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Jim Morris | |
|---|---|
| Born | James Morris |
| Alma mater | Syracuse University |
| Occupations |
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| Organization(s) | General Manager &President ofPixar |
James Morris is an American film producer, production executive and visual effects producer. He is currently the general manager and president ofPixar. Previously, he held key positions atIndustrial Light & Magic (ILM) for 17 years.[1]
Morris graduated from theTower Hill School in Wilmington, Delaware in 1973.[2] In 1977, Morris earned a Bachelor of Science degree in film, and in 1978 a Master of Science degree in television/radio, from theS. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications atSyracuse University.[1][3]
Morris began his career with local television studios, followed by working on TV commercials.[4] He started as a cameraman and editor atNBC affiliateWSYR-TV. During this time, he independently produced and directed the award-winning documentaryThe Stag Hotel. He then worked atPBS affiliateWCNY-TV, where he wrote and produced the educational seriesBehind the Wheel as well as the Jim Lehrer-hosted documentaryOld Folks at Home andJourney to the Mountain. During this same period, Morris wrote, directed and produced the independent documentarySnapshot. In 1980, Morris moved to San Francisco and worked as an editor atKTVU-TV inOakland, after which he moved on to the production departments at advertising agenciesJ. Walter Thompson, andFoote, Cone & Belding. Morris was named executive producer heading the commercial production department at the innovative post-production facility One Pass, and then became the executive producer at Arnold & Associates, producing national commercials for clients such asAtari andChevron.[1][3] While at Arnold & Associates, Morris received an NEA Grant to write, direct and produce the independent documentaryRehearsal.
In 1987, Morris joined ILM as a producer of visual effects for films and commercials, working on, amongst others,Steven Spielberg'sAlways andJames Cameron'sThe Abyss, which earned anOscar forBest Visual Effects.[3][4] He was subsequently promoted to be ILM's executive in charge of production, supervising all the company's production, and then ILM's general manager, supervising more than 1,400 artists and technicians and guiding the largest visual effects facility in the industry, a post he held for 13 years.[1][3] During this period, ILM's innovations resulting in Academy Awards included the pioneering use ofcomputer-generated characters inJurassic Park, realistic digital skin inDeath Becomes Her,Terminator 2: Judgment Day andForrest Gump.[1][3][4] Other ILM projects he managed from the period includeMission: Impossible,Twister,Saving Private Ryan,Star Wars EpisodesI andII,The Perfect Storm,Pearl Harbor,Minority Report,Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl,Master and Commander, and threeHarry Potter films.[1][3] ILM worked on over 160 films during this period.[5]
Morris was president of Lucas Digital Ltd. for 11 years, and managed its two divisions, ILM andSkywalker Sound. Additionally, Morris oversaw Lucasfilm Animation from 2000 to 2005.[5]
Morris joined Pixar Animation Studios in 2005.[6] He was producer of Pixar's critically acclaimed 2008 film,WALL-E, and was responsible for managing the production of the studio's features, shorts, DVD content, and theme park activities.[6] In 2008 he was named as general manager for Pixar Animation Studios.[6]
Morris was producer ofDisney's 2012 filmJohn Carter.[7]
On November 18, 2014, he was named as president of Pixar Animation Studios, succeedingEdwin Catmull.[8] In August 2019, formerWalt Disney Animation Studios head Andrew Millstein was named as co-president ofBlue Sky Studios, while Morris would also be taking a supervising role over Millstein.[9]
Morris served for many years as president of the San Francisco Film Commission.[1] He was a 2009 recipient of theProducers Guild of America Digital 25 Award.[10] Morris was the founding chair of the Visual Effect Society, and served in that role for two terms. He received theVisual Effects Society's board of directors Award in 2006, a Lifetime Membership in 2007, and their Founders Award in 2010 and was made a VES Fellow in 2016.[11] ForWALL-E, Morris was awarded Producers Guild of America's 2009 Producer of the Year for Animated Motion Pictures,[12] the 2008BAFTA Award for Best Animated Film, a2008 American Film Institute Award for one of the 10 best films of the year, the 2008Golden Globe Award for Best Animated Feature Film and a Visual Effects Society Award.[1] Morris is an active member in the VES, BAFTA, the Producers Guild and AMPAS, where he serves as a member of the Finance Committee. In 2021, Morris received theGeorge Arents Award, Syracuse University's highest alumni honor.[13]
