Selected Press

Selected Press

Selected Press

Selected Press

Selected Press

ProductionHub   To become an artist, you have to have something authentic to say, but it can take years to be heard by a mass audience. You just have to keep working at your craft, even when that work is hard. Spend time asking yourself, why do you want to do what you want to do? What is it that drives you to be an artist? If you can answer that question clearly, over time, people will join you on your artistic journey. 

Director's Notes  On The Sound of Identity, I knew Lucia always had to be interviewed on a stage. This alluded to her historic performance, but also, the public stage of judgement that any otherized person stands upon. The stage gets bigger with every interview, representing the internal and external growth of her career. In each conversation, I fashioned the questions to represent each phase of her career within the three act structure. Once we left one stage, as with our development as artists, we would never return to that stage again. In the final cut of the film, we change stages every 30 minutes for each act.

Pipeline Artists  I’ve interviewed many artists and watched countless films, but this one is ... indescribable. It’s a profoundly important documentary—dare I say, the most life-altering film experience I’ve had in years. I cried. I even teared up when I began speaking with James. I double-dog dare you to watch this film and not feel.

Atlanta Film Chat  James Kicklighter and his longtime cinematographer, Jonathan Pope, the Emmy-nominated director of photography of The Social Dilemma, discuss their early years as roommates at Georgia Southern University, their collaborative process and how they approached filming The Sound of Identity.

VoyageLA  When I made my first feature, Desires of the Heart, in Rajasthan, India and Savannah, Georgia, I had always thought that making your first full length film would be the key to your entire career. But once you climb the first, highest mountain, you discover that there’s an entire mountain chain that follows. It’s ascending the summit and moving forward.

No Film School  Is filmmaking a long-term or short-term thing for you? This is one of the best points Kicklighter talks about, namely because it's a little obscure. If you're working on a project right now, do you know what your next is going to be? If your answer is yes, have you determined how your current project will help you make your next one? 

Mic  Kicklighter believes that as the world continues to grow closer, it is the homogenization of culture that is the most negative aspect of globalization.

Director's Notes  Technology is always moving, and as such, so creators should be. We have to meet audiences on whatever platform and screen they choose. If we only select traditional media pathways, then we will die along with them.

Stage 32  RB brought on James Kicklighter to chat about how networking is crucial to a creative. James talks about what to keep in mind when you’re looking to submit your film into a film festival and how short films are a great proof of concept for your potential for a feature. James goes over longevity of your career in the industry – it’s about treating each of your films as their own brands or products and what are the tangible steps that you are going to take to get there.

ProductionHub   To become an artist, you have to have something authentic to say, but it can take years to be heard by a mass audience. You just have to keep working at your craft, even when that work is hard. Spend time asking yourself, why do you want to do what you want to do? What is it that drives you to be an artist? If you can answer that question clearly, over time, people will join you on your artistic journey. 

Director's Notes  On The Sound of Identity, I knew Lucia always had to be interviewed on a stage. This alluded to her historic performance, but also, the public stage of judgement that any otherized person stands upon. The stage gets bigger with every interview, representing the internal and external growth of her career. In each conversation, I fashioned the questions to represent each phase of her career within the three act structure. Once we left one stage, as with our development as artists, we would never return to that stage again. In the final cut of the film, we change stages every 30 minutes for each act.

Pipeline Artists  I’ve interviewed many artists and watched countless films, but this one is ... indescribable. It’s a profoundly important documentary—dare I say, the most life-altering film experience I’ve had in years. I cried. I even teared up when I began speaking with James. I double-dog dare you to watch this film and not feel.

Atlanta Film Chat  James Kicklighter and his longtime cinematographer, Jonathan Pope, the Emmy-nominated director of photography of The Social Dilemma, discuss their early years as roommates at Georgia Southern University, their collaborative process and how they approached filming The Sound of Identity.

VoyageLA  When I made my first feature, Desires of the Heart, in Rajasthan, India and Savannah, Georgia, I had always thought that making your first full length film would be the key to your entire career. But once you climb the first, highest mountain, you discover that there’s an entire mountain chain that follows. It’s ascending the summit and moving forward.

No Film School  Is filmmaking a long-term or short-term thing for you? This is one of the best points Kicklighter talks about, namely because it's a little obscure. If you're working on a project right now, do you know what your next is going to be? If your answer is yes, have you determined how your current project will help you make your next one? 

