Biography

Ben James is a highly experienced photographer, director, cinematographer, and producer specializing in documentary and music story telling. For the last 18 years, he has been the head of Yamaha Entertainment Group's film division. There he was video producer for Sir Elton John's concert film, The Million Dollar Piano and was cinematographer for the accompanying documentary about the genesis of his Vegas show filmed in Japan, England, Canada and the US. He has worked with many other music professionals including: Alicia Keys, Sarah McLachlan, Jason Mraz, John Legend, Alan Menken, Questlove, and many many more. Through those projects he has received 2 Mid-South Emmy Awards along with his team garnering 12 in total.

In 2021, his team released the feature documentary film The Sound of Us where he was cinematographer and producer. This film was selected in 51 film festivals and won 19 awards, including “Best Cinematography”, “Best In Show”, and numerous “Best Documentary” awards. The film also won the prestigious “Movie That Matters” Award at the Better World Fund at Cannes.

In 2013 and 2015, he toured India producing and directing a documentary about the horror of human trafficking in the heart of Asia's largest red light district. There he was able to train five men, who grew up as children living in the brothels of the red light district, the techniques of film production and storytelling and continues to work with them remotely as they formed the video team for a local non-profit in the heart of the district, rescuing women and children out of human trafficking.