Jim Morris (film Producer)
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Pixar Pixar Animation Studios (commonly known as Pixar () and stylized as P I X A R) is an American computer animation studio known for its critically and commercially successful computer animated feature films. It is based in Emeryville, Californi ...
, known_for = , notable_works = , boards = , spouse = , partner = , children = , parents = , mother = , father = , relatives = , family = , awards = , website = , signature = , signature_size = , signature_alt = , footnotes = James Morris is an American film producer, production executive and visual effects producer. He is currently general manager and president of
Pixar Pixar Animation Studios (commonly known as Pixar () and stylized as P I X A R) is an American computer animation studio known for its critically and commercially successful computer animated feature films. It is based in Emeryville, Californi ...
. Previously, he held key positions at
Industrial Light & Magic Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) is an American motion picture visual effects company that was founded on May 26, 1975 by George Lucas. It is a division of the film production company Lucasfilm, which Lucas founded, and was created when he began pro ...
(ILM) for 17 years."Jim Morris"
, ''Visual Effects Society''. Retrieved 2012-10-07.


Education and early career

Morris graduated from the
Tower Hill School Tower Hill School is a private college preparatory school in Wilmington, Delaware, offering instruction for pre-school through 12th grade. History Tower Hill was founded in 1919. The school is situated at the high point of Wilmington's neighbo ...
in Wilmington, Delaware in 1973. In 1977, Morris earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Film, and in 1978 a Master of Science degree in Television/Radio, from the
S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications The S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, commonly known as Newhouse School, is the communications and journalism school of Syracuse University in Syracuse, NY. It has programs in print and broadcast journalism; music business; graphic ...
at
Syracuse University Syracuse University (informally 'Cuse or SU) is a Private university, private research university in Syracuse, New York. Established in 1870 with roots in the Methodist Episcopal Church, the university has been nonsectarian since 1920. Locate ...
."Jim Morris ’77, G’78"
, ''Syracuse University San Francisco Giving''. Retrieved 2012-10-14.
Morris began his career with local television studios, followed by working on TV commercials.Ryan Wilsey
"SIGGRAPH keynote review: Jim Morris, Pixar’s General Manager"
''Icrontic'', August 10, 2010. Retrieved 2012-10-14.
He started as a cameraman and editor at
NBC The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an Television in the United States, American English-language Commercial broadcasting, commercial television network, broadcast television and radio network. The flagship property of the NBC Enterta ...
affiliate
WSYR-TV WSYR-TV (channel 9) is a television station in Syracuse, New York, United States, affiliated with ABC. Owned by Nexstar Media Group, the station maintains studios on Bridge Street (off NY 290) in East Syracuse (a village of DeWitt), and it ...
. During this time, he independently produced and directed the award-winning documentary ''The Stag Hotel''. He then worked at
PBS The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) is an American public broadcasting, public broadcaster and Non-commercial activity, non-commercial, Terrestrial television, free-to-air television network based in Arlington, Virginia. PBS is a publicly fu ...
affiliate
WCNY-TV WCNY-TV (channel 24) is a PBS member television station in Syracuse, New York, United States. Owned by The Public Broadcasting Council of Central New York, Inc. it is sister to classical music radio station WCNY-FM (91.3). The two stations shar ...
, where he wrote and produced the educational series ''Behind the Wheel'' as well as the Jim Lehrer-hosted documentary ''Old Folks at Home'' and ''Journey to the Mountain''. During this same period, Morris wrote, directed and produced the independent documentary ''Snapshot.'' In 1980, Morris moved to San Francisco and worked as an editor at KTVU-TV in
Oakland Oakland is the largest city and the county seat of Alameda County, California, United States. A major West Coast port, Oakland is the largest city in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area, the third largest city overall in the Bay A ...
, after which he moved on to the production departments at advertising agencies
J. Walter Thompson J. Walter Thompson (JWT) was an advertisement holding company incorporated in 1896 by American advertising pioneer James Walter Thompson. The company was acquired in 1987 by multinational holding company WPP plc, and in November 2018, WPP merge ...
, and
Foote, Cone & Belding Foote, Cone & Belding (FCB), is one of the largest global advertising agency networks. It is owned by Interpublic Group and was merged in 2006 with Draft Worldwide, adopting the name Draftfcb. In 2014 the company rebranded itself as FCB. Parent ...
. Morris was named executive producer heading the commercial production department at the innovative post-production facility One Pass, and then became the executive producer at Arnold & Associates, producing national commercials for clients such as
Atari Atari () is a brand name that has been owned by several entities since its inception in 1972. It is currently owned by French publisher Atari SA through a subsidiary named Atari Interactive. The original Atari, Inc. (1972–1992), Atari, Inc., ...
and
Chevron Chevron (often relating to V-shaped patterns) may refer to: Science and technology * Chevron (aerospace), sawtooth patterns on some jet engines * Chevron (anatomy), a bone * '' Eulithis testata'', a moth * Chevron (geology), a fold in rock ...
. While at Arnold & Associates, Morris received an NEA Grant to write, direct and produce the independent documentary ''Rehearsal''.


