Today we’d like to introduce you to James Parker.
Hi James, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hello! I’m a San Diego-based filmmaker and entrepreneur driven by my curiosity for the world and my desire to grow personally, professionally, and in my service to others.
Born overseas and immigrating to the US with my family as a child, I was fortunate to learn the value of hard work and witness firsthand what’s possible with a dream and some persistence. I was introduced to storytelling through film in elementary school, and remember using the camera to start understanding the people and places in my life. I was drawn to the magic of the camera and quickly developed an interest in documentary as a means to explore. As I got older, my passion grew deeper as I started to understand it’s power to capture the richness of our emotional lives.
I’ve had the privilege to travel all over the world telling stories. From Botswana to Singapore, all across India, the US, and the UK. I’ve worked on major network shows, collaborated with truly inspiring clients, and directed a number of my own documentary films with broadcast and festival play around the globe.
I’m now focused on continuing to build my production company based in South Park San Diego, with a focus on original documentaries, tv work, and commercial content that amplifies positive social change.
In my free time, I love learning new skills, spending quality time with family and friends, hanging out with my little bro in support of Big Brother Big Sisters, and occasionally jumping out of planes with my skydiving license.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
They say nothing worth having comes easy – and I fully embrace that mentality. Some of the most valuable and rewarding experiences in my life, both personally and professionally, have been accompanied with intense struggle and hardship. The idea of a complex world where things that seem dark also contain light, and vice versa, is one of my guiding principles.
Professionally, my doc titled Other Side of the Hill was one of the most challenging projects to date. Physically being on the road for weeks at a time takes its toll, and then the creative challenge of coming home and trying to distill down a mountain of footage into a cohesive story is a struggle. But through that process of uncertainty and trial and error you discover the magic.
On the personal front, losing my dad to his struggle with mental health has been my greatest hardship to date. It was unexpected and tossed my whole family’s world upside down. But threw that ongoing journey of grief, I’ve discovered a new relationship with myself and a desire to focus on stories of the underdog and unheard voices. I feel in some way it connects to my Dad’s story and all the suffering that happens in silence. It feels like an important use for this medium because the world needs more kindness, more people looking out for each other, and more community.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Synchronous Pictures is a media company driven by original television, branded entertainment, and captivating non-fiction content to inspire audiences globally. We believe the most compelling stories are the ones where the lines are blurred. Where light and dark can exist at the same time. And where story has the ability to tear down walls and connect us to our shared humanity. We work to dive deep, focusing on the characters behind movements, and telling authentic stories of hope and change.
We’re proud to work with a wide range of clients from major non-profits like Underwriters Laboratories, USGA, and the North American Association of Environmental Education to network and TV partners like the Weather Channel and Dick Clark Productions. We also work with a range of commercial clients (both local and national) working to bring an authentic voice to their branded campaigns.
In addition to our branded work, we’re developing a roster of original films and in-house content that will continue to help align us with our mission of inspiring audiences and connecting to positive social change.
We’re proud to be based here in San Diego and work with clients covering stories all over the nation. We offer a full suite of production services from all things pre-production, physical production, and a wide range of post-production capabilities. We’re also proud to be launching a commercial/digital focused division later this year, which will be focused on elevating brands + causes with purpose. We’re excited about the added capability to focus on more targeted brand storytelling.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
We’ve been in our South Park studio for over a year now and I absolutely love it. It feels like a community that truly cares about one another and is all about supporting and uplifting creativity and expression. It also has some of the best-hidden gems in town. I also love the San Diego coastline, surfing, and the diversity of people and neighborhoods all throughout town. And of course–the world’s best Mexican food.
What I love least about the city recently – traffic.
Contact Info:
- Email: hello@synchronous.tv
- Website: https://www.synchronous.tv/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/synchronous.tv/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/synchronous.tv