Mic  Kicklighter believes that as the world continues to grow closer, it is the homogenization of culture that is the most negative aspect of globalization.

Director's Notes  Technology is always moving, and as such, so creators should be. We have to meet audiences on whatever platform and screen they choose. If we only select traditional media pathways, then we will die along with them.

Stage 32  RB brought on James Kicklighter to chat about how networking is crucial to a creative. James talks about what to keep in mind when you’re looking to submit your film into a film festival and how short films are a great proof of concept for your potential for a feature. James goes over longevity of your career in the industry – it’s about treating each of your films as their own brands or products and what are the tangible steps that you are going to take to get there.

ProductionHub   To become an artist, you have to have something authentic to say, but it can take years to be heard by a mass audience. You just have to keep working at your craft, even when that work is hard. Spend time asking yourself, why do you want to do what you want to do? What is it that drives you to be an artist? If you can answer that question clearly, over time, people will join you on your artistic journey. 

Director's Notes  On The Sound of Identity, I knew Lucia always had to be interviewed on a stage. This alluded to her historic performance, but also, the public stage of judgement that any otherized person stands upon. The stage gets bigger with every interview, representing the internal and external growth of her career. In each conversation, I fashioned the questions to represent each phase of her career within the three act structure. Once we left one stage, as with our development as artists, we would never return to that stage again. In the final cut of the film, we change stages every 30 minutes for each act.

Pipeline Artists  I’ve interviewed many artists and watched countless films, but this one is ... indescribable. It’s a profoundly important documentary—dare I say, the most life-altering film experience I’ve had in years. I cried. I even teared up when I began speaking with James. I double-dog dare you to watch this film and not feel.

Atlanta Film Chat  James Kicklighter and his longtime cinematographer, Jonathan Pope, the Emmy-nominated director of photography of The Social Dilemma, discuss their early years as roommates at Georgia Southern University, their collaborative process and how they approached filming The Sound of Identity.

VoyageLA  When I made my first feature, Desires of the Heart, in Rajasthan, India and Savannah, Georgia, I had always thought that making your first full length film would be the key to your entire career. But once you climb the first, highest mountain, you discover that there’s an entire mountain chain that follows. It’s ascending the summit and moving forward.

No Film School  Is filmmaking a long-term or short-term thing for you? This is one of the best points Kicklighter talks about, namely because it's a little obscure. If you're working on a project right now, do you know what your next is going to be? If your answer is yes, have you determined how your current project will help you make your next one? 

Mic  Kicklighter believes that as the world continues to grow closer, it is the homogenization of culture that is the most negative aspect of globalization.

Director's Notes  Technology is always moving, and as such, so creators should be. We have to meet audiences on whatever platform and screen they choose. If we only select traditional media pathways, then we will die along with them.

Stage 32  RB brought on James Kicklighter to chat about how networking is crucial to a creative. James talks about what to keep in mind when you’re looking to submit your film into a film festival and how short films are a great proof of concept for your potential for a feature. James goes over longevity of your career in the industry – it’s about treating each of your films as their own brands or products and what are the tangible steps that you are going to take to get there.

ProductionHub   To become an artist, you have to have something authentic to say, but it can take years to be heard by a mass audience. You just have to keep working at your craft, even when that work is hard. Spend time asking yourself, why do you want to do what you want to do? What is it that drives you to be an artist? If you can answer that question clearly, over time, people will join you on your artistic journey. 

Director's Notes  On The Sound of Identity, I knew Lucia always had to be interviewed on a stage. This alluded to her historic performance, but also, the public stage of judgement that any otherized person stands upon. The stage gets bigger with every interview, representing the internal and external growth of her career. In each conversation, I fashioned the questions to represent each phase of her career within the three act structure. Once we left one stage, as with our development as artists, we would never return to that stage again. In the final cut of the film, we change stages every 30 minutes for each act.

Pipeline Artists  I’ve interviewed many artists and watched countless films, but this one is ... indescribable. It’s a profoundly important documentary—dare I say, the most life-altering film experience I’ve had in years. I cried. I even teared up when I began speaking with James. I double-dog dare you to watch this film and not feel.

Atlanta Film Chat  James Kicklighter and his longtime cinematographer, Jonathan Pope, the Emmy-nominated director of photography of The Social Dilemma, discuss their early years as roommates at Georgia Southern University, their collaborative process and how they approached filming The Sound of Identity.

