James Head
Encyclopedia
James David Head is a Canadian
television director
.
9012Live
by Yes
. In 1987, he was a second assistant camera for the movie Stakeout. He then worked as a first assistant camera on Beyond the Stars
(1989), The Fourth War
(1990), Run
(1991), And the Sea Will Tell
(1991), and Bingo
(1991).
, but did not become a full-time director at that time. He was second unit
director of photography for Man of the House
(1995) and Fear (1996). He was back as a director in 1996, directing at least one episode of F/X: The Series
. In 1997, he directed an episode of The Adventures of Sinbad
, and during the 1996-97 season, he has directors credits for three episodes of Two
. During the 1998-99 TV season, he directed two episodes of The Crow: Stairway to Heaven
, an episode of Nothing Too Good for a Cowboy
, an episode of Poltergeist: The Legacy
, and five episodes of Earth: Final Conflict
. Between 1998 and 2001, he directed six episodes of The Outer Limits
. In 2000, he was second unit director on First Target and he directed a television movie
remake of The Spiral Staircase
. In 2001, he was second unit director on Just Cause
and also directed at least one episode of Wolf Lake
. In 2002, he was second unit director for two episodes of Jeremiah
and then went on to direct two episodes of the series.
(2003), at least one episode of 1-800-Missing (2003), an episode of Stargate Atlantis
(2004), twenty episodes of The Dead Zone
(2003-2007), an episode of Battlestar Galactica
(2006), at least one episode of Kaya
(2007), four episodes of Reaper
(2007-2008), two episodes of Sanctuary (2008), three episodes of Kyle XY
(2008-2009), and an episode of Eureka
(2009).
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
television director
Television director
A television director directs the activities involved in making a television program and is part of a television crew.-Duties:The duties of a television director vary depending on whether the production is live or recorded to video tape or video server .In both types of productions, the...
.
Cameraman
Head began his career as a cameraman on various film crews. In 1985, he was a second assistant camera for the concert filmConcert film
A concert movie, or concert film, is a type of documentary film, the subject of which is an extended live performance or concert by a musician ....
9012Live
9012Live (video)
9012Live is the video release of a concert by the progressive rock group Yes recorded live at Northlands Coliseum in Edmonton, Canada, on September 28 and 29, 1984. It mostly features material from the band's reunion album 90125, which was a major success for the band. The 1984-1985 tour was the...
by Yes
Yes (band)
Yes are an English rock band who achieved worldwide success with their progressive, art, and symphonic style of rock music. Regarded as one of the pioneers of the progressive genre, Yes are known for their lengthy songs, mystical lyrics, elaborate album art, and live stage sets...
. In 1987, he was a second assistant camera for the movie Stakeout. He then worked as a first assistant camera on Beyond the Stars
Beyond the Stars
Beyond the Stars is a 1989 drama film written and directed by David Saperstein and starred Martin Sheen, Christian Slater, Sharon Stone, Olivia d'Abo and F. Murray Abraham....
(1989), The Fourth War
The Fourth War
The Fourth War is a 1990 film directed by John Frankenheimer. It is set in Berlin in 1988.-Plot:Cold War drama about two gung-ho border commanders who carry out their own private war against each other on the German – Czechoslovakia border.-Cast:*Roy Scheider ... Col. Jack Knowles*Jürgen...
(1990), Run
Run (1991 film)
Run is a 1991 film, directed by Geoff Burrowes. The movie stars Patrick Dempsey and Kelly Preston.-Synopsis:Boston law student and part-time mechanic Charlie Farrow is asked by his boss to deliver a new Porsche from Boston to Atlantic City for a client...
(1991), And the Sea Will Tell
And the Sea Will Tell
And the Sea Will Tell is a true crime book by Vincent Bugliosi and Bruce B. Henderson. The nonfiction book, a New York Times #1 hardcover bestseller and still in print as a trade paperback, recounts a double murder on Palmyra Atoll and the subsequent arrest, trial and conviction of Duane Walker,...