Industrial Light & Magic

In 1987, Morris joined ILM as a producer of visual effects for films and commercials, working on, amongst others,
Steven Spielberg Steven Allan Spielberg (; born December 18, 1946) is an American director, writer, and producer. A major figure of the New Hollywood era and pioneer of the modern blockbuster, he is the most commercially successful director of all time. Spie ...
's ''
Always Always may refer to: Film and television * ''Always'', a 1985 film directed by Henry Jaglom * ''Always'' (1989 film), a 1989 romantic comedy-drama directed by Steven Spielberg * ''Always'' (2011 film), a 2011 South Korean film, also known as '' ...
'' and
James Cameron James Francis Cameron (born August 16, 1954) is a Canadian filmmaker. A major figure in the post-New Hollywood era, he is considered one of the industry's most innovative filmmakers, regularly pushing the boundaries of cinematic capability w ...
's ''
The Abyss ''The Abyss'' is a 1989 American science fiction film written and directed by James Cameron and starring Ed Harris, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, and Michael Biehn. When an American submarine sinks in the Caribbean, a US search and recovery team ...
'', which earned an
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for Best Visual Effects. He was subsequently promoted to be ILM's executive in charge of production, supervising all the company's production, and then ILM's general manager, supervising more than 1,400 artists and technicians and guiding the largest visual effects facility in the industry, a post he held for 13 years. During this period, ILM's innovations resulting in Academy Awards included the pioneering use of computer-generated characters in ''
Jurassic Park ''Jurassic Park'', later also referred to as ''Jurassic World'', is an American science fiction media franchise created by Michael Crichton and centered on a disastrous attempt to create a theme park of cloned dinosaurs. It began in 1990 when ...
'', realistic digital skin in ''
Death Becomes Her ''Death Becomes Her'' is a 1992 American satirical black comedy fantasy film directed and produced by Robert Zemeckis. Written by David Koepp and Martin Donovan, it stars Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn as rivals who fight for the affections of th ...
'', '' Terminator 2: Judgment Day'' and ''
Forrest Gump ''Forrest Gump'' is a 1994 American comedy-drama film directed by Robert Zemeckis and written by Eric Roth. It is based on the 1986 novel of the same name by Winston Groom and stars Tom Hanks, Robin Wright, Gary Sinise, Mykelti Williamson and ...
''. Other ILM projects he managed from the period include '' Mission: Impossible'', ''
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'', ''
Saving Private Ryan ''Saving Private Ryan'' is a 1998 American epic war film directed by Steven Spielberg and written by Robert Rodat. Set during the Battle of Normandy in World War II, the film is known for its graphic portrayal of war, especially its depictio ...
'', ''
Star Wars ''Star Wars'' is an American epic film, epic space opera multimedia franchise created by George Lucas, which began with the Star Wars (film), eponymous 1977 film and quickly became a worldwide popular culture, pop-culture Cultural impact of S ...
Episodes I and II'', '' The Perfect Storm'', ''
Pearl Harbor Pearl Harbor is an American lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. It was often visited by the Naval fleet of the United States, before it was acquired from the Hawaiian Kingdom by the U.S. with the signing of the Re ...
'', ''
Minority Report Minority Report may refer to: * Minority report (Poor Law), published by the UK Royal Commission on the Poor Laws and Relief of Distress 1905–09 * "Minority Report", a 1949 science fiction short story by Theodore Sturgeon * "The Minority Report ...
'', '' Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl'', ''
Master and Commander ''Master and Commander'' is a 1969 nautical historical novel by the English author Patrick O'Brian, first published in 1969 in the US and 1970 in the UK. The book proved to be the start of the 20-novel Aubrey–Maturin series, set largely in th ...
'', and three ''
Harry Potter ''Harry Potter'' is a series of seven fantasy literature, fantasy novels written by British author J. K. Rowling. The novels chronicle the lives of a young Magician (fantasy), wizard, Harry Potter (character), Harry Potter, and his friends ...
'' films. ILM worked on over 160 films during this period."Disney-Pixar Executive Jim Morris Chosen as a SIGGRAPH 2010 Keynote"
''SIGGRAPH'', May 25, 2010. Retrieved 2012-10-13.
Morris was president of Lucas Digital Ltd. for 11 years, and managed its two divisions, ILM and
Skywalker Sound Skywalker Sound is the sound effects, sound editing, sound design, sound mixing and music recording division of Lucasfilm. Founded in 1975, the company's main facilities are located at George Lucas's Skywalker Ranch in Lucas Valley, near Nicasio, ...
. Additionally, Morris oversaw Lucasfilm Animation from 2000 to 2005.