Operawire  Jumping headfirst into the world of opera was daunting, Kicklighter said, but he was reassured by many that knowledge of the art form grows from experience, as well as by being around opera people. The director was a quick study, as there is little hint in the film that he had no exposure working within the opera world until he was chosen to direct The Sound of Identity. 

ShoutoutLA  Directing is a fine balance between collaboration and clarity of vision. To allow your team to do the best work, I have to clearly express what my intentions are, and give them the latitude to apply their own artistry. If I don’t do a good job of that, audiences will see it in the work, no matter if I make a film, documentary or advertisement.

Savannah Morning News  I believe that directing is very much about pulling from experiences and people and moments in your life that you draw upon from different moments to create material and connect with an audience.

Queerty  I had a very challenging experience on my film seven years ago in which I didn’t get to finish it the way I wanted. I believe in supporting my films, but that experience was extremely traumatic for me. So it took a couple of years to get through that. I spent time doing short films to really ask myself I really wanted to say as an artist. 

VoyageLA  When I made my first feature, Desires of the Heart, in Rajasthan, India and Savannah, Georgia, I had always thought that making your first full length film would be the key to your entire career. But once you climb the first, highest mountain, you discover that there’s an entire mountain chain that follows. It’s ascending the summit and moving forward.

No Film School  Is filmmaking a long-term or short-term thing for you? This is one of the best points Kicklighter talks about, namely because it's a little obscure. If you're working on a project right now, do you know what your next is going to be? If your answer is yes, have you determined how your current project will help you make your next one? 

Mic  Kicklighter believes that as the world continues to grow closer, it is the homogenization of culture that is the most negative aspect of globalization.

Director's Notes  Technology is always moving, and as such, so creators should be. We have to meet audiences on whatever platform and screen they choose. If we only select traditional media pathways, then we will die along with them.

Stage 32  RB brought on James Kicklighter to chat about how networking is crucial to a creative. James talks about what to keep in mind when you’re looking to submit your film into a film festival and how short films are a great proof of concept for your potential for a feature. James goes over longevity of your career in the industry – it’s about treating each of your films as their own brands or products and what are the tangible steps that you are going to take to get there.

ProductionHub   To become an artist, you have to have something authentic to say, but it can take years to be heard by a mass audience. You just have to keep working at your craft, even when that work is hard. Spend time asking yourself, why do you want to do what you want to do? What is it that drives you to be an artist? If you can answer that question clearly, over time, people will join you on your artistic journey. 

Director's Notes  On The Sound of Identity, I knew Lucia always had to be interviewed on a stage. This alluded to her historic performance, but also, the public stage of judgement that any otherized person stands upon. The stage gets bigger with every interview, representing the internal and external growth of her career. In each conversation, I fashioned the questions to represent each phase of her career within the three act structure. Once we left one stage, as with our development as artists, we would never return to that stage again. In the final cut of the film, we change stages every 30 minutes for each act.

Pipeline Artists  I’ve interviewed many artists and watched countless films, but this one is ... indescribable. It’s a profoundly important documentary—dare I say, the most life-altering film experience I’ve had in years. I cried. I even teared up when I began speaking with James. I double-dog dare you to watch this film and not feel.

Atlanta Film Chat  James Kicklighter and his longtime cinematographer, Jonathan Pope, the Emmy-nominated director of photography of The Social Dilemma, discuss their early years as roommates at Georgia Southern University, their collaborative process and how they approached filming The Sound of Identity.

Operawire  Jumping headfirst into the world of opera was daunting, Kicklighter said, but he was reassured by many that knowledge of the art form grows from experience, as well as by being around opera people. The director was a quick study, as there is little hint in the film that he had no exposure working within the opera world until he was chosen to direct The Sound of Identity. 

ShoutoutLA  Directing is a fine balance between collaboration and clarity of vision. To allow your team to do the best work, I have to clearly express what my intentions are, and give them the latitude to apply their own artistry. If I don’t do a good job of that, audiences will see it in the work, no matter if I make a film, documentary or advertisement. 

Savannah Morning News  I believe that directing is very much about pulling from experiences and people and moments in your life that you draw upon from different moments to create material and connect with an audience.

Queerty  I had a very challenging experience on my film seven years ago in which I didn’t get to finish it the way I wanted. I believe in supporting my films, but that experience was extremely traumatic for me. So it took a couple of years to get through that. I spent time doing short films to really ask myself I really wanted to say as an artist. 

