Actor
I want to wish all that visit an enthusiastic and Happy 2024! My presence as a performer is not just about creating talent but to give back and support folks in their talents to include sharing. Below, you will find some recent work of mine that I’ve acted in that you can check out as a start to the new year:
The Unbelievable with Dan Aykroyd (2023-present)
Homeboys (2023)
Transformation (2023)
More projects are underway this year! Stay tuned!!
James
I had a spectacular time being a part of Season 1 of Lifetime’s #TextMeWhenYouGetHome. The series superbly brings an eye-opening, fierce awareness to those we lost and reminds us to have each other’s back even when we think everything is ok. Remember, text others when you get home.
We filmed in February 2022, and the episode I acted in premiered in the Summer of 2022. Guess what…you will soon be seeing me in Season 2. We filmed my episode in February 2023, and it will premiere sometime this Summer of 2023. Unlike the Serial Killer, James VanCallis, whom I acted as in Season 1, you will see me on the other side playing a helpful cop in Season 2.
Stay tuned…
#Lifetime #LifetimeTV #MyLifetime #NotAcceptable #Significance #MakeADifference #IMPORTANT #Beware #DeservesToBeTold #Senseless #Acting #Art
A fan recently reminded me of the brilliance created in the film. I wanted to throwback to it since we are coming up on ten years since its initial release. It’s hard to believe that! Watch the believable terror captured in this film that I was privileged to act in as the lead character Paul, titled The Abandoned!
As time goes on, more ways to cascade and organize information of countless kinds expand. In my experimentation, I figured out a way to integrate Instagram in a new way on my official website!
Official Instagram: @jburlesonactor
Tonight, I will be acting in the TV Series #TextMeWhenYouGetHome at 8pm/CST on Lifetime! Check your local listings. I portray the character James VanCallis. I'm hoping my dark role will bring awareness that any kind of violence or cruelty is not acceptable by any human being.
https://www.mylifetime.com/shows/textmewhenyougethome/
See below for press and more information:
Deadline: https://deadline.com/2022/04/lifetime-expands-true-crime-programming-1235006924/
Teaser Promo: https://youtu.be/ksPFC7Agffs
#Lifetime #LifetimeTV #MyLifetime #NotAcceptable #Significance #MakeADifference #IMPORTANT #Beware #DeservesToBeTold #Senseless #Acting #Art
IMDb Details:
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21078270/
https://pro.IMDb.com/name/nm3160499/
https://www.IMDb.com/name/nm3160499/
Official Website: https://www.jamesburleson.com/
#JamesBurleson #JamesBurlesonActor
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jburlesonactor
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/jburlesonactor
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/jburlesonactor
Finally, if you are interested in any behind-the-scenes videos, you will find a couple on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/jamesburleson/videos/655170508960671/
https://www.facebook.com/jamesburleson/videos/1197536737741569/
This might seem basic, but it’s true! Whether you have a fear for auditioning, you don’t like it or you even feel lazy auditioning because you perhaps feel you do not have a shot, RISE ABOVE IT & GO FOR IT ANYWAY. Trust me when I say that the perception of one’s feelings a lot of times do not match what others see. We are all our own worst self-critic! Rising above it will also challenge you to overcome your fears just like you would if you went skydiving for the first time and you are afraid of heights!
I wanted take a moment to give my perspective on how Actors appear and what matters on-screen vs. off-screen. It’s awesome if you place a high emphasis on your appearance wherever you go. That’s even necessary when one models. But when it comes to the Craft of Acting, your looks must reciprocate the vision of the character and not your best self (ESPECIALLY WHILE AUDITIONING)!
For example, with the below picture taken on set on February 15, 2022, I played a dark character. I chose to substantially grow out my facial hair as long as I could before shooting. I particularly do not like growing out facial hair because of the way it feels, but I’m glad that I do have the option to do so. Also, I didn’t try to tailor or elevate my appearance to my best self because of the research I did on this character. Dark, gruesome and shady are just a few of the idiosyncrasies I was shooting for. I hope I met that objective.
Btw, this is for a Lifetime Television Documentary that will be released later this year. Details will be released soon.
Shot in 2007, Home Grown was my debut film as an Actor. I tracked a few scenes of the film from YouTube. It was shot in 35mm Panavision Film. Just seeing this film is a reminder of where I started and how far I’ve come in my 15th year of acting professionally.
Check it out! INTO DUST just received streaming distribution from TROMA NOW!! I feel honored to have portrayed the lead role in this film!!!
Additionally below, you will find some other promotional information from the film accumulated since last year:
Take a look at the awards INTO DUST has achieved so far:
https://www.jamesburleson.com/blog/awardsforintodust/
INTO DUST Trailers:
FB: https://www.facebook.com/intodustmovie/videos/535075237166501/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-8Gn3V0GJQ
INTO DUST Review:
https://universalcinema.ca/into-dust-a-review/
INTO DUST IMDb:
As a Veteran of the USAF and Actor, it still warms my heart that I was cast in this PSA. Whether or not you are a Veteran, DO NOT be afraid to ask for help. One example for Veterans is to call the Veterans Crisis Line.
Thank you to Veteran Affairs and to People’s Television for this incredible honor in helping to making a difference by helping others.
On May 3rd, 2021, I had the privilege of being honored as the Monday Member Spotlight in the Facebook group titled Entertainment Industry COLLABORATORS. So far, I've had the opportunity to dig deeper into my craft as well as widen my lens into the points of view of respectable and well-known leaders in our industry.
I am deeply thrilled and humbled for this moment.
