About
Many of my films are fictional narratives, often with
psychological themes. I also specialize in capturing solo
performances - music, dance, monologues - in a narrative
visual style that highlights the artist's expressive
intent. A documentary project is on the drawing board. My
filmmaking draws from life experiences spanning distinct
cultures on three continents, from a passion for
performing and composing music, and from a parallel career
in Computer Vision research. I have an MFA in Cinema (Film
Directing / Production) from San Francisco State
University. I am located in the San Francisco Bay
Area.
Contact
films@jamesmahoney.com 650 814 1734
Films
My four most recent productions are included here.
Click the titled boxes for details.
Character Driven
A video editor’s world is turned inside-out when he
comes into possession of production footage showing that
he is actually a character in an action thriller.
Character Driven, 20 min, HD, color, narrative, 2007
Written, directed, and edited by J. Victor Mahoney.
Produced by Renata Foucre.
Cinematography by Aaron Meister.
Music by Edward Spiegel.
Starring Alan Kaiser and Jennifer Erdmann.
Co-starring Kobi Eshun and Jinnifer Jacobs.
Screenings:
Signals International Short
Film Festival, Colchester, England, October,
2007.
San Francisco Frozen Film Festival, San Francisco, CA, July,
2008.
KTEH Viedo-i, San Jose Public Television, January,
2008.
Like certain drawings by
M. C. Escher, this film depicts, and involves its
characters in, the process of its own production. Like
the world we ourselves inhabit, it is riddled with
paradoxes and contradictions.
For more details, visit the CHARACTER DRIVEN movie page.
Car Accident
A young woman is car-jacked and kidnapped by two thugs, but finds a way to
engineer her release.
Car Accident, 13 min, DV 24P, color, narrative, 2005
Written, directed, and edited by J. Victor Mahoney.
Cinematography by Hwa Jun Lee.
Starring Sharise Parviz, Bruno Kanter, and Anthony Haynes.
Inspired by a true story, this film is about a
criminal and victim who turn out to be deeply
connected by a shared cultural memory.
New Strings
A mother reconnects unexpectedly with her teenaged son,
an electric bass prodigy, through his instrument and his
music.
New Strings, 11 min, 16mm, color, narrative, 2005
Written, directed, and edited by J. Victor Mahoney.
Cinematography by Anders Osterballe.
Starring Nan Ayers and Stephen Steelman.
Screenings:
D.C. Shorts Film Festival, Washington, DC, September, 2006
Cnequest Online Film Festival, San Jose, CA, May, 2006
SFSU Film Finals, San Francisco, CA, May, 2006
We are, to a large extent, what
we do - can we be truly intimate without sharing our
deepest preoccupations?
No Mirrors
A guitarist’s hands are the protagonists in this dramatic,
virtuoso performance of a challenging solo acoustic guitar composition.
No Mirrors, 4 min, DV, color, music video, 2004
Written, directed, shot, and edited by J. Victor Mahoney.
The piece No Mirrors is performed by its composer, Brian Hill.
Screenings:
De Anza College Film Festival, Cupertino, CA, May, 2004
A great solo performance has a
dramatic arc, it has conflict, it has themes, it has
action and adventure. I tried to capture these aspects
in the framing and editing of this dazzling solo
piece.
Production Stills
Stills from the set of selected productions.
Links
Under construction.