James Martin
Why did you choose your program at UBC and what did you enjoy most about it?
Throughout high school all I was interested in was science. I loaded up on as many math, physics and chemistry courses I could get because I had my eye on UBC’s engineering program since the 9th grade. I loved the idea of wearing a red jacket and the prospects of a lucrative career as an electronic engineer. The early months of my UBC life were challenging and it was only years later that I realized my 1st year was not unlike so many other university freshmen. I struggled a lot in my classes and in my life in general and the only comfort I could find was hopping the number 14 bus downtown and seeing movies. And the funny thing is, those challenges directed me towards a path I never once envisioned I’d take when I started out as an engineer.
So I told my parents I was dropping engineering and applying to the UBC film and television program. I’m sure my parents thought I’d be forever living in their basement surrounded by Star Wars action figures but it never came to that. I applied and got accepted into UBC’s film program and my life was changed forever. This was where I needed to be, with like-minded, creative people. The smell of the editing bay, the late night shooting in the rain, and all the energy that came from it. UBC helped me discover what I loved and in doing so provided an exciting path for the rest of my life.
What were some of your most meaningful experiences at UBC?
My family didn’t have a lot of money so I needed to put myself through UBC with student loans and part-time jobs. Those needs led me to the Pit Pub where I worked as a cook in the burger grill. That was so rewarding because it opened up different avenues to people I wouldn’t ordinarily meet – and we were all poor and struggling to get through in the most supportive way possible.
One of the most impactful decisions I made in my second year was joining the Kappa Sigma Fraternity. Growing up I never thought for a moment that I would ever join a fraternity but I did and, coupled with my life in the film department, it was one of the most fun and rewarding times I’ve ever had in my life. In fact, there are many people I met all those years ago at Kappa Sigma that I still remain good friends with to this day.
What choices did you make at UBC that contributed to your career success / journey?
As I mentioned, I started out in the science program before deciding to apply to the film and television program. That was the biggest decision of my life at the time. I didn’t know how impactful that decision would be but I followed a simple idea: do what makes me happy regardless of what others say. Making the switch opened up an entire world for me that I wasn’t even sure I could succeed at. I didn’t know I could write. I didn’t know I had a business mind that was meant to bridge the gap between creative talent and finance. All of this awareness only became apparent after I made the risky choice of leaving behind a fairly assured career as an engineer for the uncertain future of a filmmaker.
What was your first job after graduation and what other jobs did you have before your current position?
I was working throughout my life at UBC. I was making short films about my life as a DJ in the Pit Pub. Those films helped me get into the film program and get a job at a local camera rental company. There I was paid to rent cameras and then sneak that equipment out on the weekends to make music videos. From there I was hired by a Toronto firm to set up a camera rental shop at North Shore Studios. After five years, I went back into writing and producing for a documentary company. That was a blast. After that, a company hired me to open up a camera rental facility in Los Angeles. That was big because I was writing scripts as well as running a business and this seemed like a perfect fit. In LA I found an agent and wrote as a script doctor for a number of successful TV shows. The company I opened up in LA quickly grew and my attention was diverted to managing it full time. I grew that company into one of the biggest production service centers in North America before it was sold not too long ago. Now I consult for a number of companies in Canada, the US and the UK while residing with my family in Los Angeles – I never left!
What advice would you give to students and alumni interested in breaking into your industry?
Use your time at UBC to figure out who you are and what drives you. Don’t be afraid to change your mind on what you want to do with your life.
James Martin
Why did you choose your program at UBC and what did you enjoy most about it?
Throughout high school all I was interested in was science. I loaded up on as many math, physics and chemistry courses I could get because I had my eye on UBC’s engineering program since the 9th grade. I loved the idea of wearing a red jacket and the prospects of a lucrative career as an electronic engineer. The early months of my UBC life were challenging and it was only years later that I realized my 1st year was not unlike so many other university freshmen. I struggled a lot in my classes and in my life in general and the only comfort I could find was hopping the number 14 bus downtown and seeing movies. And the funny thing is, those challenges directed me towards a path I never once envisioned I’d take when I started out as an engineer.
So I told my parents I was dropping engineering and applying to the UBC film and television program. I’m sure my parents thought I’d be forever living in their basement surrounded by Star Wars action figures but it never came to that. I applied and got accepted into UBC’s film program and my life was changed forever. This was where I needed to be, with like-minded, creative people. The smell of the editing bay, the late night shooting in the rain, and all the energy that came from it. UBC helped me discover what I loved and in doing so provided an exciting path for the rest of my life.
What were some of your most meaningful experiences at UBC?
My family didn’t have a lot of money so I needed to put myself through UBC with student loans and part-time jobs. Those needs led me to the Pit Pub where I worked as a cook in the burger grill. That was so rewarding because it opened up different avenues to people I wouldn’t ordinarily meet – and we were all poor and struggling to get through in the most supportive way possible.
One of the most impactful decisions I made in my second year was joining the Kappa Sigma Fraternity. Growing up I never thought for a moment that I would ever join a fraternity but I did and, coupled with my life in the film department, it was one of the most fun and rewarding times I’ve ever had in my life. In fact, there are many people I met all those years ago at Kappa Sigma that I still remain good friends with to this day.
What choices did you make at UBC that contributed to your career success / journey?
As I mentioned, I started out in the science program before deciding to apply to the film and television program. That was the biggest decision of my life at the time. I didn’t know how impactful that decision would be but I followed a simple idea: do what makes me happy regardless of what others say. Making the switch opened up an entire world for me that I wasn’t even sure I could succeed at. I didn’t know I could write. I didn’t know I had a business mind that was meant to bridge the gap between creative talent and finance. All of this awareness only became apparent after I made the risky choice of leaving behind a fairly assured career as an engineer for the uncertain future of a filmmaker.
What was your first job after graduation and what other jobs did you have before your current position?
I was working throughout my life at UBC. I was making short films about my life as a DJ in the Pit Pub. Those films helped me get into the film program and get a job at a local camera rental company. There I was paid to rent cameras and then sneak that equipment out on the weekends to make music videos. From there I was hired by a Toronto firm to set up a camera rental shop at North Shore Studios. After five years, I went back into writing and producing for a documentary company. That was a blast. After that, a company hired me to open up a camera rental facility in Los Angeles. That was big because I was writing scripts as well as running a business and this seemed like a perfect fit. In LA I found an agent and wrote as a script doctor for a number of successful TV shows. The company I opened up in LA quickly grew and my attention was diverted to managing it full time. I grew that company into one of the biggest production service centers in North America before it was sold not too long ago. Now I consult for a number of companies in Canada, the US and the UK while residing with my family in Los Angeles – I never left!
What advice would you give to students and alumni interested in breaking into your industry?
Use your time at UBC to figure out who you are and what drives you. Don’t be afraid to change your mind on what you want to do with your life.