See below for what was featured:
"We are back with this week's edition of our Monday Member Spotlight series. Each week we showcase one of the talented members of this group, so you can get to know each other and possibly network. This week, we have the amazingly talented actor, James Burleson from Dallas (but he travels frequently to Cali for films/productions/projects he's been cast in). Let's get to know him better:
James Burleson knew from the moment he was a child at around 5 years old he was destined to be a Screen Actor. In 2003, James made the decision to enlist in the USAF, and he ended up spending four years on Active Duty at Altus AFB, OK and another four years in the AF Reserves in Fort Worth, TX. During his military service, he won Airman of the Year, and he received the honor of Senior Airman Below The Zone. He also received the Competent Communicator Award from Toastmasters International. James received his Bachelor's of Science (B.S.) Degree from Wayland Baptist University as well as his Master of Arts (M.A.) Degree in Multimedia Communications from the Academy of Art University. James decided not to reenlist in the USAF in 2011 in order to fully concentrate and focus on his Film Acting career. James now takes advantage of the acting opportunities that make a difference in the eyes of the viewers no matter what the emotion is in order to uniquely connect with any given audience.
Among James's most familiar work would be an episode of “Mystery Diners” on the Food Network, where he played a manager who steals a barbecue sauce recipe from his uncle, the owner, and one on Investigation Discovery called “Most Evil,” where he played a serial killer named Levi King. He also played Sean Penn and Jim Toth on two separate episodes of “The Price of Fame” on the REELZ channel. Some of James's proud accomplishments is the film “The Johnny Starr Story,” a true story about a musician who dies with his band in a plane crash. James plays the band manager in the film, which won several awards at national film festivals. It is also available for streaming on Amazon.com. Another feature film, “Body Harvest,” was filmed in 2015, as he portrays the jaw-dropping, emotional role of Rucker. Acting has been, is and will always be a way of life for James.
What Am I Getting Out Of The Group?
This group allows me to collaborate with new and experienced filmmakers that are interested in achieving masterful techniques in the art of cinema. The fact that I can continuously receive respectable perspectives from those that have persevered in their crafts and relate it to mine in a meaningful way is indescribable!! As I recall David, you invited me to this group in early 2020, so if it wasn't for you, I wouldn't be writing this email. I also wouldn't have had the privilege of connecting with such strong and fierce energies filled with optimism. Thank you again.
James
COVID-19 is not over with! Those of you in this business are eager to get back out there to continue excelling on your crafts no matter how established you are. I just want to let you know that I will continue to look out for my friends, acquaintances or former cast members on any opportunities I happen to come across that I think one would be a great fit for. I can’t promise that I will spot something for someone at the right place or the right time (as a lot of this is based on timing), but I will give it my all. I expect NOTHING in return.
I wanted to give a throwback to a short film I feel lucky to have been cast in as the lead in titled The Abandoned (2013).
Synopsis: After realizing the adopted child is more than what he was, a young couple decided to abandon him.
WARNING: This film is a bit creepy. If you’re looking for that, turns the lights out!!!!
Enjoy!!!!
James
Remember late last year when I was in Austin, TX shooting a German piece exploring the use of film noir? It’s now available...
Video Anatomy EP2: Black and Light
ROLE: The Nazi Officer (German)
This is the most recent latest episode to Don Berry’s Video Anatomy series! In this episode, he explores film noir lighting as well as shooting in black and white. He always shoots in 4K (to include using the Sony FS5 and Rokinon and Sigma prime lenses).
Like its predecessor in the series, this installment features another original short film of his. He shot it in black and white and it’s set both in the early 1960s as well as in World War II. This was his first period piece, and he ended up putting a huge amount of work into it. It paid off!!
Enjoy!!!!
James
INTO DUST is now alive on IMDb. This film has been well received so far, received several international awards, and the premiere is about to hit on January 31, 2021! Check it out!!
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13819684/
James
The Cyrus International Festival of Toronto awarded INTO DUST a second win for BEST HORROR SHORT. No words can describe my happiness so far for this film’s success. Soon, the film will be shared with the entire world! I still cannot believe I was cast to play the lead role of GUS.
James
Check out the positive review by Universal Cinema Magazine for INTO DUST.
https://universalcinema.ca/into-dust-a-review/
It is super cool to have a major publication review the film I was privileged to be a lead in. Thank you to Universal City Magazine for crediting me positively in my performance.
One year ago was the casting call, and production was wrapped in March 2020 (before COVID-19). Since then, INTO DUST has won several awards and honors. I will always be thankful to have been cast.
James
Election or no election, we should fight and support each other’s talent or skill no matter what. Consideration should not be limited to what, when, where, why or how. We all have a right to be forthcoming in our creativity, as it just only makes the beauty in front of us that much bigger. Don’t give up!!!
James
We’ve been scared enough this year. Be sure to get all the spooks and scares out of your system, so you can return to your craft with no fear. You have to be fierce and strong to fight for what you want. GO FOR IT!!!!
James
During the current festival run for INTO DUST, this film has been recognized both nationally and internationally. So far, INTO DUST has made it as a Semi-Finalist at the Indie Short Fest (Los Angeles International Film Festival) and it was awarded Best First Time Director at the Hollywood Blood Horror Festival. The Original Screenplay received praise and accolades in early 2020. INTO DUST was also recognized as a Semi Finalist at the Cyrus International Festival of Toronto for September 2020. Even though we still have a good chance to advance even more, I’m grateful we have gotten this far. I’m very thankful to have been cast as the lead character.
