James C. Udel
- Camera and Electrical Department
- Special Effects
- Additional Crew
James was born and raised in Baltimore Maryland(August 1959) and his first exposure to the biz was carrying camera and lighting gear for his father, a
prominent East coast shooter, at the age of 10.
Moving to New York city by 17 to seek his own photographic fortune; young Udel did everything Industry connected from loading trucks at Feature Systems
and production assistant permit-grip gigs on Miami Vice to work as a still-man on over fifty commercials.
Married to actress Maryann Roses and parenting one son, Douglas Sean; Jimi(with the family in tow) ultimately moved to the West coast in pursuit
of the golden dance ticket - known as a Union card.
In early 92',after a year of Roger Corman pictures and building sets for fly by night production houses, he landed the pass to his future- an IA card as a grip. Putting in twenty years in the trenches with Local 80 through two
serious injuries on Being John Malkovich and Lemony
Snickets,(respectively), and photographing every actor he could
convince along the way to sit for him; Udel gradually built-up a
collection of images-of 'behind the scenes Hollywood', second to none.
Later finding 'his home' as a call steward for the Union he loved, he
continues to serve the membership for the past ten years to this
date.
Writing a well received column on 'Classic Hollywood' titled Footnotes, Udel soon parlayed that following into a book-deal with McFarland Publishing; where the release of his first tome, 'The Film Crew of Hollywood' came about in 2014.
While his interviews have been placed in the permanent collection of the 'Academy's' Motion Picture and Television Archives;Jimi has continued to write about and photograph A-list crews and talent. Working on his second Tome with McFarland for another Tinseltown project,(Stunt Legends of Hollywood), Udel is in the research and interview phase of his new undertaking having already spoken to Stunt icons like Loren Janes and Royden Clark; with other Industry greats such as Terry Leonard, Mickey Gilbert, and Debbie Evans (among a dozen others), scheduled to participate as well. Mentoring young film makers as well, the Udel Studios were chosen in 2015 to safety chaperone a USC '547' grad project(titled Bright Sided) to the roof of One California Plaza. Setting up and demonstrating the basics of an over the edge crane move, nearly 80 stories high; the classes Professor,(James O'keeffe), was so taken with Udel's teaching manner that an assistant adjunct instructor position is currently in the discussion phase.
Writing a well received column on 'Classic Hollywood' titled Footnotes, Udel soon parlayed that following into a book-deal with McFarland Publishing; where the release of his first tome, 'The Film Crew of Hollywood' came about in 2014.
While his interviews have been placed in the permanent collection of the 'Academy's' Motion Picture and Television Archives;Jimi has continued to write about and photograph A-list crews and talent. Working on his second Tome with McFarland for another Tinseltown project,(Stunt Legends of Hollywood), Udel is in the research and interview phase of his new undertaking having already spoken to Stunt icons like Loren Janes and Royden Clark; with other Industry greats such as Terry Leonard, Mickey Gilbert, and Debbie Evans (among a dozen others), scheduled to participate as well. Mentoring young film makers as well, the Udel Studios were chosen in 2015 to safety chaperone a USC '547' grad project(titled Bright Sided) to the roof of One California Plaza. Setting up and demonstrating the basics of an over the edge crane move, nearly 80 stories high; the classes Professor,(James O'keeffe), was so taken with Udel's teaching manner that an assistant adjunct instructor position is currently in the discussion phase.