Pixar

Morris joined Pixar Animation Studios in 2005."Jim Morris Named General Manager for Pixar Animation Studios; Andrew Millstein Named General Manager for Disney Animation Studios"
''PR Newswire'', September 10, 2008. Retrieved 2012-10-21.
He was producer of Pixar's critically acclaimed 2008 film, ''
WALL-E ''WALL-E'' (stylized with an interpunct as ''WALL·E'') is a 2008 American computer-animated science fiction film produced by Pixar Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures. It was directed and co-written by Andrew Stanton, pro ...
'', and was responsible for managing the production of the studio's features, shorts, DVD content, and theme park activities. In 2008 he was named as general manager for Pixar Animation Studios. Morris was producer of
Disney's The Walt Disney Company, commonly known as Disney (), is an American multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate headquartered at the Walt Disney Studios complex in Burbank, California. Disney was originally founded on October ...
2012 film '' John Carter''. On November 18, 2014 he was named as president of Pixar Animation Studios, succeeding
Edwin Catmull Edwin Earl "Ed" Catmull (born March 31, 1945) is an American computer scientist who is the co-founder of Pixar and was the President of Walt Disney Animation Studios. He has been honored for his contributions to 3D computer graphics (computer sci ...
. In August 2019, former
Walt Disney Animation Studios Walt Disney Animation Studios (WDAS), sometimes shortened to Disney Animation, is an American animation studio that creates animated features and short films for The Walt Disney Company. The studio's current production logo features a scene fro ...
head Andrew Millstein was named as co-president of
Blue Sky Studios Blue Sky Studios, Inc. was an American computer animation studio based in Greenwich, Connecticut. It was founded on February 22, 1987 by Chris Wedge, Michael Ferraro, Carl Ludwig, Alison Brown, David Brown, and Eugene Troubetzkoy after their e ...
, while Morris would also be taking a supervising role over Millstein.


Industry roles and awards

Morris served for many years as president of the San Francisco Film Commission. He was a 2009 recipient of the
Producers Guild of America The Producers Guild of America (PGA) is a 501(c)(6) trade association representing television producers, film producers and New media, New Media producers in the United States. The PGA's membership includes over 8,000 members of the producing esta ...
Digital 25 Award. Morris was the founding chair of the Visual Effect Society, and served in that role for two terms. He received the
Visual Effects Society The Visual Effects Society (VES) is an entertainment industry organization representing visual effects practitioners including artists, animators, technologists, model makers, educators, studio leaders, supervisors, PR/marketing specialists and ...
's board of directors Award in 2006, a Lifetime Membership in 2007, and their Founders Award in 2010 and was made a VES Fellow in 2016. For ''WALL-E'', Morris was awarded Producers Guild of America's 2009 Producer of the Year for Animated Motion Pictures, the 2008
BAFTA Award for Best Animated Film This is a list of the winners and nominees of the BAFTA Award for Best Animated Film. Winners and nominees 2000s 2010s 2020s See also * Academy Award for Best Animated Feature * Golden Globe Award for Best Animated Feature Film * Annie Award ...
, a 2008 American Film Institute Award for one of the 10 best films of the year, the 2008
Golden Globe Award for Best Animated Feature Film The Golden Globe Award for Best Animated Feature Film is a Golden Globe Award that was awarded for the first time at the 64th Golden Globe Awards in 2007. It was the first time that the Golden Globe Awards had created a separate category for anim ...
and a Visual Effects Society Award. Morris is an active member in the VES, BAFTA, the Producers Guild and AMPAS, where he serves as a member of the Finance Committee. In 2021, Morris received the ''George Arents Award'', Syracuse University's highest alumni honor.


