Professional Bio
James Pack is a graduate of Full Sail University with a Master of Science Degree in Entertainment Business. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Arizona majoring in Theatre Arts with a minor in Creative Writing.
James has worked for several theaters throughout Oklahoma, Kansas, Illinois, and Arizona. These theaters included summer stocks and local theaters that hosted touring productions such as Broadway tours and Cirque du Soleil shows. He has experience working in all areas of theatre from set building, sound engineering and design, stage management, wardrobe, lighting, and some work on stage.
James has self-published several collections of poetry and short fiction. He has another collection of short fiction coming in the fall of 2018 and he is working on his first novel. He maintains his blog with local Tucson commentary and occasional tips and tricks for writers, businesses, and entertainers. He has hosted several workshops and panels at conventions and festivals.
James continues to manage his production company, VaudVil, in Tucson, AZ. He has several projects in book publishing, music production, film, and live entertainment. He is a member of the board for the Tucson Fringe Theater Festival and he volunteers at Tucson’s Public Access television station. For more information about VaudVil, please visit http://www.vaudvil.com.
Personal Goals
- Have 100% of my income from self-employment by 2019.
- Help Tucson performers work full time as performers.
- Produce one to two shows a month in Tucson by 2019.
- Have a short story adapted to film.
- Campaign as a Candidate for President of the United States in 2024.
- Go to Disneyland. (I’ve never been there.)
Recommended Reading
The Power of Broke: How Empty Pockets, a Tight Budget, and a Hunger for Success Can Become Your Greatest Competitive Advantage by Daymond John
An excellent book for anyone looking for inspiration to start a business from the ground up without having a lot of funding to get things rolling.
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain
Targeted for those of us who are more introverted, this book is helpful even if you are an extrovert. It can be very helpful to understand how to interact with an introvert if you are not one.
The Martian by Andy Weir
I have not found any other books that so effectively inspire you to keep pushing forward no matter how many failures you have experienced. The takeaway of this story is to never give up even when facing death.
Mastery by Robert Greene
This was one of the many books I had to read while I worked on my Master’s Degree and what I really enjoyed about it was the details of historical figures trying to achieve all the things they dreamed. I related to many of the stories including those about Benjamin Franklin and Leonardo da Vinci.
Rebel Without a Crew: Or How a 23-Year-Old Filmmaker with $7,000 Became a Hollywood Player by Robert Rodriguez
While this might be a good resource for someone wanting to venture into the film industry, this also offers a similar concept as The Power of Broke mentioned above. It is also always good to hear about other’s experiences when they started in the business.
