James Mottern was born in Providence, RI and then moved to Virginia while his father worked for President Jimmy Carter's administration as a Senate Committee staff writer and then as a Democratic lobbyist.
In high school Mottern directed and acted in numerous theater productions including "Playboy of the Western World," "Bye Bye Birdie," and "The Trysting Place." In college Mottern studied under two-time Pen Faulkner recipient John Edgar Wideman. Mottern went on to win the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Nicholl Fellowship in Screenwriting.
In 2009 first-time writer - director Mottern made his directorial debut with "Trucker" for which he received critical praise, along with several awards including best director.
Three years later, Mottern followed up his success with crime thriller "By the Gun" which he directed in 2012 in Providence, RI and Boston, MA. "By the Gun" stars Ben Barnes, Leighton Meester, Harvey Keitel and Toby Jones and will be released theatrically in 2014.
In 2015 Mottern will direct Academy Award-nominated William H. Macey and Felicity Huffman and actors Peter Dinklage and Ben Barnes in heist film "ZenDog."
