James Schamus

James Schamus, born on September seventh, nineteen fifty-nine, is a multifaceted American screenwriter, producer, director, and business executive. Renowned for his collaborations with acclaimed filmmaker Ang Lee, Schamus has made significant contributions to the film industry through his creative storytelling and production expertise.

As a co-founder of the influential production company Good Machine, he played a pivotal role in shaping independent cinema. Schamus further established his mark in the industry as the co-founder and former CEO of Focus Features, a prominent motion picture production and distribution company under NBCUniversal.

Currently, he serves as the president of Symbolic Exchange, a New York-based production company, where he continues to influence the cinematic landscape. In addition to his production work, Schamus is a dedicated educator, holding the position of Professor of Professional Practice at Columbia University since nineteen eighty-nine, where he imparts his extensive knowledge of film history and theory to aspiring filmmakers.