James D. Stern
Encyclopedia
James D. Stern is an American film director and producer, and Broadway producer, and a member of the Producers Guild of America. He won a 2003 Tony Award for "Hairspray," has been nominated for many Tony awards, and was a Drama Desk Award Winner for "Stomp."
, directed by Roger Donaldson and starring Nicolas Cage, January Jones and Guy Pearce. Recent releases include An Education
(Sony Pictures Classics), which garnered three Academy Award nominations, and Every Little Step
(Sony Pictures Classics), which Stern coproduced and co-directed. The documentary grossed more than $1.7 million and was short listed for an Academy Award.
Previous Endgame releases include Summit’s The Brothers Bloom
, Sony Pictures Classics’ Easy Virtue and the Bob Dylan biopic I’m Not There, featuring an Oscar-nominated performance by Cate Blanchett. Earlier releases include Hotel Rwanda
and Lord of War
for Lionsgate, Proof
for Miramax, Universal’s White Noise
, Hollywood Pictures’ Stay Alive
, and New Line’s Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle. Stern also directed and produced the documentaries The Year of the Yao
(New Line) and So Goes the Nation (IFC).
Before starting Endgame, Stern directed and produced the IMAX hit Michael Jordan to the Max and HBO’s It’s the Rage. On stage some of his producing credits include the 12 time Tony Award winning Mel Brooks show, "The Producers" and the eight time Tony Award winning "Hairspray". Additionally he produced the international runaway sensation "Stomp" as well as such shows as "The Diary of Anne Frank" starring Natalie Portman, "Legally Blonde", the Tony Award nominated "Twilight 1992", and the Olivier Award winning play "The Weir". He subsequently produced Alan Menken's "Leap of Faith" during the fall of 2010.
Stern founded and ran the financial investment company and hedge fund Stern Joint Venture, L.P. (“SJV”). Under his leadership, SJV has compounded an annual rate of return of 19.75% since its inception in 1989. SJV began investing with five hedges and has grown in size and scope to investments in 45 hedge funds.
Stern has a B.A. in directing from the University of Michigan and a M.B.A. in marketing and finance from Columbia University.
Life and career
In 2002, Stern founded Endgame Entertainment as an independent production company to produce, develop and finance films and other forms of entertainment properties. Under his leadership, Endgame Entertainment has financed or cofinanced more than 25 films. Endgame recently wrapped production on The Hungry Rabbit JumpsThe Hungry Rabbit Jumps
Seeking Justice, formerly known as The Hungry Rabbit Jumps, is a film starring Nicolas Cage, Guy Pearce and January Jones. The film was directed by Roger Donaldson and produced by Tobey Maguire and Ram Bergman. Filming took place in New Orleans, Louisiana...
, directed by Roger Donaldson and starring Nicolas Cage, January Jones and Guy Pearce. Recent releases include An Education
An Education
An Education is a 2009 British coming-of-age drama film, based on an autobiographical article in Granta by British journalist Lynn Barber. The film was directed by Lone Scherfig from a screenplay by Nick Hornby, and stars Carey Mulligan as Jenny, a bright schoolgirl, and Peter Sarsgaard as David,...
(Sony Pictures Classics), which garnered three Academy Award nominations, and Every Little Step
Every Little Step (film)
Every Little Step is a 2008 American documentary film produced and directed by James D. Stern and Adam Del Deo. It follows the process of casting the 2006 Broadway revival of A Chorus Line and explores the history of the award-winning musical, beginning with the informal interviews with Broadway...
(Sony Pictures Classics), which Stern coproduced and co-directed. The documentary grossed more than $1.7 million and was short listed for an Academy Award.
Previous Endgame releases include Summit’s The Brothers Bloom
The Brothers Bloom
The Brothers Bloom is a 2008 American postmodern caper film written and directed by Rian Johnson. The film stars Mark Ruffalo, Adrien Brody, Rachel Weisz, Ricky Jay, Rinko Kikuchi, and Robbie Coltrane...
, Sony Pictures Classics’ Easy Virtue and the Bob Dylan biopic I’m Not There, featuring an Oscar-nominated performance by Cate Blanchett. Earlier releases include Hotel Rwanda
Hotel Rwanda
Hotel Rwanda is a 2004 American drama film directed by Terry George. It was adapted from a screenplay written by both George and Keir Pearson. Based on real life events which took place in Rwanda during the spring of 1994, the film stars Don Cheadle as hotelier Paul Rusesabagina, who attempts to...
and Lord of War
Lord of War
Lord of War is a 2005 French-German-American action drama film written and directed by Andrew Niccol and starring Nicolas Cage. It was released in the United States on September 16, 2005, with the DVD following on January 17, 2006 and the Blu-ray Disc on July 27, 2006.Cage plays an illegal arms...
for Lionsgate, Proof
Proof (2005 film)
Proof is a 2005 American drama film directed by John Madden and starring Anthony Hopkins, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Hope Davis; it was written by Rebecca Miller, based on David Auburn's Pulitzer Prize-winning play of the same title.-Plot:...
for Miramax, Universal’s White Noise
White Noise (film)
White Noise is a 2005 supernatural horror film, directed by Geoffrey Sax. The title refers to electronic voice phenomena , where voices, which some believe to be from the "other side," can be heard on audio recordings...
, Hollywood Pictures’ Stay Alive
Stay Alive
Stay Alive is a 2006 horror film directed by William Brent Bell, who cowrote it with Matthew Peterman. It was produced by McG, co-produced by Hollywood Pictures and released on March 24, 2006 in the US. In the U.S. the film was rated PG-13 for horror violence, disturbing images, language, and brief...
, and New Line’s Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle. Stern also directed and produced the documentaries The Year of the Yao
The Year of the Yao
The Year of the Yao is a 2004 documentary film telling the first year of basketball player Yao Ming in the United States. The film is narrated by his friend and former interpreter Colin Pine, who stayed with Yao during Yao's rookie year, and interpreted for him for three years....
(New Line) and So Goes the Nation (IFC).
Before starting Endgame, Stern directed and produced the IMAX hit Michael Jordan to the Max and HBO’s It’s the Rage. On stage some of his producing credits include the 12 time Tony Award winning Mel Brooks show, "The Producers" and the eight time Tony Award winning "Hairspray". Additionally he produced the international runaway sensation "Stomp" as well as such shows as "The Diary of Anne Frank" starring Natalie Portman, "Legally Blonde", the Tony Award nominated "Twilight 1992", and the Olivier Award winning play "The Weir". He subsequently produced Alan Menken's "Leap of Faith" during the fall of 2010.
Stern founded and ran the financial investment company and hedge fund Stern Joint Venture, L.P. (“SJV”). Under his leadership, SJV has compounded an annual rate of return of 19.75% since its inception in 1989. SJV began investing with five hedges and has grown in size and scope to investments in 45 hedge funds.
Stern has a B.A. in directing from the University of Michigan and a M.B.A. in marketing and finance from Columbia University.