far off the cliff, this film shows a way back.

The film should provoke further conversations if we can possibly bridge our wide differences and maintain our democracy.

The American Question released this week as the number 2 documentary on Apple TV's streaming service, and number 1 new documentary release in the United States

We explored over 8 years how this trust deficit in America occurred, over time, discovering what was happening on the ground over that period of time, and what we can do to make it better, director James Kicklighter told me.

As former factory and coal towns that have experienced major population shifts in recent years, these sites served as case studies as director James Kicklighter explored 'how the glue that held Americans together dissolved and why this threatens the stability of America today.'

Film director James Kicklighter, whose documentary “The American Question” explores our political divides, says a big part of the problem is that 'we interact through social media and other toxic cesspools of un-formed opinions and information'

A deeply thoughtful film for our times. It’s a must-watch for those frustrated with the great divide and some of the reasons why people vote as they do.

A wealth of information, and director Kicklighter does an incredible job assembling the footage and staying on track to get his point across.

There's no denying this is a deep, personal, and ambitious effort from Kicklighter and one that should elicit conversation after conversation after its watched.

Director James Kicklighter says, The story of America has always been the identity that we weave for ourselves, while also sometimes ignoring the factors that are not so pleasant.

The film’s substance is especially pertinent following 2024’s election cycle which has Democrats scrambling, asking: what went wrong? What don’t we understand about the American voter?

Talented filmmaker James Kicklighter continues his upward progression with the years-in-the-making "The American Question," a revealing conversation about the polarization and conflicting views that have gripped the nation.

The American Question is an enlightening, non-partisan look at an incredibly sensitive and timely issue. James Kicklighter doesn’t just ask the question to create provocative soundbites.

In this episode host Michael Shields, James Kicklighter, and Guy Tal Seemann discuss a bevy of factors that have led to the political division that is viscerally felt in America today.

Director James Kicklighter weaves three art forms—opera, filmmaking and interview—into a single viewing experience that made Lucia’s seemingly different life something I could relate to, and more surprisingly, opera something that I suddenly saw as relevant.

Meet James Kicklighter. An award-winning director and producer of narrative films, documentaries and advertising. His work has been recognized by the world’s press, including The Hollywood Reporter, The Times of India, Film Courage and FilmInk Australia. Though he grew up in the small town of Bellville, Georgia, he has worked across the United States and around the world as well.

The Sound of Identity is an enthralling and introspective glimpse into the life of a trans woman in the modern arts. Lucia Lucas' vividly inspiring story is translated perfectly to screen.

This is actually a good movie to show people who aren’t familiar with mounting a production because there is a lot of detail, but very little technical jargon. The movie is really about arts organizations and the environment in which they operate.

It’s about Lucas’s life, but isn’t really a biographical portrait. It’s a movie about art, principally what art can demand of those who make it, what art can tell us about life itself. The movie kind of upended my own expectations of what the movie was going to do by declining to offer a coming out story.

Jeanne Veillette Bowerman talks with opera singer, Lucia Lucas, and The Sound of Identity's director, James Kicklighter. Lucia shares her experiences being the subject of a doc, the first transgender opera singer to take on a lead role, and a peek behind the curtain of the world of opera. Together with James, they explore all aspects of an artists life—realities not often discussed, like money, relationships, and film festival challenges for LGBTQ+ films.

I came to appreciate the film more than I had the first two times I had watched it. Because what I saw was an artist with a compassionate and intelligent vision that is both disciplined and inquisitive...the film bears the hallmarks of an instinctual and intuitive director. Kicklighter knows when to lean into elements that might seem superfluous and build on a contextual subterfuge that reinforces the film.

There is an intimacy here that allows Lucas’s story to resonate beyond the specifics of her experience. The film wisely centers Lucas, allowing her voice and presence to guide the narrative. It’s a moving portrait of an artist navigating identity, ambition, and legacy.

Lucas is captivating and commands the screen even when she's not singing.

I’ve interviewed many artists and watched countless films, but this one is...indescribable. It’s a profoundly important documentary—dare I say, the most life-altering film experience I’ve had in years.

The Sound Of Identity is not only about how opera mingles with real life, how Lucas' creation becomes a personal manifesto...It is also a commentary on the boundaries and tasks of art.

