About this episode
James Mae discusses their journey as a filmmaker and the importance of visual storytelling in fostering human connection.
James Mae (they/them) is a local filmmaker, multimedia creative and owner/executive director of the filmmaking company Starlight Productions. They focus on fostering human connection through visual storytelling and uplifting LGBTQA and minority creatives through art. James began in traditional journalism but shifted to photography and filmmaking in 2025, with an emphasis on documentary work. They recently completed their first short documentary, Hidden in the Spotlight, which explores how local theater actors navigate family, love, and sacrifice in pursuit of their dreams. HITS was screened at D.C. Trans Pride and is an official selection for the Signal Film Festival in Silver Spring, MD, and a pride film festival happening in New Mexico in June. Their narrative credits include Bare (director of photography), which is also an official selection of the Signal Film Festival, and Women In Film In Video’s 48hr film festival project, Con-Joined at the Hip (director of photography). James is a finalist for the Society of Professional Journalists D.C. Dateline Awards for The Art of Resistance, a photojournalism project documenting protest art in D.C. They are currently a PA on the Off…
People in this episode
Guest: James Mae
Topics covered
- filmmaking
- LGBTQA representation
- documentary storytelling
- art and culture
- local theater
Keywords
- James Mae
- filmmaking
- documentary
- LGBTQA
- Starlight Productions
- Hidden in the Spotlight
- D.C. Trans Pride
- Signal Film Festival
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Starlight Productions, Women In Film In Video, Society of Professional Journalists, The Washington City Paper, Georgetown University
Books & works: Hidden in the Spotlight, Bare, Con-Joined at the Hip, The Art of Resistance
Places: D.C., New Mexico
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