By Kindhumans, September 9, 2020
Tell us a little bit about yourself. Who is James Redford?
I am a storyteller. Many years ago, I encountered my best friend from early childhood. Upon learning that I was writing screenplays, he said, “I could have guessed.” When I asked him why, he said that I was always “making up stories that got me into trouble.” I am very curious. I am constantly developing interests and passions and I tend to be an adrenaline junkie. Unfortunately, I’m accident prone, but that doesn’t stop me. At 57, age has also mellowed me somewhat, but if there is a skateboard in the driveway…
I had an incredibly fun time raising my two kids, reliving many rites of passages and being childlike with them. My wife, Kyle, and I met in college, matured into adulthood together, and are best friends. I have had a lifelong affair with the guitar that has never waned. I like being out in the world. I like most people. I love making films that add to people’s lives.
What led you to a career dedicated to social justice documentary filmmaking?
I have struggled for most of my life with a serious chronic illness. At 30, I received a liver transplant. When I emerged from that, I felt a calling to do what I could to help create awareness about organ donation. That led to my first documentary film for HBO, The Kindness Of Strangers. At the time, it became the film of reference for those working in organ donation advocacy. Although I was writing screenplays and directing features at the time, the rewards of telling stories that could chip away at vexing societal problems stayed with me and eventually became my sole focus.
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