James Wong (born April 20, 1959) is a Hong Kong-born American television producer, writer, and film director. Wong is best known for co-writing episodes of the
Fox
Foxes are small to medium-sized, omnivorous mammals belonging to several genera of the family Canidae. They have a flattened skull, upright, triangular ears, a pointed, slightly upturned snout, and a long bushy tail (or ''brush'').
Twelve sp ...
science fiction supernatural drama series ''
The X-Files
''The X-Files'' is an American science fiction drama television series created by Chris Carter. The series revolves around Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Special Agents Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson), who ...
'' with his partner,
Glen Morgan
Glen Morgan (born July 12, 1961) is an American television producer, writer and director. He is best known for co-writing episodes of the Fox science fiction supernatural drama series ''The X-Files'' with his partner, James Wong. He served a ...
. Morgan and Wong are founders of the Hard Eight Pictures and co-created ''
Space: Above and Beyond''. Wong also directed the films ''
Final Destination
''Final Destination'' is an American horror franchise that includes five films, two comic books, and nine novels. It is based on an unproduced spec script by Jeffrey Reddick, originally written for ''The X-Files'' television series, and was ...
'', ''
The One
The ONE is a shopping centre in Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong. It is built on the site of the former Tung Ying Building at 100 Nathan Road. It was developed by Chinese Estates Holdings and opened in 2010. Owner Joseph Lau Luen-hung g ...
'', and ''
Dragonball Evolution
''Dragonball Evolution'' is a 2009 American science fantasy superhero-martial arts film directed by James Wong, produced by Stephen Chow, and written by Ben Ramsey. It is based on the Japanese ''Dragon Ball'' manga series created by Akira Toriyam ...
''.
Early life and education
Wong was born in Hong Kong. At age ten, he moved to the United States along with his family, settling in
San Diego
San Diego ( , ; ) is a city on the Pacific Ocean coast of Southern California located immediately adjacent to the Mexico–United States border. With a 2020 population of 1,386,932, it is the eighth most populous city in the United State ...
,
California
California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the m ...
. During his youth, he met his future writing partner
Glen Morgan
Glen Morgan (born July 12, 1961) is an American television producer, writer and director. He is best known for co-writing episodes of the Fox science fiction supernatural drama series ''The X-Files'' with his partner, James Wong. He served a ...
at
El Cajon Valley High School. Later on, he went to
Loyola Marymount University
Loyola Marymount University (LMU) is a private Jesuit and Marymount research university in Los Angeles, California. It is located on the west side of the city near Playa Vista. LMU is the parent school to Loyola Law School, which is located ...
, joining a comedy
improvisational
Improvisation is the activity of making or doing something not planned beforehand, using whatever can be found. Improvisation in the performing arts is a very spontaneous performance without specific or scripted preparation. The skills of impr ...
group. Originally seeking a major in engineering, he later switched to a film major after seeing ''
Apocalypse Now
''Apocalypse Now'' is a 1979 American epic war film produced and directed by Francis Ford Coppola. The screenplay, co-written by Coppola, John Milius and Michael Herr, is loosely based on the 1899 novella '' Heart of Darkness'' by Joseph ...
'' at the
Cinerama Dome
Pacific Theatres' Cinerama Dome is a movie theater located at 6360 Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, California. Designed to exhibit widescreen Cinerama films, it opened November 7, 1963. The original developer was William R. Forman, founder of Pa ...
. After graduating, he landed a job as an assistant to
Sandy Howard. During this time, both Wong and Morgan wrote screenplays, eventually having one produced.
Personal life
James Wong is married to Teena Wong,
and they have three children.
Career
With
Morgan, he co-wrote ''
The Boys Next Door''. After this Wong became a story editor on the short-lived
ABC crime drama ''
Knightwatch
''Knightwatch'' is an American drama television series that aired on ABC from November 10, 1988 until January 19, 1989 as part of its fall 1988 lineup. It had been promoted as an original series in light of summer reruns continuing into the fa ...
