James
Burch
(202)
256-8697
Portfolio:
www.burchfilms.com
Selected Works Reel
Work
Experience
Burchfilms, Independent Video Production Company
Freelance work includes:
• Producer, video story on National Bonsai and Penjing Museum, in production
• Videographer-Editor, 30-second ad for Simon Mall Fashion Centre at Pentagon City, Producer, Social Native
• Writer, POWs in WWII, 10-minute explainer video, The Infographic Show
• Producer, travel video series, in post-/production
• Writer, voice talent, Numbers Alive! Educational videos, prod., Rebecca Klemm, Ph.D.
• Photographer, Association for Behavioral Analysis International/Utility Design
• Photographer's Assistant, Iconic Group
Producer-Editor,
National Geographic Digital, News and Travel
August
2015 – October 2018
-
Consistently
created, adapted, and acquired some of the Nat Geo site's
top-performing videos
-
Key
part of team that added millions of monthly views—about 300%
growth–in under a year
-
Wrote
scripts and articles with personality and humor, on science,
history, and culture
-
Scanned
hundreds of leads daily to find timely stories
-
Fostered
partnerships with producers, nonprofits, news agencies, and
universities
-
Ensured
accuracy, especially in the match between text and picture
-
Color
corrected footage and re-versioned sequences for different platforms
Associate
Producer, National Geographic Creative
July
2004 – August 2015
-
Provided
publishers and exhibitors with video footage and stories on a vast
range of subjects
-
Adapted
content for language level, running time, and audience
-
Created
promotional videos for use online and at trade shows
-
Trained
new staff on complex media databases
-
Delivered
massive amounts of data, in a range of video formats for use
-
Ensured
quality of format conversions
Grip/Shop
Assistant, The Washington Source for Lighting
February–June
2004
Acquisitions
Intern, HBO Documentary Department
July
2002
Skills
Adobe
Premiere, After Effects, Photoshop, script and treatment writing,
news reporting, archival film and still image research, rights
clearance and licensing, staff management/ recruitment, DSLR
videography and photography, lighting, grip and electric, publicity
event coordination
Education
American
University, Washington, DC
Master
of Fine Arts, Film and
Electronic Media, 2005
Teaching
Assistant, Video Production, Film Production, Cinematography,
Multimedia Lab Assistant
The
University of Michigan, Ann
Arbor, Michigan
Bachelor
of Arts, Double Major in
Film/Video and English, 1997
FAMU,
the Czech national film school, Prague, Czech Republic
September–December
2002: Studies included Acting, Cinematography, Directing and Czech
Film History.
New
York University, Directing and Screenwriting courses
1994,
2002
Selections
of recent producer and editor work:
Journey
Into Old Havana's Vibrant History
Haunting
Video Shows the Rohingya Refugee Crisis
See
Why They Call It “Rabbit Island”
How
Cape Town Is Coping With Its Worst Drought on Record
See
an Ancient Wonder of China that Transforms a River
Why
Does This Ice Bridge in Patagonia Keep Collapsing?
See
a Bear Freed From a Cage to Begin a New Life
Selected
Filmography
Writer
and Director
Director,
The Cult on the Cul-de-Sac.
Political
satire. Graduate thesis film, 16 mm, 35 minutes
2003
Co-writer,
Glitch. Producer, Michael DeChant. Winner, Sci-Fi category, National
Film Challenge,
Washington,
DC-based competition. MiniDV, eight minutes.
2003
Director,
Rhapsody
Musical
comedy with an international cast.
Filmed
in Prague, Czech Republic. 16 mm, seven minutes.
2002
Co-producer/director,
Breaking Down. Ensemble comedy. 16 mm, ten minutes
2002
Director/Editor,
Graceland.
Deadpan
romantic comedy. 16 mm, 15 minutes
1997
Crew
Videographer—Sonata
Documentary
about the family of a child with autism.
2006
Photographer’s
Assistant—Photo shoot for HBO’s The Wire. Anthony Mandler,
photographer.
June
2004
Voice-over
Artist, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation outreach video
2002
Photographer/animator,
Song of the Open Road Multimedia piece based on the Walt Whitman
poem. 35 mm stills composited in AfterEffects.
2002
Gaffer,
The Wishing Fountain. Producer, Catalina Walsh. 16 mm short film,
2002
Set
PA (including Sound Recordist), Listen Like Thieves
Producer,
Kylos Brannon. 16 mm short film.
2002
Associate
Producer, Michigan in the Wake of the Titanic
Compiled
historic photos from archives during pre-production. Served as gaffer
during interviews. Aired on WDIV Detroit.
1998
Set
PA/ Craft Services, Crush, pilot for children’s television program
1997
Selected Works Reel
Burchfilms, Independent Video Production Company
Freelance work includes:
• Producer, video story on National Bonsai and Penjing Museum, in production
• Videographer-Editor, 30-second ad for Simon Mall Fashion Centre at Pentagon City, Producer, Social Native
• Writer, POWs in WWII, 10-minute explainer video, The Infographic Show
• Producer, travel video series, in post-/production
• Writer, voice talent, Numbers Alive! Educational videos, prod., Rebecca Klemm, Ph.D.
• Photographer, Association for Behavioral Analysis International/Utility Design
• Photographer's Assistant, Iconic Group
Consistently
created, adapted, and acquired some of the Nat Geo site's
top-performing videos
Key
part of team that added millions of monthly views—about 300%
growth–in under a year
Wrote
scripts and articles with personality and humor, on science,
history, and culture
Scanned
hundreds of leads daily to find timely stories
Fostered
partnerships with producers, nonprofits, news agencies, and
universities
Ensured
accuracy, especially in the match between text and picture
Color
corrected footage and re-versioned sequences for different platforms
Provided
publishers and exhibitors with video footage and stories on a vast
range of subjects
Adapted
content for language level, running time, and audience
Created
promotional videos for use online and at trade shows
Trained
new staff on complex media databases
Delivered
massive amounts of data, in a range of video formats for use
Ensured
quality of format conversions