(1991), and Bingo
Bingo (film)
Bingo is a 1991 American family comedy film, released by TriStar Pictures.Bingo, a runaway circus dog saves the life of Chuckie , a young boy who is somewhat an outcast within his family. The two quickly become best friends - skateboarding, playing pinball, and doing math homework together...
(1991).
Early Years as a Director
Head made his directorial debut in 1991, directing at least one episode of TV's The CommishThe Commish
The Commish is a television series that aired on ABC in the United States from 1991 to 1996. The series focused on the work and home life of a suburban police commissioner in upstate New York....
, but did not become a full-time director at that time. He was second unit
Second unit
In film, the second unit is a team that shoots subsidiary footage for a motion picture. Its work is distinct from that of the first unit, which shoots all scenes involving principal actors...
director of photography for Man of the House
Man of the House (1995 film)
Man of the House is a 1995 comedy film starring Chevy Chase, Farrah Fawcett and Jonathan Taylor Thomas. Marking Thomas' motion picture debut, this Disney comedy is about a boy who must come to terms with his potential stepfather , a well-meaning lawyer who is unknowingly the subject of a manhunt...
(1995) and Fear (1996). He was back as a director in 1996, directing at least one episode of F/X: The Series
F/X: The Series
F/X: The Series was a television series based on the film F/X, starring Cameron Daddo, Christina Cox, Kevin Dobson , Jacqueline Torres , Carrie-Anne Moss and Jason Blicker. It ran for 40 episodes from 1996 through 1998....
. In 1997, he directed an episode of The Adventures of Sinbad
The Adventures of Sinbad
The Adventures of Sinbad is a Canadian television series which aired from 1996 to 1998. It follows on the story from the pilot of the same name. It revolves around the series' protagonist, Sinbad. The series is a re-telling of the adventures of Sinbad from The Arabian Nights. Created by Ed Naha, it...
, and during the 1996-97 season, he has directors credits for three episodes of Two
Two (TV Series)
Two was a short-lived drama series which aired in 1996 and 1997. It featured Michael Easton as Gus McClain, a man framed for the murder of his wife by his twin brother Booth Hubbard . Hubbard, whose existence had previously been unknown to McClain, committed several murders while assuming...
. During the 1998-99 TV season, he directed two episodes of The Crow: Stairway to Heaven
The Crow: Stairway to Heaven
The Crow: Stairway to Heaven was a 1998 Canadian television series created by Bryce Zabel based on The Crow comic by James O'Barr starring Mark Dacascos in the lead role as Eric Draven, reprising the role originally played by Brandon Lee in the 1994 film The Crow...
, an episode of Nothing Too Good for a Cowboy
Nothing Too Good for a Cowboy
Nothing Too Good for a Cowboy was a CBC Television television show based upon the adventures of author and rancher Richmond P. Hobson, Jr. in Northern British Columbia. It is based upon the eponymous book and also The Rancher Takes a Wife....
, an episode of Poltergeist: The Legacy
Poltergeist: The Legacy
Poltergeist: The Legacy is a Canadian horror television series which ran from 1996 to 1999. The series tells the story of the members of a secret society known as the Legacy, and their efforts to protect humankind from occult dangers...
, and five episodes of Earth: Final Conflict
Earth: Final Conflict
Earth: Final Conflict is a Canadian science fiction television series based on story ideas created by Gene Roddenberry, and produced under the guidance of his widow, Majel Barrett-Roddenberry. It was not produced, filmed or broadcast until after his death...
. Between 1998 and 2001, he directed six episodes of The Outer Limits
The Outer Limits (1995 TV series)
The Outer Limits is an American television series that originally aired on Showtime,the Sci Fi Channel and in syndication between 1995 and 2002...