You see Lucia, Tobias, and the cast and crew of the opera as simply people, as the incredible artists that they are. That’s the point, and that’s how it should be.

The message of the film is bigger than Lucas: You can be trans and still live the life of your dreams. These things are not mutually exclusive. We still have a long way to go to reach full LGBTQ+ equality, especially for the trans community, but Lucas is an example of what's possible.

A layered, up-close profile of a trans pioneer forging new pathways to acceptance within the rarified environment of an insular professional community where trans inclusion has been far from the norm.

Armed with a majestic baritone voice and passionate acting chops...The Sound Of Identity plays like a reminder to viewers everywhere: what an actor does on stage or screen has nothing do to with her real life.

Composer Nicolas Repetto, who composed the music for the film, said "James is one of the most hardworking young directors out there. He’s incredibly organized and radiates an extraordinary amount of energy about each project. He knows the subject matter and characters inside and out. I think that is the sign of a great filmmaker."

This documentary is effective for showcasing positive trans representation, but it is Lucas’ singing, not just her attitude, that really impresses.

“I think one thing I am sensitive to as a director is the notion of putting people in places and boxes. I think because of the polarization of society we look at things as being blue or red or this is what a state may look like,” Kicklighter said. “Tulsa is different from some of its surrounding areas. The other thing is what it meant for representation, in that it’s a medium that we think as one being in the past, as dying. Someone like Lucia comes in and can reinvent that image.”

James Kicklighter is a fantastic collaborator and friend. He has a very refined musical palette and specific way of using music in his films. He loves themes, motifs, and ideas that help bond the story together musically.

The Sound of Identity reveals itself as the rare documentary which evolves as it goes, taking the audience on a journey of the soul, uncovered piece by piece, moment by moment, conversation by conversation.

James Kicklighter says, "This story, at its core, is about what it means to be an artist. I would be lying if I said I didn’t see myself in the story of Lucia, even if I’m not a transperson. I suspect many other artists will as well."

Shout! Studios secured all North American distribution rights for the documentary which includes theatrical, digital, VOD, broadcast, and home entertainment for cross-platform releases. Shout! Studios is set to this movie across all major entertainment platforms.

Directing is a fine balance between collaboration and clarity of vision. To allow your team to do the best work, I have to clearly express what my intentions are, and give them the latitude to apply their own artistry. If I don’t do a good job of that, audiences will see it in the work, no matter if I make a film, documentary or advertisement.

I knew Lucia always had to be interviewed on a stage. The stage gets bigger with every interview, representing the internal and external growth of her career. Once we left one stage, as with our development as artists, we would never return to that stage again.

This story would be a carnival side-show in lesser hands, but Kicklighter finds his way in by concentrating on the baritone voice and the process built around it.

As Kicklighter pointed out in our conversation, vocal tone, for better or for worse, is a defining aspect of gender.

It was about a subject I normally wouldn't go out of my way to learn about. Casting a trans woman as Giovanni is only the tag-line, only the hook - because with this film, there's simply so much more.

As a longtime fan of James Kicklighter's work, I've become accustomed to the quality independent motion pictures he creates seemingly regardless of type or genre. The Sound of Identity is, perhaps, the film that will, or at least should, make Kicklighter the household name he always should have been.

It is our very humanity thrust into the spotlight, a stirringly potent orchestration that revolves around raw talent, emboldened, hard-won confidence, all deftly placed into our scope of vision through this 90-minute documentary effort from director/editor James Kicklighter.

Kicklighter used this ground-breaking story to shine a light on the incredible talent present in the industry and The Sound of Identity might help to bring attention to the art form.

A new documentary from James Kicklighter, titled The Sound of Identity, follows her journey leading up to her barrier-breaking bow.

A lovingly crafted, intimate story following the creative process from beginning to end, The Sound of Identity is a hugely successful and modern addition to LGBT cinema.

James Kicklighter talks about his worst dating stories with Adam Carr.

James Kicklighter, Film Director at JamesWorks Entertainment is interviewed in this episode.

Every Nine Hours covers a lot of ground in an insightful way. It tackles and debates race and gender and how the two impact on how an individual is able to go about their day to day life. [Leaving] a long lasting impression after the final frame, it reinforces the shocking truth about race relations in America and how society has a long way to go to fully tackle fear and hatred. ★★★★

A beautifully acted and produced film. But even more interesting is that Every Nine Hours take yet another step, suggesting that racism isn't the only issue. It's people in general.

