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Jim Holloway – Writer, Executive Producer, Director
Preferring the functional title of "Chief Executive Storyteller" to Chairman, President and CEO of Star Harbor Films, Jim Holloway is a versatile and energetic creative leader with a celebrated track record of achievements. At an early age, his penchant for the Performing Arts gained him entrance into the prestigious Boston Conservatory and Hartt Colleges of Music. When he wasn't plunking out tunes on the piano, rehearsing or traversing the Atlantic Coast as lead singer for "The Backdoor Men" and several other college bands, Jim was lauded for his riveting portrayals of Shakespeare, Beckett, Sarte, Dumas, Williams, Miller, et als. by "Boston After Dark" and other regional entertainment journals.
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In those "young and wild years", Jim was frequently cast as a lead in off-Broadway productions with the Producer's Guild, the Hartford and New Haven Stage Companies, and made the rounds of New England's Summer Stock circuit as a writer, actor, singer, stage manager and director. As a fleet-footed sprinter (9.3 sec. for 100 yds.) he became a record setting halfback for the UHartt Hawks. Sporting a 4 handicap at Wethersfield Country Club, Jim was also a founding member of the CT Lambda chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon. In short, life was good. That is, until his passion for the theater brought undue financial hardships. While hardly an uncommon occurrence for aspiring performers, Jim sought an uncommon solution -- a "more stable" future -- and returned to college not to study acting but to major in Premed.
Compressing a four-year science curriculum into two, he put himself through the University of Hartford by working as a Tool, Die and Gage Maker for Pratt & Whitney Aircraft. A Dean’s Scholar and honors graduate, Jim's sights were set on UConn Medical School, until the lure of an emerging CAD/CAM1 industry captured his attention and changed his life's plan. At the dawn of the Computer Graphics revolution, professionals with art and science backgrounds were few and far between. Finding his creative and technical experience in high demand, Jim joined a handful of visionaries who pioneered CGI’Äôs meteoric rise.
While manufacturers, engineers, draftsmen and the media were discerning the ramifications of Computer Graphics, Jim was busy developing strategic sales and marketing strategies for the likes of General Electric, McDonnell Douglas, United Technologies, Xerox, Gerber Systems and PDA Engineering. As his energy, insights and resourcefulness helped these businesses grow their early CGI holdings into mega-million dollar enterprises, his ability to produce winning plans and companies became Jim’Äôs stock in trade.
Well before IBM and Apple introduced desktop computers, Hollywood proposed using CAD technology in motion picture production. Longing to join this convergence of science and art, Jim decided to exchange one Fortune 100 world -- the rarified chambers of America’Äôs top scientific labs, automotive, aerospace, engineering and military facilities -- for another. He entered into the entertainment industry, learned everything he could about all aspects of filmmaking, graphic design, animation and gaming, wrote two dozen screenplays, graduated from the Hollywood Film Institute, produced a Dallas area talk show, collaborated on untold CGI commercial and broadcast projects, directed, shot and edited both corporate and independent films, and most importantly built enduring industry relationships.
Ever the adventurer, in 1996 Jim founded Star Harbor Films. Initially developing imaging campaigns for high-profile corporate and celebrity clients, his production company was ready to go the silver screen in '99 when an unfortunate accident crippled him. Following spinal surgery, the next three arduous years consisted of planning, researching, writing, deep reflection and learning to walk again.
In the last 29 years, Jim has been a published poet, photojournalist and author. His in depth analytical, meditative and graphic study of Mexico's most famous icon led to the writing of "Our Lady of Guadalupe, The Last Gospel" -- a scholarly metaphysical work likened to a theological doctoral thesis by book reviewers. When Pope John Paul II's visits to Mexico reversed years of government oppression and seizure of Church property, Jim's rediscovery of the hidden Shrines of San Miguel del Milagro and Nossa Senhora de Ocotlan in Tlaxcala reopened passage to both holy places for tens of thousands of religious pilgrims.
A wordsmith to the core, his copywriting. original illustrations, cartoons, graphic and digital designs have benefited many a corporate and celebrity imaging campaign. "Part Gypsy", avid traveler and sports enthusiast, Jim has back-packed across Europe, translated Aztec legends into English, built a mission compound in Tlaxcala, Mexico and climbed the Tyrolean and French Alps. Familiar with source code, his concept of a Media Buyers and Distribution Database, MBD3, is being compiled to target ancillary film markets.
On the motion picture front, Jim is currently packaging the animated feature, Star Island, and under an extended contract to write and direct the supernatural thriller, Voices. Centered on a small town reporter who discovers the "gift of hearing" is not his own, Voices tells the gut-wrenching story of his search for normalcy and love.
For the time being, at least until the desired stars become available, his action dramedy, Ain't Love Grand, has been placed on hold along with The Pegasus File, a murder-mystery originally scheduled to be shot in Dallas this Fall.
Inspired by his 388 years old Southern American ancestry, Jim has begun work on an epic script entitled, Passages. Born to create, he is in the middle of composing a double album of his varied life's experiences. When completed, "Coming Home to My Heart" will be released and distributed by Star Harbor Records, an emerging Texas label beginning to search for musical talent in every venue. Jim resides and works in Dallas with his lovely wife and former model, Elaine.
1CAD/CAM - Computer Aided Design and Computer Aided Manufacturing
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