James is the CEO of Snow Goose Productions; which produces documentaries, commercials and other video projects.
During the 1960’s, he began to learning producing while working with the Canterbury House in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He helped produce major folk artists of the day-- including George Frayne (Commander Cody), Gordon Lightfoot, Tom Rush, Jim and Jean, Len Chandler, Spyder John Koerner, Michael Cooney, and the Jim Kweskin Jug Band. From 1970-71, he trained in TV production with Hazen Schumacher at the University of Michigan TV Center, during which time he wrote and hosted two half-hour documentaries on pesticides and air pollution that were transferred to film and distributed internationally.
In 1970, as a member of the University of Michigan faculty, he was the lead faculty member on the committee that produced the nation’s largest Earth Day Teach-In, which drew 50,000 and featured speakers including Ralph Nader, Sen. Edmund Muskie, George Wald and Arthur Godfrey; then a Gordon Lightfoot concert for 12,000..
He has since produced numerous concerts, conferences, symposiums, TV and video programs, and expositions up to 50,000. Snow Goose Productions, was launched in 2002 as a joint venture with Andrew and Roberta Swan. James also has appeared as an actor in 20 feature films, three dramatic TV series, and over 30 commercials and print ads.
He has written over 100 produced shows for television – including working with the NOVA, Sightings, Ancient Mysteries and Modern Marvels series, as well as consulting on several feature films. His work on outdoor TV shows including Engel's Outdoor Experience, Sports Afield TV, and Bushnell's Secrets of the Wild has resulted in shows he has written winning one Outdoor Channel Golden Moose Award, being nominated for three others.
He was a Co-Executive Producer for the reality TV series "Wild Justice" about game wardens on the National Geographic Channel (2010-2013). It was inspired by his documentary, “Endangered Species: CA Fish and Game Wardens.” “Wild Justice”holds the record for the largest audience for a documentary series premiere in the history of the National Geographic Channel with 3.2 million viewers.
For more info on James (including his acting resume), visit his personal web page.
Production Experience:
Video and Film Programs
- 2010-2013 -- "Wild Justice" -- co-executive producer
- Screenplay for “Falconer: The Sport of Kings” co-writer with Eddie Brochin, 2012.
Winner: Best Film and Script, Skyfest Festival, 2013; Award of Merit: Accolade Film Festival and The INDIE Fest, 2013. - 2009 –"Endangered Species: California Fish and Game Wardens" -- producer, writer
- 2004 – “Sports Afield TV” –OLN -- writer & narrator
- 2004 – "A Question of Balance" 56-minute video of historic London firearms scholars conference – World Forum On The Future of Sport Shooting Activities:
- 2003 – “Media Seminars” – 3:43 minute promotional video for the National Shooting Sports Foundation – aired on closed circuit TV in Las Vegas at 2004 SHOT SHOW; appears on NSSF website.
- 2002 - 2007, writer, “Engel’s Outdoor Experience,” Outdoor Life Channel – winner,
- Winner 2003 “Golden Moose“ award for “Best Waterfowl Show“ on the Outdoor Channel; nominated for “Most Informative Show“ on the Outdoor Channel.
- 2001 – consultant, on-camera, “History of Hunting Gear” for Modern Marvels series on The History Channel.
- 1999 – 2002, writer, “Bushnell’s Secrets of the Hunt” 13-part series featuring
- Dave Watson, former Oak Ridge Boys bassist. Highest viewer response of any TNN hunting show.
- 1997 -- "Ancient Mysteries" A& E television series produced by FilmRoos-- on-camera expert and script consultant for show -- "Sacred Places"
- 1995-97 –consultant and on-camera, "Sightings" television series produced by Paramount -- six segments on traditional cultures’ land values and environmental sciences.
- 1985 – consultant, "Goddess of the Earth" NOVA show on Gaia Hypothesis
- 1980-81 -- on-camera guest and consulting, "New Realities" television show on Channel 6, Vancouver, BC, three shows.