''. Later, with Morgan, Wong would work on many
Stephen J. Cannell productions, including ''
Wiseguy'' (as
supervising producer), ''
The Commish
''The Commish'' is an American comedy-drama television series that aired on ABC in the United States from September 28, 1991, to January 11, 1996. The series focuses on the work and home life of a suburban police commissioner in Eastbridge, New ...
'' (as
supervising producer), and as a staff writer and story editor for ''
21 Jump Street
''21 Jump Street'' is an American police procedural television series that aired on the Fox network and in first run syndication from April 12, 1987, to April 27, 1991, with a total of 103 episodes. The series focuses on a squad of youthful-loo ...
'' and its spinoff, ''
Booker''.
Wong and Morgan began working with
Chris Carter in 1993 on the
science fiction
Science fiction (sometimes shortened to Sci-Fi or SF) is a genre of speculative fiction which typically deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, parallel uni ...
/
drama
Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance: a play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a genre of poetry in general, the dramatic mode has b ...
''
The X-Files
''The X-Files'' is an American science fiction drama television series created by Chris Carter. The series revolves around Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Special Agents Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson), who ...
'', about two
FBI agents investigating the
paranormal
Paranormal events are purported phenomena described in popular culture, folk, and other non-scientific bodies of knowledge, whose existence within these contexts is described as being beyond the scope of normal scientific understanding. Not ...
, filmed in
Vancouver
Vancouver ( ) is a major city in western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the List of cities in British Columbia, most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the ...
.
In 1995, Wong and Morgan were offered an $8 million, four-year contract deal with
20th Century Fox
20th Century Studios, Inc. (previously known as 20th Century Fox) is an American film production company headquartered at the Fox Studio Lot in the Century City area of Los Angeles. As of 2019, it serves as a film production arm of Walt Dis ...
Television to write and produce
television series
A television show – or simply TV show – is any content produced for viewing on a television set which can be broadcast via over-the-air, satellite, or cable, excluding breaking news, advertisements, or trailers that are typically placed be ...
. As part of this deal, Morgan and Wong went on to create the short-lived series ''
Space: Above and Beyond''.
They returned to ''The X-Files'' briefly in its fourth season (1996–1997) when they wrote the horror episode
Home. Wong also made his television directing debut with the conspiracy-themed "Musings of a Cigarette Smoking Man", written by Morgan. Wong and Morgan also took on production and writing duties for Carter's ''
Millennium
A millennium (plural millennia or millenniums) is a period of one thousand years, sometimes called a kiloannum (ka), or kiloyear (ky). Normally, the word is used specifically for periods of a thousand years that begin at the starting point (ini ...
''. Later, they would go on to executive produce the short-lived
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an American English-language commercial broadcast television and radio network. The flagship property of the NBC Entertainment division of NBCUniversal, a division of Comcast, its headquarters are l ...
paranormal series ''
The Others''.
During 1995, both Wong and Morgan were hired by producer
Joel Silver
Joel Silver (born July 14, 1952) is an American film producer.
Life and career
Silver was born and raised in South Orange, New Jersey, the son of a writer and a public relations executive. His family is Jewish. He attended Columbia High School i ...
to write the third intended ''
Tales from the Crypt
Tales from the Crypt may refer to:
* ''Tales from the Crypt'' (album), by American rapper C-Bo
* ''Tales from the Crypt'' (comics), published by EC Comics during the 1950s
** ''Tales from the Crypt'' (film), a 1972 Amicus film starring Ralph Ric ...
'' movie called ''Body Count''. Their script was loved by executive producers Silver,
Richard Donner
Richard Donner (born Richard Donald Schwartzberg; April 24, 1930 – July 5, 2021) was an American filmmaker whose notable works included some of the most financially-successful films during the New Hollywood era. According to film historian ...
,
Walter Hill
Walter may refer to:
People
* Walter (name), both a surname and a given name
* Little Walter, American blues harmonica player Marion Walter Jacobs (1930–1968)
* Gunther (wrestler), Austrian professional wrestler and trainer Walter Hahn (born 1 ...