A direct, dramatic, relevant, impactful, socially-conscious, and sobering statement about the concepts of race and gender in a contemporary world still greatly haunted by the specters of its past wrongs.

Desires of the Heart begins, in many ways, like your typically idealistic romance movie, and it's easy to write it off as such. But you'd be a fool to do so. This faux saccharine surface belies a superbly written and wonderfully understated and evocative piece of filmmaking with a great cast of talented actors and visuals so beautiful—they belong in a gallery. ★★★★★

In a quietly powerful way, Every Nine Hours isn't just about the overt racism but the seemingly quieter, everyday biases and misperceptions, stereotypes and assumptions that can and do fuel our behaviors, institutions, detachments and, all too frequently, our apathy.

The New York Times sent a reporter. The Metropolitan Opera sent a casting representative. Lucas had a documentary crew following her around. And her dad, whom she hadn’t seen for a decade, flew in specially for the occasion.

Principal filming on the documentary begins in April. The film will look into Ms. Lucas' life, and her love of opera, and will examine the affection the mid-sized modern American city of Tulsa - where Ms. Lucas will perform - has historically had for the arts. In the early 1900's, Tulsa had an Opera House before it had running water.

JBN Journalist Mark Johnson talks with filmmaker JAMES KICKLIGHTER.

It goes to some very deep, personal places, with a very intelligent script.

Over 1000 people attended the week long event which featured over 15 panels and workshops taught by nearly 50 of the top minds and talents working in the industry today, including Writing & Directing a Short as Proof of Concept with Rachel Goldberg (Director, American Horror Story), Elyes Gabel (Filmmaker, Actor; Game of Thrones, World War Z, Interstellar, Scorpion), and James Kicklighter (Director).

Don’t be turned off by the headline, this is a very impressive dramatic short film. Angel of Anywhere is an award-winning short directed by James Kicklighter that has been playing at festivals this year.

When I made my first feature, Desires of the Heart, in Rajasthan, India and Savannah, Georgia, I had always thought that making your first full length film would be the key to your entire career. But once you climb the first, highest mountain, you discover that there’s an entire mountain chain that follows. It’s ascending the summit and moving forward.

If someone queried you about truths and values that you hold to be self-evident, would you and your neighbors see eye to eye? That’s the question “The American Question, directed by James Kicklighter.

An exercise in near flawless design and execution, I simply can’t stress enough how excellently this production flows onscreen. From the technical to the acting. It’s all really top notch.

Director James Kicklighter serves up another winning film with Angel of Anywhere… while you may be thinking you’re in for some shallow, pointless cinematic short you should think again. [The film] is proof positive that he continues to grow as a filmmaker and challenge both himself and his audiences.

A deftly written, intelligently executed, deeply human, dramatic exploration into the very heart of what it means to have the desire to see things that are broken fixed.

James Kicklighter’s stylish short film flows effortlessly and boasts a committed cast who, in a mere 16 minutes, is able to bring depth to their roles. Angel of Anywhere is a taut examination of human insecurities, with a sprinkle of the supernatural.

Aside from the wonderful dialogue between the main players, Kicklighter also adorns his short film with a visual smorgasbord of filmmaking treats. There is a daring to the craft that does not let the central themes do all of the heavy lifting.

Briana Evigan, who also starred in a couple of Step Up films, as well as Sorority Row and as Sonja in the From Dusk Till Dawn series brings some gravitas to the production and is very strong in her performance as Michelle.

Technology is always moving, and as such, so creators should be. We have to meet audiences on whatever platform and screen they choose. If we only select traditional media pathways, then we will die along with them.

James Kicklighter (Digital Edition) discusses starting his career at Georgia Southern University, traveling to India, and directing videos for the Hillary Clinton campaign!

With so many outlets now buying less expensive content, the number of films being made for under $100,000 is greater than ever before. But as the saying goes, it’s just as easy to raise a million as it is $100,000. So how do you show a path to profitability so investors will want to take your filmmaking journey along side you? Filmmakers Aaron Wolf and James Kicklighter join Heather Hale for the panel discussion.

