To succeed in the entertainment industry, talent is necessary, but it’s not enough.
If you want to excel, it’s essential to learn from those who are actively doing it. Meet James Stewart, a 28-year-old producer steadily making a name for himself in both the cinematic and commercial worlds.
Stewart’s career is brimming with high-profile projects and collaborations. He’s produced multimillion-dollar feature films and high-impact television campaigns, working with industry giants like IKEA, Gillette, Patrón, and Lincoln. He’s teamed up with NBA All-Stars, bona fide movie stars, and Oscar-winning directors to bring stories to life on screen.
Lately, Stewart has been busier than ever, expanding his portfolio with agencies such as Cossette, Innocean, and GUT, collaborating with brands like Genesis, AWAL, and Tim Hortons, and delivering impactful work for charitable organizations like SickKids and the Red Cross. His ability to deliver results across a range of sectors has made him a sought-after producer in the industry.
But it wasn’t always this way. Like anyone, Stewart started at the bottom. This look into his career offers a few key lessons on what it takes to build a lasting presence in today’s competitive entertainment landscape.
The Path to Producing
Success begins with small, unassuming steps.
James’ journey began at 19, fresh out of film school, in a film equipment warehouse. He quickly learned the nuts and bolts of filmmaking through unglamorous, hands-on work, hauling cables and driving forklifts. Then his big break came from an unassuming call from a friend, offering a day’s work rigging lights on a TV show. James seized the opportunity, quitting his warehouse job on the spot.
That day’s work turned into a cascade of opportunities, offering an unexpected path to the top.
James emphasizes that success often starts with seizing the opportunities you have, rather than waiting for the opportunities you want.
Lesson One: Balance Passion with Pragmatism
“It’s easy to miss opportunities that are right in front of you because they don’t look like opportunities. When I was a lot younger, I assumed great opportunities would look like shortcuts, and I wondered why they never seemed to exist. I think the mystique of the industry can make it difficult to find your way in the beginning. I recommend stripping away that romanticism as quickly as you can. Disillusionment is only a bad thing if the illusion is all you ever had to begin with. You want to be dealing with reality as quickly as you can.”
James didn’t climb an existing career ladder—he built rungs of his own. Driven by a hunger for greater responsibility and autonomy, he looked to break into the business side of filmmaking but wasn’t sure where to start. Restless and eager for the next big challenge, James let his producer instincts guide him.
Recognizing that an opportunity wouldn’t come to him, he reached out to a producer he had only briefly met—someone who wasn’t even hiring at the time—and pitched himself for a position that didn’t exist. James then raised the funding necessary to cover his own salary, demonstrating not only his commitment but also his savvy in making things happen.
Lesson Two: Realize It’s Not About You
James’ approach to career building shifts the traditional narrative: “Many newcomers to the film industry believe it’s about proving their own talent. They’ve got it backward,” James states. “It’s not about you, and it’s not about ‘who you know’—fundamentally, it’s about who knows what you can do for them.”
“Don’t just aim to build your network; strive to become an essential part of an existing network. Give, don’t take. When networking, ask more questions than you answer. Pay attention to what others need and figure out how you can help them get it.”
This proactive mindset has propelled James forward. Now in his role as a producer, he didn’t just treat it like a job—he kept creating new opportunities. He sourced multiple seven figures in production and development funding and helped develop an array of features and series.
James’ production expertise was prominently displayed in the feature film Die in a Gunfight, his first major credit as a producer. The film, featuring stars like Alexandra Daddario and Travis Fimmel, was highly sought after ever since it landed on the Blacklist in 2010, a coveted leaderboard of Hollywood’s favorite unproduced scripts, as voted on by industry executives.
After years of the script languishing in development hell, the project was at a crossroads, searching for a new locale. That’s when the script landed on James’ desk. Drawn to the strength of the story, he jumped at the opportunity to help steer it in the right direction. Over an intense week, James arranged for the director to fly to Toronto and organized a tour of filming locations across Ontario. He built a competitive Canadian budget and calculated precise financial breakdowns that showcased the value of provincial and federal tax incentives. His work played a key role in convincing the filmmakers to choose Toronto over other international options like Chicago and Romania, setting the stage for production to move forward.
By fall 2019, the film was officially green-lit, but the road ahead was challenging. James dove headfirst into production, handling crucial aspects of both the big-picture and day-to-day operations. One moment, he was sourcing a seven-figure bridge loan to keep the production afloat; the next, he was ensuring the production office was fully operational. His ability to problem-solve at every level made him an indispensable force throughout the production.
While it was a collaborative effort among the producing team, James’ contributions were vital to overcoming key hurdles that could have stalled the project. His leadership and hands-on involvement ensured the film stayed on track, and after years of delays, the project finally came to life. Lionsgate picked it up shortly after completion, releasing it theatrically and ultimately landing it on Hulu, where it gained a cult following.
This experience shaped James’ broader philosophy of what it means to be a producer. It’s not just about checking off tasks; it’s about understanding the full picture and making decisions that move the mission forward. This hands-on, problem-solving approach extends beyond just the film set—it’s the mindset that defines his career.
Lesson Three: Learn to Think Like a Producer
“The most difficult thing—and something I see so many people struggling with—was learning how to think like a producer. Honestly, producing has taught me so much about how to really get what you want out of life. It’s not just about managing budgets or coordinating teams; it’s about learning how to initiate things, catalyze new opportunities, and make things happen for yourself. Producing forces you to develop a high-agency mindset.
So many people get trapped in a cycle where they cast responsibility and accountability for their success outside of themselves. They’re waiting for opportunities to come to them. But when you learn to be the person who creates opportunities instead of waiting for them, everything changes. As a producer, you take full ownership and accountability for a project. It’s on you to make sure everyone involved is taken care of and that the ship is heading in the right direction. That mindset has completely changed how I see the world.”
Bonus Lesson: Keep it all in Perspective
James stresses the importance of remembering that producing isn’t the end goal.
“When you’re in the trenches, everything you do is in service of the project. But it’s equally important to step back and remember what the project is in service of. It’s not just about amplifying an artist’s voice; it’s about what that artist is saying and how their work impacts the world around them.”
James’ approach is grounded in this perspective. “There are plenty of artists who aren’t really saying anything and just like the sound of their own voice. I have no interest in that,” he adds. For him, the mission is always about the message, the impact, and creating work that resonates and brings positive change.
“When I think about what I’m most proud of, it’s not just the features and commercials,” James reflects. “What stands out most is a recent film I produced with the closest friends I’ve built along the journey in this career—a short period piece about the Leitz family, the inventors behind the Leica camera. This story, which had not been told on screen before, reveals their covert efforts to help Jews escape Germany during WWII, only to be caught by the Gestapo.”
“This film was a Herculean effort. We flew actors in from Germany and assembled a crew of over 40 of the best artists we’ve worked with throughout our careers. Everyone involved was committed to creating something truly special, and we’re thrilled with how it turned out. It’s an important, moving story, and bringing stories like these to life is what I live for. It even landed a nomination for the Young Directors Award in Cannes. We’re currently on the festival circuit and developing the feature-length version, and I’m excited to see where it leads.”
Where to Next?
As for the future, James is ready to expand his horizons: “Taking my career stateside is the next chapter. I’m eager to explore larger platforms and bring more stories to audiences worldwide.”
James’ path exemplifies a powerful lesson for anyone aspiring to make their mark in the field: success is not just about seizing opportunities, but about creating them.