- 1971 -- host, and writer, "Air Pollution" half-hour television documentary made into internationally distributed film by University of Michigan Television Center.
-
1970 -- host and writer, "Pesticides" half-hour television documentary
made into internationally distributed film by University of Michigan
Television Center.
Producer
- CEO, Snow Goose Productions -- several film projects in development including a feature film about the life of conservationist Aldo Leopold, a four-part documentary series about how to survive mass attacks; and an hour-long documentary about the unique salmon hatchery run by United Anglers of Casa Grande High School in Petaluma, CA. http://uacg.org/
- Producer -- Annual Hollywood Celebrity Archery Shoot -- first year's event -- Nov. 16, 2019. see -- https://www.archerywire.com/features/1ed4e3cf-9f02-4315-a528-e39ad58f40b6
- Co- Executive Producer - "Wild Justice" TV series for National Geographic Wild, produced by Original Productions (Deadliest Catch, Ice Road Truckers).
Writer
- Screenplay for “Falconer: The Sport of Kings” co-writer with Eddie Brochin, 2012. Winner: Best Film and Script, Skyfest Festival, 2013; Award of Merit: Accolade Film Festival and The INDIE Fest, 2013.
- Contributor, The Outdoor Wire, Archery Wire, Archery Focus, American Hunter, NRA-HLF, Sports Afield, etc. http://jamesswan.com/outdoorwire-columns.html
- Books, articles, and screenplays. Most recent book, War In The Woods (Lyons, 2010) co-written with Lt. John Nores, has been optioned for a scripted dramatic TV show, "The Secret War," to be produced by Novo Media Group. Production to start in 2020. http://jamesswan.com/book-war_in_the_woods.html
Education
- BS, Conservation Education, University of Michigan, 1965.
- MS, Resource Planning, University of Michigan 1967.
- Ph.D. Environmental Psychology, University of Michigan, 1969.
- Media training, University of Michigan Television Center, 1969-1971.
- Post-doc studies with Native American and Asian traditional cultures, since 1970's.
- Post-doc studies in sports psychology and somatic methods of health and healing, since 1970's.
Major Conferences, Symposia and Lectures:
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2019 -- Producer, The First Annual "Hollywood Celebrity Archery Shoot" held in Simi Valley, CA, Nov, 16,2019.
A benefit for the National Archery In The Schools Program, featuring Hollywood folks such as: Frank Stallone, Diamond Farnsworth, Tim Abell, Stacey Michaels, Dave Gore, etc.
Funding for the event came from the Weatherby Foundation, and donations from Genesis Archery, Matthews Bows, Pine RIdge Archery, Easton Arrows, Morrell Targets, Rinehart Targets, and Archery Focus magazine. - 2018 -- Keynote Speaker, "Crucial to Conservation" international workshop on conservation and shooting sports held in Atlanta, Georgia. Attendees included people from Africa and New Zealand.
- 2017 -- Featured Speaker, Professional Outdoor Media Association, Montana
- 2007 -- Producer, "Weekend Hollywood Celebrity Retreat" -- Exploring Strategies to get more TV and films with hunters as heroes. Attendees included Russell Means, Michael Rooker, Ron Ringo, Sean Perry, and John Strong, etc.
- 1993 -- "The Spirit of Sustainability" held in San Rafael, CA; 45 speakers and 150 attending (co-producer) Funders for Spirit of Place programs include: The Beldon Fund, The JRH Fund, Laurence Rockefeller, the L. G. and Mary C. Skaggs Foundation, and Bear and Company Books.
- 1991 -- "The Spirit of Place" held in Sendai, Japan; 65 speakers and two music concerts with 6000 attending (Honorary Director and Chief)
- 1990 -- "The Spirit of Place" held at Mesa Verde National Park, with 45 speakers and 175 attending; plus concert by R. Carlos Nakai (co-producer)
- 1989 -- "The Spirit of Place" held at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco with 55speakers and 375 attending; plus "Celebration of Mother Earth" concert featuring Steven Halpern and James A. Swan (co-producer) Osborn 300 attendees(coordinator).
