James Robinson's Biography

Personal Details:

Name : James "Cooke" Robinson

Other Names: James Robynsin (Mainly for Writing and Directing) and Eric Knight (Sometimes for Editing)

Email Address : jamesrobynsin@gmail.com

Birthday : October 31st, 1980

EDUCATION / WORKSHOPS:

2005 - 2007 Toronto Film School Ontario
Digital Film & Television Production Diploma

2009 - Present Regent Park Focus Ontario
Director’s Workshop
Paid/Volunteer Editor

2009 - August 2009 Rogers Promotions Ontario
Location Manager (Location Scout)
Production Assistant, Archives Tapes

Quick Bio : (which contains my skills in it)

I was a great film student. I go by a few words that helped me in the past, “Make a awesome movie, with what you got available at the time.” I enjoy any film projects that I work on and give it a 110%. Also I’ve been told that I have a great sense of thought and planning things ahead for the projects. That's why I do a lot First Assistant Director work.

I’ve been shooting video for quite some time, since December of 1995, when I first got my first camcorder. It was cheap B&W one back then but I mastered that camera inside and out.

Then moved onto colour camcorders in summer of 1996, where I explored the wonder world of colour. During that year, I took one of those early film courses in high school, of course, we used mainly VHS, 8mm video, and Hi8 tapes. In that class I learned not only things about film but some photography things also, which helped me greatly today during film school.

I did some really amateur music videos back then. But during that time, they were the best videos I ever did. Also I learned a little on how to edit analog tapes like VHS, 8mm, and Hi8 tapes, but in the end, what I wanted couldn’t be done with what I had. So I had to make it the best I could with what I had at the time. I made some pretty sweet music videos from the equipment I had at time.

For a while after that, I continued filming this and that with a handycam I had (or still have to this day). Trying to find a better way to edit the videos that I shot. Then I stumbled upon Pinnacle. When I first started to use it I thought it was the greatest, until I saw the final product. Then I did really like it anymore. Though I stuck with it using it to fullest that I could use it.

Then I had to start working for mainly family reasons. So I took some time off shooting this and that with the handycam for some years. (I care not to say, though it did help me prepare for school in a big way.)

Then I came across the Toronto Film School in the early summer of 2005. Where I first had doubts that I could ever go in, among other fears at the time. But I got in and had the best time of my life. Leaning something I want to learn.

I use to draw a lot back in the day, but that’s changed over the years. Now I’m like to write, though my head and creative juices are in the same mindset. I like to write in layers to a story, that I think too far ahead and never write anything down. But I learned that it this only happens with my own stories and never the stories someone created. I still draw sometimes but I’ve trained myself to be more of a writer and an artist. I look at myself as an artist but as a writer as well.

I’m more into fantasy-oriented style of writing, but I can also write drama, and some dark comedy also. I sometimes sub-consciously write dark theme in the stories without even knowing until I reading it over. That’s one reason why I’m doing a happy-cheery love story to break that habit.

About directing, I can direct and get amazing job done, as long it’s I didn’t write. I’m in this stage where I go a little overboard now, but I I’m learning how to treat a script as anybody script, even if I wrote it. Also lately I’ve been an actor/director which might of downgraded my role as director, but I’m going to cut it out and just focus on directing then acting. I’ll still be in a few shorts here and there though.

RELATED EXPERIENCE: Production Crew

Crew Credits: Location Manager, Production Assistant
TV Show: Your World This Week Season 5 Episode 27, 28 - 2009, HD 24 Minutes

Crew Credits: 1st Assistant Director, Dolly/ Jib Grip
Short Film: Strafe - 2007, HDV, 7 minutes

Crew Credits: 1st Assisted Director, Make Up/Hair, Gaffer, Grip
Short Film: Parallel Experiments Rain - 2006 HDV, 20 minutes

Crew Credits: 1st Assisted Director, Boom Operator
Short Film: Breathing Life - 2006, HDV, 4 minutes

Crew Credits: Camera Operator
Short Film: Goodbye Rosebud - 2006, HDV, 6 minutes

Crew Credits: Camera Operator, Gaffer, Grip
Short Film: Stockholm syndrome - 2006, 16mm/MiniDV, 6 minutes

Crew Credits: Writer, Director, Producer, Editor (Eric Knight)
Short Film: Dark Corner - 2006, HDV, 8 minutes

Crew Credits: 1st Assistant Director, 2nd Assistant Director, Set Designer, Gaffer, Grip
Short Series Promo: Lexx 5.03 - 2006, HDV, 8 minutes

Crew Credits: Director, Cameraman
Documentary: No Trespassing - 2006 DV, 20 minutes

Crew Credits: Director
Music Video: My Room - 2006, DV, 5 minutes

Crew Credits: Director, Editor
Short Film: Are You Being Followed? - 2006, DV, 18 minutes


CURRENTLY: Production Crew

Crew Credits: Writer, Producer, Location Scout, Editor
Short Film: 542-YXJ - 2009, HD, expected length: 15 minutes, Pre-Production

Crew Credits: Editor
Short Film: Stall - 2009, HD, expected length: 8 minutes, Post

Crew Credits: Writer, Producer
Short Film: Stormy Friday - 2009, HD, expected length: 8 minutes, Pre-Production

Crew Credits: Production Manager, Gaffer, Grip
Short Film: Revenge - 2009, 16mm, 22 minutes

Crew Credits: 1st Assistant Director, Gaffer, Grip
Short Film: Parallel Experiments Dawn - 2009, HDV, expected length: 25 minutes, Post

RELATED EXPERIENCE: ACTOR

Cast Credits: Actor – Ghost, Extra
Short Film: Parallel Experiments Rain - 2006 HDV, 20 minutes

Cast Credits: Actor – JC
Short Film: Deus Ex - 2006, HDV, 3 minutes

Cast Credits: Actor – Guitarist, Backup Vocals
Music Video: My Room - 2006, DV, 5 minutes

Cast Credits: Actor – Jack
Short Film: Are You Being Followed? - 2006, DV, 18 minutes

CURRENTLY: ACTOR

Cast Credits: Logan
Short Film: Stall - 2009, HD, expected length: 8 minutes, Post-Production

Cast Credits: Dignitary, Soldier
Short Film: Strafe - 2009, HD, expected length: 25 minutes, Post-Production

Cast Credits: Ghost (Body), Extra
Short Film: Parallel Experiments Dawn - 2009, HDV, expected length: 25 minutes, Post-Production

INTERESTS:

Digital Media, Editing, Writing, Camera Operating, Current Technology, Older Technology, Electronics
Sketching, Painting (Oils, Water Colours, and Acrylic), Inking, Photo Manipulation
Hockey, Hiking, Sightseeing, Sword Collecting, Stage Combat (Minor Experience)
Photography, Art, Music, Live Shows, Movies, Video Games