VoyageLA  When I made my first feature, Desires of the Heart, in Rajasthan, India and Savannah, Georgia, I had always thought that making your first full length film would be the key to your entire career. But once you climb the first, highest mountain, you discover that there’s an entire mountain chain that follows. It’s ascending the summit and moving forward.

No Film School  Is filmmaking a long-term or short-term thing for you? This is one of the best points Kicklighter talks about, namely because it's a little obscure. If you're working on a project right now, do you know what your next is going to be? If your answer is yes, have you determined how your current project will help you make your next one? 

Mic  Kicklighter believes that as the world continues to grow closer, it is the homogenization of culture that is the most negative aspect of globalization.

Director's Notes  Technology is always moving, and as such, so creators should be. We have to meet audiences on whatever platform and screen they choose. If we only select traditional media pathways, then we will die along with them.

Stage 32  RB brought on James Kicklighter to chat about how networking is crucial to a creative. James talks about what to keep in mind when you’re looking to submit your film into a film festival and how short films are a great proof of concept for your potential for a feature. James goes over longevity of your career in the industry – it’s about treating each of your films as their own brands or products and what are the tangible steps that you are going to take to get there.

Operawire  Jumping headfirst into the world of opera was daunting, Kicklighter said, but he was reassured by many that knowledge of the art form grows from experience, as well as by being around opera people. The director was a quick study, as there is little hint in the film that he had no exposure working within the opera world until he was chosen to direct The Sound of Identity.

Savannah Morning News  I believe that directing is very much about pulling from experiences and people and moments in your life that you draw upon from different moments to create material and connect with an audience.

ShoutoutLA  Directing is a fine balance between collaboration and clarity of vision. To allow your team to do the best work, I have to clearly express what my intentions are, and give them the latitude to apply their own artistry. If I don’t do a good job of that, audiences will see it in the work, no matter if I make a film, documentary or advertisement.

Queerty  I had a very challenging experience on my film seven years ago in which I didn’t get to finish it the way I wanted. I believe in supporting my films, but that experience was extremely traumatic for me. So it took a couple of years to get through that. I spent time doing short films to really ask myself I really wanted to say as an artist. 

Jean Book Nerd  Interview with director James Kicklighter about his latest film Angel of Anywhere, upcoming The American Question and his career.

The 11th Hour  Sidney Lumet’s Network is the perfect combination of story, performance and cinematography. I saw that, and I knew this is what I want to do with my life. Also, because I was equally mad as hell.

Atlanta Film Chat James Kicklighter (Digital Edition) discusses starting his career at Georgia Southern University, traveling to India, and directing for the Hillary Clinton campaign.  

Seated at the Writer's Table  James Kicklighter is a 26 year old award winning director with an impressive career already behind him.  In this show, he gave some insight into how he achieved his success at such a young age.  James and Phil also discussed character development, character arc, writing to a theme and directing with a writer’s perspective.

Macon Magazine  Kicklighter, a 22-year-old from Bellville, Georgia, is inevitably tagged as a prodigy, wunderkind, and lovable “old soul,” with eight movies to his credit, more in the works, and a shelf of awards from indie film festivals and arts organizations around the world.  

Operawire  Jumping headfirst into the world of opera was daunting, Kicklighter said, but he was reassured by many that knowledge of the art form grows from experience, as well as by being around opera people. The director was a quick study, as there is little hint in the film that he had no exposure working within the opera world until he was chosen to direct The Sound of Identity.

Savannah Morning News  I believe that directing is very much about pulling from experiences and people and moments in your life that you draw upon from different moments to create material and connect with an audience.

ShoutoutLA  Directing is a fine balance between collaboration and clarity of vision. To allow your team to do the best work, I have to clearly express what my intentions are, and give them the latitude to apply their own artistry. If I don’t do a good job of that, audiences will see it in the work, no matter if I make a film, documentary or advertisement.

Queerty  I had a very challenging experience on my film seven years ago in which I didn’t get to finish it the way I wanted. I believe in supporting my films, but that experience was extremely traumatic for me. So it took a couple of years to get through that. I spent time doing short films to really ask myself I really wanted to say as an artist. 

 Jean Book Nerd  Interview with director James Kicklighter about his latest film Angel of Anywhere, upcoming The American Question and his career.

The 11th Hour  Sidney Lumet’s Network is the perfect combination of story, performance and cinematography. I saw that, and I knew this is what I want to do with my life. Also, because I was equally mad as hell.

