/ About Me
Hi I’m James Finan, a London-based director and producer of documentary films for brands, charities and agencies – it’s hard work but it is often joyous, surprising and insightful.
I like to create a collaborative and supportive environment and work hard to ensure this is nurtured across a project. I want everyone to recognise their value at all touchpoints, irrespective of their role – everyone is essential in delivering the best work we can.
This mentality is at the core of my on-set direction, and I am driven to ensure whoever is in front of the camera feels seen, safe and empowered.
My empathy and my willingness to share my own feelings also help encourage a space of honesty and reflection. My classical training at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama means I have lots of techniques to help on-screen contributors to relax and find their flow – coupled with a natural playfulness and curiosity that tends to bring out the best in others.
For over a decade I have headed up production across a wide range of filming projects, from two-handed ‘run & gun’ coverage to cross-continent documentary series and high-end TVCs. Their varying complexity has been key in my growth as a competent and clear-headed producer. Often I have been asked to wear multiple hats at once – writing, producing and directing for some of the world’s best known brands. Sometimes I look back and marvel at what I managed to pull off, but I am always hungry for the next challenge.
I’ve been sent all across the world for with Unicef, Meta, and Amazon Ads among others, sometimes with just a few days’ notice, but I can quickly understand complex and nuanced relational dynamics between various stakeholders and creative teams. In fact, my ability to recognise emergent patterns is one of my greatest creative strengths.
When I’m not being a producer and director I tend to be writing, drawing or helping people craft life events in my role as a celebrant.
Otherwise I’m busy worrying about the planet and what we’re doing to it, eating something fun or stroking my cat. Often all three activities at once.
“…one of the most talented, trustworthy, and energetic directors I have worked with”
“After working with James as his Creative Director and finding him one of the most talented, trustworthy, and energetic directors I have worked with, I’ve brought him into SuperGrizzly several times as an additional member of the team, serving as a producer, director, creative, and even just as a sounding board. This has always been the right move. I find his pitch-winning ideas and calm professionalism incredibly valuable, and on occasion, the key to keeping projects and sanity intact.
In addition to being a good organiser and superb director, he is extremely likeable. Everyone from clients to talent does their best for him. His ability and his good nature combine to place him at the top of my list every time. In fact, I might call him now.”
Matthew White
Creative Director, SuperGrizzly
“…super easy to collaborate with, full of great ideas and always open to feedback.
I worked with James to deliver a high-output, multi-channel campaign for a high fashion brand. I found his work to be of a great standard across the board. Delivering regional content for key areas within the EMEA, we needed a cohesive set of films that leveraged our relationships with local influencers.
James delivered a fantastic creative response to our brief, but more impressively he delivered to the high standards we had set, working a busy and complex shoot schedule across Europe that culminated in a luxury studio shoot. Throughout the project his approachability, creativity, passion, understanding, insight and work ethic stood out to me. I found him super easy to collaborate with, full of great ideas and always open to feedback.
He worked brilliantly with his team and ours, and we had excellent feedback from all involved. The campaign was a success and I recommend him for complex, high-level campaigns of this nature.”
Stéphanie Thierry
Head of Group Communications, Social Media & Influence McArthurGlen Group
“…sensitive to not only our brand, but our charity partners and the people they support.
I have brought James in for projects with us several times. He has always delivered great work on time, on budget and with excellent feedback from our stakeholders. Our briefs for him have been wide-ranging and creatively challenging, needing to nail key deliverables with consideration and nuance. James has managed to hit these briefs each time, and has always understood our desired tone of voice through-out.
For our Give A Little Love films, James had to work with many internal and external stakeholders, creating content that needed to be sensitive to not only our brand, but our charity partners and the people they support. Across the board we had great feedback from all involved, and the stories he discovered and told were inspiring and uplifting. I would highly recommend bringing him in on complex projects that need creative energy, sensibility and an eye for detail.”
Claudia Hill
Partner and Business Manager, Creative and Content John Lewis & Partners
/ Selected Clients