- 1988 -- "The Spirit of Place: The Modern Relevance of An Ancient Concept" held at University of California at Davis with 65 speakers, 325 attending; plus special concerts by Paul Horn and Anna Halprin (producer)
- 1987 -- "Gaia Consciousness" first national conference on Gaia Consciousness, California Institute of Integral Studies – 300 attending.
- 1986 -- "Circle The Earth" kick-off performance for Anna Halprin's world peace dance ritual-concert, Kentfield, CA; 125 dancers;1000 audience (producer)
- 1985-- "Is The Earth A Living Organism?" international symposium on the Gaia Hypothesis for the National Audubon Society, at University of Massachusetts at Amherst; 45 speakers including James Lovelock; Paul Winter concert 350 attend symposium, 600 concert (producer)
- 1984 – “1984 and the Information Revolution”: Institute for the Human Environment, funding by California Council for the Humanities -- week-end symposium featuring Sam Keen, Don Michael, others. 125 attending (producer)
- 1983-84 – Designed environmental health education plan for Government of American Samoa; includes mascots designed by children.
- 1981 -- "The Hero's Journey" two-day seminar led by Joseph Campbell for Northwest Family Training Institute 550 attending (publicity director).
- 1980 --"The Healing Power of Myth" two-day seminar led by Joseph Campbell for Northwest Family Training Institute 550 attending (publicity director)
- 1979-82 – Produced an average of one workshop, lecture or larger event per week on health as Director of Life Systems Educational Foundation in Seattle, WA - audiences of up to 800 people.
- 1976 -- Alternatives In The Healing Arts, semester-long seminar series on holistic health at the University of Oregon; 2000 attended (co-producer).
- 1975 – “Exploring the Human Potential Through Sports”, University of Oregon funding by National Endowment for the Humanities -- week-long conference featuring professional athletes paired with humanists and world class athletes, 2000 attending, followed by a Professional Track Association meet for 5,000. (producer of symposium) Movie by Michael Wiese, “Extraordinary Powers,” based on the program.
- 1970 -- Nation's largest Earth Day teach-in at the University of Michigan -- 50,000 -- speakers including Ralph Nader, Barry Commoner, Arthur Godfrey, Edmund Muskie, Kenneth Boulding (member of the central planning committee; and master of ceremonies, performed music-slide show openings for major speakers and producer for Gordon Lightfoot concert for 12,000)
- 1967 -- National Outdoor Education Conference; Antioch College, Yellow Springs, OH -- Euell Gibbons featured speaker (conference coordinator)
Concerts (since 1960's):
Musical concerts set up or produced with artists including -- Paul Horn, Maria Muldaur, Clarence Clemmons, The Dinosaurs, R. Carlos Nakai, Steven Halpern, Paul Winter, Susan Osborn, Max Gail, Merle Saunders, Anna Halprin, Dan Hicks And The Hot Licks, Strawberry Alarm Clock, and Country Joe MacDonald.Expositions:
1987 -- Celebration of Innovation Exposition -- 50 speakers, 250 booths, at Concourse in San Francisco with concert featuring Maria Muldaur and Steven Halpern (show director and Master of Ceremonies) 6,000 attendance; concert 1000.
1986 -- San Francisco Whole Life Expo -- Assistant Producer in charge of “Summer of Love Reunion” Concert (Country Joe MacDonald, Maria Muldaur, Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks, Strawberry Alarm Clock, etc.) concert and ambient environment design-- Moscone Center, San Francisco concert 2,000; total attendance 12,000
1980 -- CityFair, Seattle, WA -- national exposition on innovation in urban renewal held at Seattle Center in conjunction with National Mayor's Conference; member of production team; raised money, worked on design of exhibition and exhibits around town in store fronts -- 50,000 plus attending
More on James can be found at www.jamesswan.com.