Professional History
Devon James
Designer × Builder × Operator
"If you need an operator who can design, build, and ship—across software, hardware, and media—I'm available for select partnerships."
DIAL-UP
ORIGINS
Self-taught digital artist from the late 90s — shooting, editing, compositing, and building effects pipelines before "creator economy" was a phrase. Prototype fast, ship, and take a project from idea to finished artifact without a large team.
- Prelude to Hope (1999–2001) — One of the earliest Star Wars fan films ever produced. Shot on Sony VX1000 DV, cut on early Final Cut Pro, VFX built from scratch. Helped catalyze early fan-film momentum across the web.
- Independent & Freelance Film / Post (1998–2008) — A decade of digital art and compositing sharpened two strengths: taste (knowing what "finished" looks like) and execution (getting there under real constraints).
- Apple Retail Training & Hype Media — Internal media designed to teach, align, and energize teams at scale. Clarity, restraint, and deep understanding of audience attention.
Web2
Momentum
From indie work into professional film/TV pipelines — compositing, motion graphics, and post supervision — where small details and dependable execution are non-negotiable. High standards, collaborative delivery, and technical rigor that carries directly into every domain after.
- Digital compositing for major features — Gradient Effects
- Multiple roles at The Jim Henson Company, including post pipeline for Sid the Science Kid
- Motion graphics / 3D for unscripted television programming
- Editorial experiments to "tighten performances" with the editor of an Oscar-nominated film
- Authentic military consulting for productions — tactics, posture, and terminology
- Performance coaching to translate real-world expertise into believable on-screen execution
Editing style sample — pacing, rhythm, and craft developed across a decade of professional post-production work.
OPERATOR
MODE
- Manufacturing owned end-to-end
- Design as business strategy
- Caltech scientific data pilot
- Land records + news indexing
- 100K+ views on explainer videos
- "Network Tokens" language in multiple bills
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RETRO-
FUTURE
AGENTS
Running JF Custom Computers & Other Thinking Machines — building software and hardware products at the intersection of AI, decentralized systems, and high-performance computing. Mission: ship real products that increase user agency, make information more durable, and put powerful tools under the customer's control.