,
David Giler
David Kevin Giler (July 23, 1943 – December 19, 2020) was an American filmmaker who was active in the film industry since the early 1960s.
Career Television
Giler's father Bernie (1908–1967) was a writer. Giler began his career collaborating ...
and
Robert Zemeckis but the main producers
Gilbert Adler
Gilbert Adler (born in New York City, February 14, 1946) is an American film producer who has collaborated with several notable filmmakers including Richard Donner, Brian De Palma, Walter Hill, Todd Phillips, and Bryan Singer.
In 1999, Adler -- ...
and A L Katz hated it and Universal thought it would be too expensive to shoot.
In 2000, Wong directed ''
Final Destination
''Final Destination'' is an American horror franchise that includes five films, two comic books, and nine novels. It is based on an unproduced spec script by Jeffrey Reddick, originally written for ''The X-Files'' television series, and was ...
'', which was originally conceived as an ''X-Files'' episode by writer
Jeffrey Reddick
Jeffrey Reddick (born 12 July 1969) is an American screenwriter and film director, best known for creating the ''Final Destination'' franchise.
Life and career
Reddick was born in Jackson, Kentucky and attended Breathitt County High School. H ...
and was then reworked by Wong and Morgan. Wong followed the directorial debut with ''
The One
The ONE is a shopping centre in Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong. It is built on the site of the former Tung Ying Building at 100 Nathan Road. It was developed by Chinese Estates Holdings and opened in 2010. Owner Joseph Lau Luen-hung g ...
'' (2001), an
action film
Action film is a film genre in which the protagonist is thrust into a series of events that typically involve violence and physical feats. The genre tends to feature a mostly resourceful hero struggling against incredible odds, which include l ...
starring
Jet Li
Li Lianjie (courtesy name Yangzhong; born 26 April 1963), better known by his stage name Jet Li, is a Chinese film actor, film producer, martial artist, and retired Wushu champion. He is a naturalized Singaporean citizen.
After three years o ...
, and with more
horror films, including ''
Willard'' (2003), directed by
Glen Morgan
Glen Morgan (born July 12, 1961) is an American television producer, writer and director. He is best known for co-writing episodes of the Fox science fiction supernatural drama series ''The X-Files'' with his partner, James Wong. He served a ...
and
starring
A movie star (also known as a film star or cinema star) is an actor or actress who is famous for their starring, or leading, roles in movies. The term is used for performers who are marketable stars as they become popular household names and wh ...
Crispin Glover
Crispin Hellion Glover (born April 20, 1964) is an American actor. He is known for portraying eccentric characters on screen, such as George McFly in ''Back to the Future'' (1985), Layne in ''River's Edge'' (1986), Andy Warhol in ''The Doors' ...
, and a
second sequel, ''
Final Destination 3
''Final Destination 3'' is a 2006 American supernatural horror film directed by James Wong. A standalone sequel to ''Final Destination 2'' (2003), it is the third installment in the ''Final Destination'' film series. Wong and Glen Morgan, who ...
'' (2006), directed by Wong. In late 2006, Wong and Morgan's remake of ''
Black Christmas'' was released; the
script
Script may refer to:
Writing systems
* Script, a distinctive writing system, based on a repertoire of specific elements or symbols, or that repertoire
* Script (styles of handwriting)
** Script typeface, a typeface with characteristics of handw ...
was by Wong and Morgan and the film was
directed
Director may refer to:
Literature
* ''Director'' (magazine), a British magazine
* ''The Director'' (novel), a 1971 novel by Henry Denker
* ''The Director'' (play), a 2000 play by Nancy Hasty
Music
* Director (band), an Irish rock band
* ''D ...
by Morgan.
