Talented artist, photographer, and movie director are just a few ways to describe director Melvin James. The busy filmmaker was able to sit with Allthatsfab.com and tell us about his success, upcoming films (”Caramel” just to name a few), and past struggles before getting into the film industry.

Tell us a little bit about yourself? Where are you from and what do you do in your spare time besides working hard? I was born and bred in Newark, NJ (The Bricks).  I listen to a LOT of music most of the time when I’m not writing. I am a huge lover of music and I have very eclectic taste. So I listen to everything from Led Zepplin to Old Dirty Bastard to Mozart to John Coltrane to Jimmy Cliff to 2Pac, Carlos Santana, Luciano Pavarotti and NWA… lol. And I love it all. Music drives me creatively and I need to feed off variety.  Right now I’m listening to Pink Floyd’s “The Wall” and Danity Kane’s “Welcome To The Dollhouse” album.

When did you start in the filming business? I started as a screenwriter when my first script was optioned by New Line Cinema back in 1995. Then I went to work for a director named Sidney Lumet who is famous for films like Q&A, 12 Angrey Men and Murder On The Orient Express.

What’s your biggest accomplishment? My biggest accomplishment goes beyond film. They have more to do with family and personal growth. Film and being creative is a God given talent and something that I love. But I never confuse the two.

Tell us about this upcoming movie, Caramel, and who is it featuring? Caramel is an all around coming-of-age story. But it’s not your typical teen love flick. It’s a film about choices, friendships and growing up. We follow two main characters, Caramel and Cali from adolescence to young adulthood and see how the choices they make affect how they choose to be friends and how they choose to love. It’s a very character driven film. 

What was the hardest project you have ever worked on? That would be my first film “King Of Hearts.” It took me like 16 months to finish it because I could only shoot on the weekends and I had to pretty much do everything that I couldn’t afford to hire someone to do. It was very much that guerilla filmmaking, beg, borrow and steal process that you always hear about. That’s the cross that indy filmmakers bear. But you do what you have to when you love your craft.

What other projects are you working on? What can we expect in the future from Melvin James?I have about eight scripts ready to spring on the industry at the moment and they are as diversified as the music I listen to. I won’t be directing all of them though. Some of them I want to produce. I’ve been doing a LOT of writing and creating in between projects. As I said before, I started out as a screenwriter so I love the writing process. It helps keep me focused and visual.

You know AllThatsFab.com is based here in NY, where’s your favorite place to go in NY? What do you enjoy doing out here? Ice skating in Central Park. Rock climbing at Chelsea Piers. And one day running the New York City marathon!

Tell us 3 things nobody knows about Melvin James. I’ve been a photographer since I was twelve years old.  I was an amateur boxer and I’ve worked as a community organizer in Newark.

What would you tell other upcoming film makers that are pursuing their dream? If you can wake up in the morning and still love this enough to do this for free if thats all that was available then you’re on the right track.

Check out Melvin Jame’s Myspace.