I’ve seen projects from Mr. Kicklighter before, and expected nothing less than a well rounded, polished experience. What I didn’t expect was a topic featuring a much broader scope than the title suggests…a fine short film covering a lot of different aspects from the industry. Digital Edition would look right at home on your favorite television channel.

Filled with a surprising amount of content for a 28-minute film along with nicely done graphics that balance out the interviews, Digital Edition is an entertaining and informative short doc that will likely resonate most with those who consider themselves to be information geeks and journalistic connoisseurs.

It really is easy to see that Digital Edition ticks all the boxes when it comes to how a short documentary should look and make you feel. James Kicklighter and his crew know their craft and with Digital Edition, they have created a documentary that I really enjoyed watching.

The film is achingly beautiful and captured with awe-inspiring imagery. The performances from the actors, especially the aforementioned Val Lauren and Alicia Minshew, are all spot-on and enthralling.

The film has been released in major cities of India like Mumbai, Delhi, Gurgaon, Jaipur and Bhubaneswar.

What does it really take to become a filmmaker—and why doesn’t money matter as much as you think? In this conversation, filmmaker James Kicklighter shares practical advice on directing, working with professional actors like Edith Ivey, getting your first film made, and avoiding common mistakes (including why a $50,000 short film is usually a bad idea). Perfect for aspiring directors, film students, and indie filmmakers looking to break into the industry.

Desires of the Heart is a beautiful and involving film featuring two fine performances by its leads who are tasked with bringing to life a film that is both intelligent and fantastic, no small task. Desires of the Heart challenges both heart and mind with a story that is culturally grounded, somewhat mystical in nature, and yet psychologically insightful.

James Kicklighter shares his experience of being a young director working with professional actress Edith Ivey for the first time, why money has nothing to do with making a real movie, and tell-tale signs that someone is not cut out to be a filmmaker. He also tells us how making short films can help a filmmaker get a feature film made but that a $50,000 short film is a mistake for most filmmakers. He reveals the hardest filmmaking lesson that he has learned, the first five things he does as a director on a film set, and the stresses he faces making a living as a filmmaker.

Is filmmaking a long-term or short-term thing for you? This is one of the best points Kicklighter talks about, namely because it's a little obscure. If you're working on a project right now, do you know what your next is going to be? If your answer is yes, have you determined how your current project will help you make your next one?

Mishra was at the festival last year for producer Solila Parida’s award winning Hollywood film “Desires of the Heart”, which was premiered at the film market of the Cannes gala, and was well received by the audience.

Jitendra Mishra, World Sales & Distribution consultant for both Kajarya and Goatspeak has earlier been known to promote meaningful cinema like I AM KALAM, DESIRES OF THE HEART & CHAUSAR.

The film matches its narrative’s expansive ambitions with gorgeous visions that turn both Georgia and India into almost permanent states of postcard-friendly imagery. The quality scenery is matched by the attractiveness of the leads, Val Lauren and Alicia Minshew, who offer up another element to enjoy…they succeed in their performances, keeping a tale that can be somewhat fantastical grounded in a sense of reality. Mastery to be found throughout; a strong film.

Georgia native James Kicklighter is a lot like the boy next door. Smart and well-spoken, he is close with his family, loves spending time with friends and has a tremendous work ethic. His work just happens to be a globe-trotting writer and director. "Film's not just about what we put on screen," says the conscientious filmmaker. "It's about the catering, the hotels, the transportation, it's about logistics. It's about all of the smaller things that become much bigger things."

Kicklighter notes that as Hollywood explores partnerships with financing and distribution deals, ‘it is clear that the market is important to Hollywood.’ Kicklighter sees the main barrier to Bollywood’s power is not film output, but the accessibility to Western markets.

Georgia’s entertainment industry will shine a well-deserved spotlight on the state’s expansive and growing indie arts and media community on Sunday. Nominees for Georgia Entertainment Industry People to Watch Award include Danny Williams, Actor (Atlanta), James Kicklighter, Director (Savannah), Nicole Lyons, Producer/Professional Race Car Driver (Atlanta), and Jackie Carpenter, Writer (Atlanta)

The age-old ‘Sati’ belief that if a woman dies in the funeral pyre of her husband, she gets him back in the next birth.

