Raised in Alaska, James is a multihyphenate filmmaker. James wrote, directed, produced, and co-starred in his feature debut, STRAIGHT UP, a screwball romantic comedy, opposite Katie Findlay, Randall Park and Betsy Brandt. After premiering at the Frameline Film Festival, the film was the inaugural Breakthrough Centerpiece at Outfest, Grand Jury Prize winner at the San Diego Asian Film Festival, and nominated for Best First Screenplay at the 2021 Independent Spirit Awards. STRAIGHT UP garnered critical acclaim and was picked up for a limited theatrical release in the US by Strand Releasing and in France by L'Atelier Distribution.

In 2022, James staffed Gloria Calderón Kellett’s WITH LOVE and sold an original limited series to Amazon. TWINLESS is James' sophomore feature, and he was recently named one of Variety's 10 Directors to Watch for 2025.