James Carey - Career Biography
A respected media executive, James Carey began his career as an apprentice film editor on Carl Sagan’s PBS Series, Cosmos, and was soon editing and producing programs for network television and the aerospace Industry. In 1982 he was hired by Hughes Aircraft Company to produce and direct public information and marketing films, which included the documentary Two Flights of Discovery, highlighting two important Space Shuttle missions, and earning high praise from the astronauts involved for its accuracy portraying manned operations in space.
In 1987, Carey left Hughes to start his own media company, Desert Sky, producing a range of videos, including documentaries, music, corporate image, and concert videos, and also national TV spots. His new company was hired to produce a year-in-the-making documentary following the design, production, testing, and racing of General Motors’ breakthrough solar race car, the Sunraycer, which won the inaugural World Solar Challenge, racing against several dozen solar cars across the outback of Australia. The half hour documentary was included in a massive educational PR release, was also aired on the Learning Channel, and segments from it appeared on numerous TV shows, including Reading Rainbow on PBS.
In 1995 Carey joined Sierra Online to produce and direct the live action scenes for the video game RAMA, based on the novel by Arthur C. Clarke. In addition to the in-game video sequences, Carey took a crew to Sri Lanka to capture Dr. Clarke for a special end-of-game sequence, and to interview him for the behind-the-scenes extras. After the success of this production, Carey stayed on in the game business and built and managed three successful digital media production studios. First for Sierra’s subsidiary, Dynamix, in Eugene Oregon, then at Sierra’s new headquarters in Bellevue, Washington. Finally, after Sierra merged with the French based multi-conglomerate Vivendi Universal, Carey took over and revamped the video studio at Vivendi’s headquarters in Los Angeles
At Vivendi, Carey equipped, staffed and managed the Media Production Department as one would expect of a high profile Hollywood production facility - though without the excessive profit margins and creative fees. With little or no disruption to his department’s busy workflow, Carey also managed a complete HD media solution. The success of the upgraded department resulted in his promotion to Vice President. During the four years spent at Vivendi Games HQ, Carey produced numerous game trailers, TV Spots, special event productions, and the extra content for special edition game releases.
Late in 2007, wanting to return to the Pacific Northwest, Carey managed a transfer to one of Vivendi’s most successful game divisions, Radical Entertainment, in Vancouver, BC, Canada. There he joined a small, newly formed department - Radical Studio Marketing - with its primary mission of producing innovative consumer facing media. Carey was responsible for all of the video production, ranging from viral web releases to high-end behind-the-scenes programs. In 2011 his department was awarded GameTrailer’s prestigious “10 Million Views” plaque. Concurrent with his transfer to Vancouver, the largest game company in the world, Activision, purchased Vivendi Games, including Radical Entertainment, and after a further five years at Radical, Carey became an independent media producer/director. He now devotes most work time to making affordable mini-documentaries about worthy causes and non-profits organizations.
For more information and recommendations, please visit his LinkedIn profile.