Bang Bang
This was an incredible feature film to have written score and music for, directed by Vincent Grashaw (What Josiah Saw).
Bang Bang had its premiere at Tribeca Film Festival in New York in 2024. (Pictures in Gallery Section)
The film written by The Sopranos actor Will Janowitz follows Bernard “Bang Bang” Rozyski (Tim Blake Nelson), a bitter, retired boxer who’s tasked with caring for his grandson. He uses the opportunity to settle his oldest grudge by forcing his kin into embracing the sweet science. Others set to star include Glenn Plummer (Gifted), Andrew Liner (Vampire Academy), Erica Gimpel (Veronica Mars), Tony Award winner Nina Arianda (Being the Ricardos), Daniella Pineda (Jurassic World franchise) and Kevin Corrigan (The Departed).
Little Jar
Feature comedy film ‘Little Jar’ is now available on Apple TV and Amazon (link below). Little Jar received rave reviews at the film festivals with it’s American premiere at Austin Film Festival, Canadian premiere at Whistler Festival and European premiere at The Paris International Film Festival.
Ainsley is a misanthrope who hates people but when she suddenly finds herself in isolation with no one to talk to, she realizes how much she actually misses connection. Enter Ulysses, a dead mouse in a jar. With a little bit of loneliness, a pinch of imagination, and a mouse-sized tuxedo, Ulysses becomes her training wheels in this newly discovered world of friendship.
Keep Quiet
(Currently in Post Production)
Very excited to announce that I have just finished writing the score and music for this incredible feature film, directed by Vincent Grashaw (What Josiah Saw).
A weathered tribal cop (Lou Diamond Phillips) and his new trainee must find a ruthless fugitive, whose return to their rural Indigenous reservation has exposed its darkest secrets and could ignite a violent gang war.
Keep Quiet is set to hit the Film Festivals in 2025.
Grey Rabbit Short Films
Grey Rabbit is a Los Angeles based production company dedicated to crafting narrative driven storytelling.
Short Film Scores
Here are a few fun pieces I have written for other short films. Many are at the film festivals so I cannot yet share the film yet.
THE FORGOTTEN PLACE
The Forgotten Place is a critically acclaimed short film adapted from the award-winning short play published by Samuel French/Concord Theatricals
TFP was shortlisted by The Academy of Motion Picture Arts for ‘Best Live Action Short’ 2022
James Wakefield is a composer and producer known for his emotionally rich and highly imaginative film scores. With a natural sensitivity to both character and narrative, his music has the unique ability to enhance a scene’s emotional depth, forming a lasting connection with audiences.
James' work can be heard in award-winning films such as The Forgotten Place, Little Jar, Bang Bang (starring Tim Blake Nelson and Kevin Corrigan), and Keep Quiet (starring Lou Diamond Phillips). Kevin Corrigan (The Departed, Superbad) has said of James' music for Bang Bang, "It’s one of the reasons to love the film."
As the resident composer for Grey Rabbit Films, James has contributed to a number of short films, constantly exploring new ways to blend creativity with technical skill. His work has brought a fresh energy to every project, with producers and directors appreciating his versatility. Michael Rousselet from Little Jar said, “James went above and beyond for the music on our feature film Little Jar. His masterful use of real instruments and unexpected sound sources took the film to a whole other level.”
Known for quick turnarounds and a flexible, open-minded approach to each project, James has earned a reputation for making the creative process feel effortless. Director Vincent Grashaw remarked, “He was incredibly easy to work with, took notes to any cue we did, and the turnaround was at lightning speed. He moves fast, he has a wide variety of musical talents, regardless of genre of music or score – he did it all.”
While still growing in the industry, James is passionate about bringing each project to life with an emphasis on creativity and emotional depth.
Testimonials
"I was in a tight spot with my latest feature film, "Bang Bang" and I needed a composer to come onboard quick. I was pretty stressed about it and I was told from a friend of mine that I had to talk with James because I'd be in great hands and he could do anything with music. I reached out and had a conversation and was put at ease. He was incredibly easy to work with, took notes to any cue we did and the turnaround was at lightning speed. He moves fast, he has a wide variety of musical talents, regardless of genre of music or score - he did it all. I am so grateful to have worked with him, especially last minute like this. He made the experience incredibly easy and I would work with him again in a heartbeat."
— Vincent Grashaw (Director - Bang Bang)
“James went above and beyond for the music on our feature film Little Jar. James took an unconventional film and gave it the most elaborate, beautiful, unconventional score. When everything now is so easily digital James brought real instruments and real feelings to the film. His masterful use of the violins, piano, drums, horns, trashcans, scissors snips and whatever weird stuff he had sitting around elevated the film to a whole other level which we couldn't have imagined in my wildest dreams. James is a pleasure to work with and a joy to listen to. I can't wait to keep working with him in the future, he's a genius and I don't offer that praise lightly”
— Michael Rousselet (Producer - Little Jar)
“What can I say about James Wakefield that I haven't already screamed from the rooftops? James was hands down the most professional and creatively driven composer I have ever worked with. His passion for our film was unmatched. To say he's talented would be an egregious understatement. His ability to turn ordinary household objects into music was already impressive, but to use those ordinary sounds to capture the essence of the characters and scenes showcases his mastery of film scoring. Listening to his music bring our movie to life was one of the most magical moments of the entire filmmaking process and I look forward to working with him in many future projects.”
— Dominic Lopez (Writer & Director - Little Jar)
“James composed an absolutely beautiful score for my most recent film THE FORGOTTEN PLACE. He not only perfectly captured the spirit of the story, but did so in a professional, speedy, and highly enthusiastic manner. So grateful we found him - highly recommend!" - Jeff Locker (Writer/Producer/Actor)
— Jeff Locker (Producer - The Forgotten Place)