| Antonio D. James | |
| Birth Date: | 3 June 1985 |
| Birth Place: | Memphis, Tennessee |
| Occupation: | Film director |
Antonio D. James, (born June 3, 1985) is an American film director from Memphis, Tennessee.
James was born in Memphis, Tennessee on June 3, 1985, and was raised by his mother and stepfather in Memphis' Northaven community. He spent most of his teenage years in Hickory Hill with his biological father. By his first year at Millington Central High School in Millington, Tennessee, he had already attended several schools. He graduated in 2003.
James enlisted in the United States Air Force after college but returned to Memphis after one term. He faced hardships including a lack of employment opportunities there but this led him to discover filmmaking as a hobby. He and his uncle began filming music videos for Media Workz and Catina Johnson, short films, and commercials. He worked as a videographer at the Memphis Veteran Affairs Medical Center and later was the official videographer for Al Sharpton's National Access News.[1] [2] He was also the videographer for the non-profit Arize V Renaissance Center.[3] His film debut was in 2013 with Trey, which he produced and directed. Though the film was expected to cost $400,000, he spent only $750. The movie received awards from the Independent Filmmakers Showcase, the Texas Black Film Festival, and the Action on Film International Film Festival.
James relocated to Los Angeles following the release of Trey.