Atlanta Film Chat James Kicklighter (Digital Edition) discusses starting his career at Georgia Southern University, traveling to India, and directing for the Hillary Clinton campaign.  

Seated at the Writer's Table  James Kicklighter is a 26 year old award winning director with an impressive career already behind him.  In this show, he gave some insight into how he achieved his success at such a young age.  James and Phil also discussed character development, character arc, writing to a theme and directing with a writer’s perspective.

Macon Magazine  Kicklighter, a 22-year-old from Bellville, Georgia, is inevitably tagged as a prodigy, wunderkind, and lovable “old soul,” with eight movies to his credit, more in the works, and a shelf of awards from indie film festivals and arts organizations around the world.  

Operawire  Jumping headfirst into the world of opera was daunting, Kicklighter said, but he was reassured by many that knowledge of the art form grows from experience, as well as by being around opera people. The director was a quick study, as there is little hint in the film that he had no exposure working within the opera world until he was chosen to direct The Sound of Identity.

Savannah Morning News  I believe that directing is very much about pulling from experiences and people and moments in your life that you draw upon from different moments to create material and connect with an audience.

ShoutoutLA  Directing is a fine balance between collaboration and clarity of vision. To allow your team to do the best work, I have to clearly express what my intentions are, and give them the latitude to apply their own artistry. If I don’t do a good job of that, audiences will see it in the work, no matter if I make a film, documentary or advertisement.

Queerty  I had a very challenging experience on my film seven years ago in which I didn’t get to finish it the way I wanted. I believe in supporting my films, but that experience was extremely traumatic for me. So it took a couple of years to get through that. I spent time doing short films to really ask myself I really wanted to say as an artist. 

Jean Book Nerd  Interview with director James Kicklighter about his latest film Angel of Anywhere, upcoming The American Question and his career.

The 11th Hour  Sidney Lumet’s Network is the perfect combination of story, performance and cinematography. I saw that, and I knew this is what I want to do with my life. Also, because I was equally mad as hell.

Atlanta Film Chat James Kicklighter (Digital Edition) discusses starting his career at Georgia Southern University, traveling to India, and directing for the Hillary Clinton campaign.  

Seated at the Writer's Table  James Kicklighter is a 26 year old award winning director with an impressive career already behind him.  In this show, he gave some insight into how he achieved his success at such a young age.  James and Phil also discussed character development, character arc, writing to a theme and directing with a writer’s perspective.

Macon Magazine  Kicklighter, a 22-year-old from Bellville, Georgia, is inevitably tagged as a prodigy, wunderkind, and lovable “old soul,” with eight movies to his credit, more in the works, and a shelf of awards from indie film festivals and arts organizations around the world.  

Jean Book Nerd  Interview with director James Kicklighter about his latest film Angel of Anywhere, upcoming The American Question and his career.

The 11th Hour  Sidney Lumet’s Network is the perfect combination of story, performance and cinematography. I saw that, and I knew this is what I want to do with my life. Also, because I was equally mad as hell.

Atlanta Film Chat James Kicklighter (Digital Edition) discusses starting his career at Georgia Southern University, traveling to India, and directing for the Hillary Clinton campaign.  

Seated at the Writer's Table  James Kicklighter is a 26 year old award winning director with an impressive career already behind him.  In this show, he gave some insight into how he achieved his success at such a young age.  James and Phil also discussed character development, character arc, writing to a theme and directing with a writer’s perspective.

Macon Magazine  Kicklighter, a 22-year-old from Bellville, Georgia, is inevitably tagged as a prodigy, wunderkind, and lovable “old soul,” with eight movies to his credit, more in the works, and a shelf of awards from indie film festivals and arts organizations around the world.  

Jean Book Nerd  Interview with director James Kicklighter about his latest film Angel of Anywhere, upcoming The American Question and his career.

The 11th Hour  Sidney Lumet’s Network is the perfect combination of story, performance and cinematography. I saw that, and I knew this is what I want to do with my life. Also, because I was equally mad as hell.

Atlanta Film Chat James Kicklighter (Digital Edition) discusses starting his career at Georgia Southern University, traveling to India, and directing for the Hillary Clinton campaign.  

Macon Magazine  Kicklighter, a 22-year-old from Bellville, Georgia, is inevitably tagged as a prodigy, wunderkind, and lovable “old soul,” with eight movies to his credit, more in the works, and a shelf of awards from indie film festivals and arts organizations around the world.