In 2009, Wong
directed
Director may refer to:
Literature
* ''Director'' (magazine), a British magazine
* ''The Director'' (novel), a 1971 novel by Henry Denker
* ''The Director'' (play), a 2000 play by Nancy Hasty
Music
* Director (band), an Irish rock band
* ''D ...
the
live-action movie adaptation of the anime and manga media franchise ''
Dragon Ball''. It was poorly received by both critics and audiences.
Since 2011, Wong has been working with
Ryan Murphy as an executive producer on
American Horror Story
''American Horror Story'' is an American anthology horror television series created by Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk for the cable network FX. The first installment in the '' American Story'' media franchise, each season is conceived as a ...
.
In 2015, Wong wrote and directed one episode,
Founder's Mutation, for the
tenth season of ''The X-Files''. He returned again in 2017 for ''The X-Files''
season eleven to write and direct the episode
Ghouli, and to direct the episode
Nothing Lasts Forever.
''The X-Files''
As part of the initial production crew on ''The X-Files'', Wong was among the most influential four writer-producers who worked closely with ''X-Files'' creator
Chris Carter to define the characters, plots and aesthetics of the new series (the others were
Glen Morgan
Glen Morgan (born July 12, 1961) is an American television producer, writer and director. He is best known for co-writing episodes of the Fox science fiction supernatural drama series ''The X-Files'' with his partner, James Wong. He served a ...
,
Howard Gordon
Howard Gordon (born March 31, 1961) is an American television writer and producer.
He is well known for his work on the Fox action series '' 24'' alongside the Showtime thriller ''Homeland'', which he co-developed with Alex Gansa and Gideon ...
and
Alex Gansa). Wong was responsible with his longtime writing partner
Glen Morgan
Glen Morgan (born July 12, 1961) is an American television producer, writer and director. He is best known for co-writing episodes of the Fox science fiction supernatural drama series ''The X-Files'' with his partner, James Wong. He served a ...
for introducing a number of elements that defined ''The X-Files'' throughout its run.
Notable episodes co-written by Wong:
* "
Squeeze", only the second ''X-Files'' episode ever produced, and the first "
monster of the week
"Villain of the week" (or, depending on genre, "monster of the week", "freak of the week" or "alien of the week") is an antagonist that only appears in one episode of a multi-episode work of fiction. A villain of the week is commonly seen in Brit ...
" episode, which would provide a template for two thirds of the future episodes of the series.
* "
Ice
Ice is water frozen into a solid state, typically forming at or below temperatures of 0 degrees Celsius or Depending on the presence of impurities such as particles of soil or bubbles of air, it can appear transparent or a more or less opaqu ...
", the first episode to focus centrally on the Mulder/Scully relationship as the key to its plot.
* "
Beyond the Sea", the first episode to receive notable critical acclaim beyond the science fiction genre, the first episode with serious character development for
Gillian Anderson
Gillian Leigh Anderson ( ; born August 9, 1968) is an American actress. Her credits include the roles of FBI Special Agent Dana Scully in the series ''The X-Files'', ill-fated socialite Lily Bart in Terence Davies's film '' The House of Mirt ...
in her role as
Dana Scully
Dana Katherine Scully, MD, is a fictional character and one of the two protagonists in the Fox science-fiction, supernatural television series ''The X-Files'', played by Gillian Anderson. Scully is a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Spec ...
, and also Carter's personal favorite episode of the series.
* "
E.B.E.", the first episode to introduce
The Lone Gunmen
The Lone Gunmen are a trio of fictional characters, Richard "Ringo" Langly, Melvin Frohike and John Fitzgerald Byers, who appeared in recurring roles on the American television series ''The X-Files'', and who starred in the short-lived spin-of ...
trio of characters, whose popularity resulted in their own short-lived spinoff series (without Wong's participation) in 2001.
* "
Tooms
"Tooms" is the twenty-first episode of the first season of the American science fiction television series ''The X-Files'', premiering on the Fox network on April 22, 1994. It was written by Glen Morgan and James Wong, and directed by David Nut ...