Filmography

*Caddyshack II (1988) (Visual Effects (Producer) *The Burbs (1989) (Visual Effects (Producer) *Skin Deep (1989) (Visual Effects (Producer) *The Abyss (1989) (Visual Effects (Producer) *Always (1989) (Visual Effects (Producer) *The Hunt for Red October (1990) (ILM Executive in Charge of Production) *Joe Versus the Volcano (1990) (ILM Executive in Charge of Production) *Back to the Future Part III (1990) (ILM Executive in Charge of Production) *Total Recall (1990) (ILM Executive in Charge of Production) *Die Hard 2 (1990) (ILM Executive in Charge of Production) *Ghost (1990) (ILM Executive in Charge of Production) *Arachnophobia (1990) (ILM Executive in Charge of Production) *Dreams (1990) (ILM Executive in Charge of Production) *Kindergarten Cop (1990) (ILM Executive in Charge of Production) *The Godfather: Part III (1990) (ILM Executive in Charge of Production) *Flight of the Intruder (1991) (ILM Executive in Charge of Production) *The Doors (1991) (ILM Executive in Charge of Production) *Switch (1991) (ILM Executive in Charge of Production) *Backdraft (1991) (ILM Executive in Charge of Production) *Hudson Hawk (1991) (ILM Executive in Charge of Production) *The Rocketeer (1991) (ILM Executive in Charge of Production) *Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) (ILM Executive in Charge of Production) *Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991) (ILM Executive in Charge of Production) *Hook (1991) (ILM General Manager) *Memoirs of an Invisible Man (1992) (ILM General Manager) *Death Becomes Her (1992) (ILM General Manager) *The Public Eye  (1992) (ILM General Manager) *Toys  (1992) (ILM General Manager) *Alive (1993) (ILM General Manager) *Fire in the Sky (1993) (ILM General Manager) *Jurassic Park (1993) (ILM General Manager) *Last Action Hero (1993) (ILM General Manager) *Rising Sun (1993) (ILM General Manager) *The Meteor Man (1993) (ILM General Manager) *The Nutcracker (1993) (ILM General Manager) *Schindler’s List (1994) (ILM President) *The Hudsucker Proxy (1994) (ILM President) *Maverick (1994) (ILM President) *The Flintstones (1994) (ILM President) *Wolf (1994) (ILM President) *Baby's Day Out (1994) (ILM President) *Forrest Gump (1994) (ILM President) *The Mask (1994) (ILM President) *Radioland Murders (1994) (ILM President) *Star Trek: Generations (1994) (ILM President) *Disclosure (1994) (ILM President) *In the Mouth of Madness (1995) (ILM President) *Casper (1995) (ILM President) *Congo (1995) (ILM President) *Village of the Damned (1995) (ILM President) *The Indian in the Cupboard (1995) (ILM President) *The American President (1995) (ILM President) *Jumanji (1995) (ILM President) *Sabrina (1995) (ILM President) *Twister (1996) (ILM President) *Mission: Impossible (1996) (ILM President) *Dragonheart (1996) (ILM President) *Eraser (1996) (ILM President) *Special Effects: Anything Can Happen (1996) (ILM President) *Sleepers (1996) (ILM President) *Star Trek: First Contact (1996) (ILM President) *101 Dalmatians (1996) (ILM President) *Daylight (1996) (ILM President) *Mars Attacks! (1996) (ILM President) *Star Wars: A New Hope Special Edition (1996) (ILM President) *Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back Special Edition (1996) (ILM President) *Star Wars: Return of the Jedi Special Edition (1996) (ILM President) *The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997) (ILM President) *Speed 2: Cruise Control (1997) (ILM President) *Men in Black (1997) (ILM President) *Contact (1997) (ILM President) *Spawn (1997) (ILM President) *Starship Troopers (1997) (ILM President) *Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (1997) (ILM President) *Flubber (1997) (ILM President) *Deconstructing Harry (1997) (ILM President) *Titanic (1997) (ILM President) *Amistad (1997) (ILM President) *Deep Rising (1998) (ILM President) *Mercury Rising (1998) (ILM President) *Deep Impact (1998) (ILM President) *Small Soldiers (1998) (ILM President) *Saving Private Ryan (1998) (ILM President) *Snake Eyes (1998) (ILM President) *Reach the Rock (1998) (ILM President) *Meet Joe Black (1998) (ILM President) *Celebrity (1998) (ILM President) *Jack Frost  (1998) (ILM President) *Mighty Joe Young (1998) (ILM President) *October Sky (1999) (ILM President) *The Mummy (1999) (ILM President) *Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999) (ILM President) *Wild Wild West (1999) (ILM President) *The Haunting (1999) (ILM President) *Deep Blue Sea (1999) (ILM President) *Bringing out the dead (1999) (ILM President) *Sleepy Hollow (1999) (ILM President) *The Green Mile (1999) (ILM President) *Galaxy Quest (1999) (ILM President) *Snow Falling on Cedars (2000) (ILM