| James D. Stern | |
|---|---|
| Born | James D. Stern |
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."
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 Jumps, 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.