", the first episode to introduce the character of
Walter Skinner
FBI Assistant Director Walter Sergei Skinner is a fictional character portrayed by American actor Mitch Pileggi on ''The X-Files'' and its short-lived spin-off ''The Lone Gunmen'', both broadcast on Fox.
In the science fiction-supernatural ...
, Mulder and Scully's boss, who would become a more central character over the remainder of the series, and also the first episode to give a speaking part to the
Cigarette Smoking Man
The Cigarette Smoking Man (abbreviated CSM or C-Man; sometimes referred to as Cancer Man or the Smoking Man) is a fictional character and one of the primary antagonists of the American science fiction drama television series ''The X-Files''. He ...
, the main nemesis of Mulder and Scully for most of the series' run.
* "
Little Green Men", the first
mythology
Myth is a folklore genre consisting of narratives that play a fundamental role in a society, such as foundational tales or origin myths. Since "myth" is widely used to imply that a story is not objectively true, the identification of a narra ...
episode to make use of voiceover and flashback.
* "
Blood
Blood is a body fluid in the circulatory system of humans and other vertebrates that delivers necessary substances such as nutrients and oxygen to the cells, and transports metabolic waste products away from those same cells. Blood in the cir ...
", the first episode to include a story contribution from Glen Morgan's brother
Darin Morgan
Darin Morgan (born 1966) is an American screenwriter best known for several offbeat, darkly humorous episodes of the television series ''The X-Files'' and ''Millennium (TV series), Millennium''. His teleplay for the ''X-Files'' episode "Clyde Bru ...
, who would become the most acclaimed ''X-Files'' writer and the only one to win an Emmy for his writing.
* "
3", the first episode in which Mulder or Scully was involved in a sexual situation.
* "
One Breath", the resolution episode for the abduction plot that was the foundation of the series' long running mythology.
* "
Die Hand Die Verletzt
"Die Hand Die Verletzt" is the fourteenth episode of the second season of the science fiction television series ''The X-Files''. It premiered on the Fox network on January 27, 1995. It was written by Glen Morgan and James Wong, directed by Kim M ...
", the first episode in which
Kim Manners
Kim Manners (January 13, 1951 – January 25, 2009) was an American television producer, director and actor best known for his work on ''The X-Files'' and ''Supernatural''.
Early life
Kim Manners was raised in a show business family. His fath ...
, who became the series' most prolific director over its nine seasons, was brought on board to direct, being an acquaintance of Morgan and Wong from their work with Manners on previous TV series.
* "
Home", the first episode to be preceded by a warning from the network that it was intended for mature audiences only due to its disturbing content.
In his directorial debut, Wong also directed the episode "
Musings of a Cigarette Smoking Man
"Musings of a Cigarette Smoking Man" is the seventh episode of the fourth season of the science fiction television series '' The X-Files''. It premiered on the Fox network in the United States on November 17, 1996. It was written by Glen Morgan, ...
", for which he received an
Emmy nomination, also becoming the first member of the series's regular writing staff (after Chris Carter) to direct an episode, as well as the only
person of color to ever direct an X-Files episode. Wong's Emmy nomination for directing "Musings" made him the first Asian American to receive an Emmy nomination for directing anything on television; at that time, no Asian American and no person of
Chinese
Chinese can refer to:
* Something related to China
* Chinese people, people of Chinese nationality, citizenship, and/or ethnicity
**''Zhonghua minzu'', the supra-ethnic concept of the Chinese nation
** List of ethnic groups in China, people of ...
descent had yet been nominated for an
Oscar
Oscar, OSCAR, or The Oscar may refer to:
People
* Oscar (given name), an Irish- and English-language name also used in other languages; the article includes the names Oskar, Oskari, Oszkár, Óscar, and other forms.
* Oscar (Irish mythology) ...
for directing a film. Wong was also, along with Chris Carter (nominated a year later) the only director of an ''X-Files'' episode to be Emmy nominated for his work.