. In 2000, he was second unit director on First Target and he directed a television movie
Television movie
A television film is a feature film that is a television program produced for and originally distributed by a television network, in contrast to...
remake of The Spiral Staircase
The Spiral Staircase (2000 film)
The Spiral Staircase is a 2000 television film remake of the 1946 film The Spiral Staircase based on Ethel Lina White's novel Some Must Watch...
. In 2001, he was second unit director on Just Cause
Just Cause (TV series)
Just Cause is an award-winning Canadian legal drama television series produced by Mind's Eye Entertainment. Filming was done in Vancouver, British Columbia but the series is set in San Francisco, California.-Plot:...
and also directed at least one episode of Wolf Lake
Wolf Lake
Wolf Lake is an American television series that originally aired on CBS. Wolf Lake follows a pack of werewolves living in a Seattle suburb. The first 5 episodes aired on CBS, but due to low ratings CBS cancelled it. A total of nine aired episodes and a non-aired pilot were made before the show...
. In 2002, he was second unit director for two episodes of Jeremiah
Jeremiah (TV series)
Jeremiah is an American television series starring Luke Perry and Malcolm-Jamal Warner that ran on the Showtime network from 2002 to 2004. The series takes place in a post-apocalyptic future where most of the adult population has been wiped out by a deadly virus.Developed by Babylon 5 creator J...
and then went on to direct two episodes of the series.
Recent Accomplishments
From 2003 onward, Head has been regularly employed full time as a television director. His directorial credits have included an episode of The Twilight ZoneThe Twilight Zone (2002 TV series)
The Twilight Zone is a 2002 revival of Rod Serling's acclaimed 1950/60s television series, The Twilight Zone. It aired for one season on the UPN network, with actor Forest Whitaker assuming Serling's role as narrator and on-screen host....
(2003), at least one episode of 1-800-Missing (2003), an episode of Stargate Atlantis
Stargate Atlantis
Stargate Atlantis is a Canadian-American adventure and military science fiction television series and part of MGM's Stargate franchise. The show was created by Brad Wright and Robert C. Cooper as a spin-off series of Stargate SG-1, which was created by Wright and Jonathan Glassner and was itself...
(2004), twenty episodes of The Dead Zone
The Dead Zone (TV series)
The Dead Zone, aka Stephen King's Dead Zone is an American-Canadian science fiction/suspense series starring Anthony Michael Hall as Johnny Smith, who discovers he has developed psychic abilities after a coma...
(2003-2007), an episode of Battlestar Galactica
Battlestar Galactica (2004 TV series)
Battlestar Galactica is an American military science fiction television series, and part of the Battlestar Galactica franchise. The show was developed by Ronald D. Moore as a re-imagining of the 1978 Battlestar Galactica television series created by Glen A. Larson...
(2006), at least one episode of Kaya
Kaya (TV series)
Kaya is a Canadian and American co-production scripted television series that first aired on MTV on October 22, 2007.-Premise:It follows the life of the lead singer, Kaya and her struggle to not "sell out" in the music business.-Principal characters:...
(2007), four episodes of Reaper
Reaper (TV series)
Reaper is an American television series that focuses on Sam Oliver, a "reaper" who works for the Devil by retrieving souls that have escaped from Hell.The series originally ran on the CW from September 25, 2007 to May 26, 2009....
(2007-2008), two episodes of Sanctuary (2008), three episodes of Kyle XY
Kyle XY
Kyle XY is an American television series with a science fiction premise and mystery-drama style. The central character is a teenage boy who awakens naked in a forest outside Seattle, Washington, with no more knowledge or abilities than a newborn. He is taken in by a family and given the name Kyle...
(2008-2009), and an episode of Eureka
Eureka (TV series)
Eureka is an American science fiction television series that premiered on Syfy on July 18, 2006. Since then four seasons have aired, and a fifth is currently being filmed. The second half of season 4 began on SyFy on July 11, 2011 and ended on September 19, 2011...
(2009).