David James Baker is an American

filmmaker Filmmaking (film production) is the process by which a motion picture is produced. Filmmaking involves a number of complex and discrete stages, starting with an initial story, idea, or commission. It then continues through screenwriting, castin ...

Education

Baker holds a B.A. from the

University of Denver The University of Denver (DU) is a private university, private research university in Denver, Colorado. Founded in 1864, it is the oldest independent private university in the Mountain States, Rocky Mountain Region of the United States. It is ...

, an M.A. from

New Mexico Highlands University New Mexico Highlands University (NMHU) is a public university in Las Vegas, New Mexico. Founded in 1893, it has satellite campuses in Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Rio Rancho, Farmington and Roswell. NMHU has an average annual enrollment of approximate ...

, and an M.F.A from

New Mexico State University New Mexico State University (NMSU or NM State) is a public land-grant research university based primarily in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest public institution of higher education in New Mexico and one of the state's tw ...

Career

Baker is the writer-director of ''Portraits of the Southwest'', a documentary series produced by Public Television for Southern

New Mexico ) , population_demonym = New Mexican ( es, Neomexicano, Neomejicano, Nuevo Mexicano) , seat = Santa Fe , LargestCity = Albuquerque , LargestMetro = Tiguex , OfficialLang = None , Languages = English, Spanish ( New Mexican), Navajo, Ker ...

and West

Texas Texas (, ; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2 ...

. ''Portraits of the Southwest'' profiles people and their environments in the

American Southwest The Southwestern United States, also known as the American Southwest or simply the Southwest, is a geographic and cultural region of the United States that generally includes Arizona, New Mexico, and adjacent portions of California, Colorado, N ...

. The most recent episode, "Portraits of the Southwest - Road Closed," tells the story of a gay couple who tried for 10 years to open a hotel in Radium Springs,

. Before he began producing documentaries for public television, Baker produced the documentary film ''In Their Own Words - A Return to Vietnam'' about a group of American Veterans and family members whose hearts and minds are connected to battlefields they visit and where they meet former enemy soldiers. Baker is a visiting professor at

Western New Mexico University Western New Mexico University is a public university in Silver City, New Mexico. It was founded in 1893. History Founded in the Territory of New Mexico on February 11, 1893 as the New Mexico Normal School, the school began to offer classes on S ...

. His background includes stints at Disney and working in media technology at

UCLA The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is a public land-grant research university in Los Angeles, California. UCLA's academic roots were established in 1881 as a teachers college then known as the southern branch of the California St ...

References

Independent Film: IFP.org

Desert Exposure: Radium Hot Springs
* Robert Nott. "Meaning and Remembrance." ''The Santa Fe New Mexican'', May 28, 2004; p. 66

Portraits of the Southwest Series Features Music of Steve Smith

David James Baker in India for discussion with aspiring media professionals and designers
{{DEFAULTSORT:Baker, David James Living people Year of birth missing (living people) American film directors University of Denver alumni New Mexico State University alumni New Mexico Highlands University alumni Western New Mexico University faculty Place of birth missing (living people)