President) *Magnolia (2000) (ILM President) *Mission to Mars (2000) (ILM President) *The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle (2000) (ILM President) *The Perfect Storm (2000) (ILM President) *Space Cowboys (2000) (ILM President) *Pay it Forward (2000) (ILM President) *Sweet and Lowdown (2000) (ILM President) *The Pledge (2001) (ILM President) *Sweet November (2001) (ILM President) *The Mummy Returns (2001) (ILM President) *Pollock (2001) (ILM President) *Pearl Harbor (2001) (ILM President) *A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001) (ILM President) *Jurassic Park III (2001) (ILM President) *Planet of the Apes (2001) (ILM President) *Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001) (ILM President) *The Majestic (2001) (ILM President) *Imposter (2002) (ILM President) *The Time Machine (2002) (ILM President) *Big Trouble (2002) (ILM President) *Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones (2002) (ILM President) *Minority Report (2002) (ILM President) *The Bourne Identity (2002) (ILM President) *Men in Black II (2002) (ILM President) *Blood Work (2002) (ILM President) *K-19: The Widowmaker (2002) (ILM President) *Signs (2002) (ILM President) *ET - 20th Anniversary (1905) (ILM President) *Punch-Drunk Love (2002) (ILM President) *Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002) (ILM President) *Gangs of New York (2002) (ILM President) *Tears of the Sun (2003) (ILM President) *The Hunted (2003) (ILM President) *Dreamcatcher (2003) (ILM President) *Hulk (2003) (ILM President) *Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003) (ILM President) *Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) (ILM President) *Once Upon a Time in Mexico (2003) (ILM President) *Master and Commander: The Far Sde of the World (2003) (ILM President) *Timeline (2003) (ILM President) *Stuck on You (2003) (ILM President) *Peter Pan (2003) (ILM President) *Along Came Polly (2004) (ILM President) *Twisted (2004) (ILM President) *Hidalgo (2004) (ILM President) *Van Helsing (2004) (ILM President) *The Day After Tomorrow (2004) (ILM President) *Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004) (ILM President) *The Chronicles of Riddick (2004) (ILM President) *The Village (2004) (ILM President) *The Bourne Supremacy (2004) (ILM President) *Artifact from the Future: The Making of 'THX 1138' (2004) (ILM President) *Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (2004) (ILM President) *A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004) (ILM President) *Are We There yet? (2005) (ILM President) *Son of the Mask (2005) (ILM President) *The Pacifier (2005) (ILM President) *xXx: State of the Union (2005) (ILM President) *Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005) (ILM President) *War of the Worlds (2005) (ILM President) *The Island (2005) (ILM President) *Jarhead (2005) (ILM President) *Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005) (ILM President) *Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006) (ILM President) *Ratatouille (2007) (Pixar Executive Vice President, Production) *WALL•E (2008) (Producer) *Up (2009) (Pixar EVP, General Manager) *Toy Story 3 (2010) (Pixar EVP, General Manager) *Cars 2 (2011) (Pixar EVP, General Manager) *John Carter of Mars (2012) (Producer) *Brave (2012) (Pixar EVP, General Manager) *Monsters University (2013) (Pixar EVP, General Manager) *Inside Out (2015) (Pixar President) *The Good Dinosaur (2015) (Pixar President) *Finding Dory (2016) (Pixar President) *Cars 3 (2017) (Pixar President) *Coco (2017) (Pixar President) *Incredibles 2 (2018) (Pixar President) *Toy Story 4 (2019) (Pixar President) *Onward (2020) (Pixar President) *Soul (2020) (Pixar President) *Luca (2021) (Pixar President) *Turning Red (2022) (Pixar President) *Lightyear (2022) (Pixar President)


References


External links

*
Morris on 'Cuse Conversations Podcast in 2021

"Q&A: Jim Morris" – The Hollywood Reporter

"Jim Morris is Pixar Animation Studios GM" – Indiana Television


* ttp://in.reuters.com/article/industryNews/idINTRE54717R20090508 "Disney/Pixar launching new studio in Vancouver" – Reuters India
"Pixar, Disney promote animation aces" – The Hollywood Reporter
{{DEFAULTSORT:Morris, Jim Living people Year of birth missing (living people) American chief executives American chief executives in the media industry American entertainment industry businesspeople American film producers American film studio executives Computer animation people Industrial Light & Magic people Disney executives Lucasfilm people Pixar people S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications alumni People from Wilmington, Delaware