As part of ''The X-Files'' main production team in 1994–1995, Wong shared the show's first
Golden Globe Award win for Best Dramatic Series, and also shared its second win in the 1996–1997 season. (''The X-Files'' would go on to become the first series to win a Golden Globe three times.) Wong was honoured as his name was used as character in The X-Files game released on the PS1 in 1998.
Filmography
Film
Television
* ''
Booker'' (writer, story writer) (1989–1990)
* ''
21 Jump Street
''21 Jump Street'' is an American police procedural television series that aired on the Fox network and in first run syndication from April 12, 1987, to April 27, 1991, with a total of 103 episodes. The series focuses on a squad of youthful-loo ...
'' (writer, story editor) (1989–1990)
* ''
Wiseguy'' (supervising producer) (1990)
* ''
The 100 Lives of Black Jack Savage
''Disney Presents The 100 Lives of Black Jack Savage'' is an American fantasy comedy-drama television series broadcast in the United States by NBC and produced by Stephen J. Cannell Productions in association with Walt Disney Television. The show ...
'' (producer) (1991)
* ''
The Commish
''The Commish'' is an American comedy-drama television series that aired on ABC in the United States from September 28, 1991, to January 11, 1996. The series focuses on the work and home life of a suburban police commissioner in Eastbridge, New ...
'' (writer, supervising producer) (1991–1993)
* ''
The X-Files
''The X-Files'' is an American science fiction drama television series created by Chris Carter. The series revolves around Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Special Agents Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson), who ...
'' (director, writer, co-executive producer, consulting producer) (1993–1997)
* ''
Space: Above and Beyond'' (co-creator, writer) (1995–1996)
* ''
Millennium
A millennium (plural millennia or millenniums) is a period of one thousand years, sometimes called a kiloannum (ka), or kiloyear (ky). Normally, the word is used specifically for periods of a thousand years that begin at the starting point (ini ...
'' (executive producer,
consulting producer, writer) (1996–1998)
* ''
The Others'' (executive producer, writer) (2000)
* ''
Tower Prep
''Tower Prep'' is an American-Canadian 13-episode live-action teen science-fiction television series created by Paul Dini for Cartoon Network. It aired between October 12 to December 28, 2010. Prior to ''Tower Prep'', Dini was a producer and wri ...
'' (director – Episode: "Whisper") (2010)
* ''
THE EVƎNT'' (director – Episode: "Arrival"; writer,
co-executive producer
Executive producer (EP) is one of the top positions in the making of a commercial entertainment product. Depending on the medium, the executive producer may be concerned with management accounting or associated with legal issues (like copyrights o ...
) (2010–2011)
* ''
American Horror Story
''American Horror Story'' is an American anthology horror television series created by Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk for the cable network FX. The first installment in the '' American Story'' media franchise, each season is conceived as a ...
'' (writer,
co-executive producer
Executive producer (EP) is one of the top positions in the making of a commercial entertainment product. Depending on the medium, the executive producer may be concerned with management accounting or associated with legal issues (like copyrights o ...
) (2011–2019)
* ''
Rosemary's Baby'' (Writer) (2014)
* ''
The X-Files
''The X-Files'' is an American science fiction drama television series created by Chris Carter. The series revolves around Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Special Agents Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson), who ...
'' (director, writer) (2016–2018)
Chris Carter Talks About Passing “The X-Files” Colonization Date (2012); Reveals Returning Cast!
/ref>
* '' 9-1-1'' (director) (2022)
References
External links
*
James Wong Director Bio
– Biography by ''Tribute
A tribute (; from Latin ''tributum'', "contribution") is wealth, often in kind, that a party gives to another as a sign of submission, allegiance or respect. Various ancient states exacted tribute from the rulers of land which the state conqu ...
''
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wong, James
1959 births
Film producers from California
American television directors
Television producers from California
American television writers
American male screenwriters
American writers of Chinese descent
Film directors from California
Hong Kong emigrants to the United States
Horror film directors
Living people
Writers from San Diego
American male television writers
Screenwriters from California