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Looking to emulate his role models Denzel Washington, Will Smith and Chris Tucker, 10-year-old James Finnie has been working hard for the past few years trying to make his way in the movie industry, and according to his mother, Lisa, he's making his mark.
"He's really on his way now. People are starting to see him, and he is getting a lot of big opportunities," Lisa Finnie said.
This past weekend, he began production of an independent film in Los Angeles. He is playing the lead role in "Romantic Riddles" in which he plays a boy named Elliott who learns to play many different instruments. The production is part of a film school project. The group who is putting the production together is planning to bring it to the Cannes Film Festival to try to find a buyer after production.
It was a pleasant surprise to James' mother when her aunt, who also runs an acting school in Hollywood, suggested that James take acting lessons. "The next thing we knew, he was getting into professional acting," Finnie said.
Under the stage name of James Donovan, he has been in several theater productions, including 16 productions of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" in San Francisco with British director Giles Havergal. He also played the role of Tiny Tim in "A Christmas Carol" for 32 productions at the Geary Theater in San Francisco.
This past year, he has been working with the La Tonya Watts Dance of Performing Arts in Antioch where he danced in three productions, including one that performed at Paramount Great America Amusement Park in Santa Clara.
"James does a lot of auditions. He tried out for 'The Lion King,' which was a lot of auditions. It was a very hard part to get," Finnie said. Even though he didn't get the role, there was a lot of time practicing and getting ready for the part.
"I really enjoy acting because it is fun and exciting," he said. He said he likes doing cartoon voice-overs. So far, he has done one voice-over as a kid at the ice cream truck in a production of an animated cartoon called "Sprint."
In September when Hurricane Ivan was threatening Florida, James was there performing in Lou Pearlman's Talent Rock. Talent Rock presents talent search events showcasing actors, models and vocalists to the entertainment industry. He was one of five finalists.
"That was a great opportunity for him. Since then, four agents called back and one was a very good chance of possibly working with Lil' Romeo's singing coach," Finnie said.
Along with his talent for acting, Finnie said that he is also an accomplished singer. He sings theater tunes and a cappella. That was one of the pluses of trying out for animated voice-overs like 'The Lion King.'
When he is not singing and acting, he is an honor student at Seven Hills Elementary School in Walnut Creek. He also plays soccer. Finnie said that at one time, James had a choice between playing soccer in Italy or acting, and James decided that although he loves playing soccer, he wanted to act more. "Soccer is one of the best sports around, and I love meeting new people. I get to do that in acting, too," James said.