James Jones Jr.

James Jones Jr. is a creative force who has established himself as a director, writer, and filmmaker. Through his production company, Bearhug Productions, based in Greenville, North Carolina and surrounding areas, he has broken ground by becoming the first individual to write, film, direct, and edit an independent full feature musical in Northeastern, NC.Jones's cinematic journey began in 2007 with video editing, which ignited his passion for visual storytelling that highlights people of color and their untold stories. In 2014, he collaborated with an organization in Atlanta as there media specialist to capture, edit, and organize videos, leading to his work being showcased before 20,000 attendees at the Philips Arena for the Neighborhood Awards hosted by Steve Harvey. His talents were further recognized when he was commissioned to create a lifetime achievement video for the legendary Cissy Houston and her family, which was presented at the 2015 Gospel Image Awards. Inspired to elevate his craft, Jones ventured into cinematography in 2017, initially utilizing his personal Samsung phone to record videos and music videos. Driven by the belief that mastering techniques with limited equipment would enhance his abilities, he remained determined to acquire professional-grade gear. Jones's creative vision culminated in 2018 when he envisioned and executed a music video addressing the often-overlooked aspects of American history, particularly relevant to his home state of North Carolina. The impact of this project propelled him to transform the music video into a feature film, "Freedom of North Carolina." Faced with the challenge of finding cinematographers in his community, Jones expanded his search only to encounter a lack of artistic alignment. Determined to bring his vision to life, he embraced the realization that he would write, film, and edit the entire feature himself. "Freedom of North Carolina" premiered in select theaters in October 2021 and subsequently gained the attention of Entertainment Studios, founded by Byron Allen in Los Angeles. The film was then distributed in US domestic/Internationally. Jones's dedication and perseverance were rewarded as "Freedom of North Carolina" garnered recognition at four film festivals: the Iconic Images Film Festival 2022, the Serbest International Film Festival 2022, the Pecan Pickling Film Festival 2023, and the International Gullah Film Festival, where it was awarded Best Featured Film. The film also had the honor of being screened twice in theaters internationally and remains an imperatively piece that continues to reach audiences through its availability on streaming platforms.