Alicia [Minshew] has played the role of an artist who lives in Georgia and catches the eye of a psychiatrist (Val Lauren) visiting from India. However, as the duo begin to develop a relationship, the psychiatrist is sent home to India to marry a woman chosen for him by his parents, detailed Parida.

The whole shooting schedule spanning over five weeks, production of the movie is completed recently. The first part of the movie is shot in Savannah, Georgia (USA) while the second part is shot in Bikaner, Rajasthan (India).

American actor Val Lauren, who played yesteryears’ Hollywood actor Sal Mineo in the 2011 film Sal directed by Hollywood actor James Franco, is coming to India with co-star Alicia Minshew for their movie Desires Of The Heart. The film, being directed by James Kicklighter, is scheduled to be shot in India next month.

Alicia Minshew (ex-Kendall Hart Slater, "All My Children") is currently off filming her new movie, "Desires of the Heart" in Savannah, GA and now Soap Opera Network is happy to report the film has unveiled its Facebook page for fans to take a look at the journey to making the film.

Cameras so far have rolled at historic district locations including the south end of Lafayette Square and the basement tavern of The Olde Pink House.

Former "All My Children" starlet Alicia Minshew (ex-Kendall Hart) has landed a major role in the new film "Desires of the Heart," which began production in Savannah, GA on Monday, August 13.

Production will eventually move to India, where Kicklighter's co-director Rathi will help with cultural differences, similar to Danny Boyle and Loveleen Tandan's efforts on Slumdog Millionaire.

The film will begin production in Savannah, Georgia, on Monday before moving to India.

Kicklighter said, 'I admit, when I first read the script, I had to read it a few times. Then, I went to the source material and read and re-read the short story. I did all of this for a good six hours, taking notes while attempting to wrap my head around the concept. It was simply different from any Zombie story that I was familiar with.'

James Kicklighter, a 22-year-old from Bellville, is inevitably tagged as a prodigy, wunderkind and lovable ‘old soul,’ with eight movies to his credit, more in the works and a shelf of awards from indie festivals and arts organizations around the world.

Directed with a delicate and gentle hand, Followed is probably the most unexpected horror surprise I’ve seen in quite a while.

Zombies are the cinema trend that just won’t die! They have been lumbering, moaning and even occasionally running for some time now. Despite their refusal to let the public’s attention out of their clammy grip, zombie films are noted more for their gruesome scenes of violence than social commentary. US director James Kicklighter’s Followed, however, offers something different.

Kicklighter fashions a complex narrative using McIntosh’s fine writing as its foundation. Followed looks great, is well-acted, and should provide Kicklighter with an excellent calling card.

Whether documentary or feature film, Kicklighter’s theatrical proclivities infuence his work. 'I really like the relationship and character dramas. I’m a fan of stories that take people’s relationships and examine them in different ways,' he says. 'Themes that have something to say about characters and change the way they perceive themselves … tie back into the type of films we have in mind ... they’re always about relationships between the character and the concept.'

While the film will be largely based on Will McIntosh’s work, there have been some slight tweaks to the story, Kicklighter said. McIntosh, who was at the park to watch the filming Saturday, said he has enjoyed seeing the changes, some of which he wishes he would have thought of for the written story.

Called 'Car Wash,' it was said to be the latest offering of a talented and young (just 22 years old) filmmaker from southeast Georgia who is rapidly making a name for himself in the world of film and digital expression. I regret missing the film, but more than that, regret not having a chance to talk one-on-one with the producer — James Kicklighter. We conversed over the phone a couple of years ago, but never face to face.

The script was so perfect, Edith Ivey said, that every line on the page was exactly how she would say it in real life. 'I would have thought that no one under the age of 50 could have even thought about writing this material. You’d never know it was his first project. What impressed me about James was that he was tremendously organized. He knew exactly what he wanted, that’s why I had no idea this was a new venture for him.

This week we speak with James Kicklighter, a talented young filmmaker who was recruited to direct the new documentary on the golden age of radio, Theater of the Mind. The project was sponsored by Georgia Southern University, and kicks off a decade-long celebration of radio for the Broadcast Education Association.

"They were extremely focused and had done their homework," Edith Ivey said. "If they are representative of the future of young people in this business, then I have great hope for our industry."