Chillin’ With James Sunshine

After graduating valedictorian from film school, James Sunshine arrived in L.A. with no job, no car, and an overdrawn bank account—but quickly began building his career from the ground up.

Photos by Wes Klain

He cut his teeth in reality TV as a longtime story producer on hit shows like Big Brother and Hell’s Kitchen, before pivoting to indie film. During the height of the 2020 lockdowns, he wrote, directed, and edited his debut feature Coronavirus Conspiracy—a Lionsgate-distributed satire that became the first union-approved independent film shot in L.A. post-lockdown.

Sunshine brings that same storytelling savvy to everything he touches—whether it’s finding the emotional arc in reality TV chaos or crafting richly layered roles in award-winning shorts like Adolf Silverstein and Curiosity.

His latest project, Killing Mary Sue, is a genre-bending action thriller starring Sierra McCormick (American Horror Stories), Dermot Mulroney (Chicago Fire), Sean Patrick Flanery (Nefarious), and Martin Kove (Cobra Kai), among others. Audiences will get an early look at the film during the Independent Filmmakers Showcase at the L.A. Film Fest, running May 14–25, 2025, at Regal Stadium Cinemas 14 / L.A. LIVE. Tickets and the full festival guide are available now at www.IFSfilm.com.

Already generating buzz, Killing Mary Sue has been nominated for Best Picture at IFS, with McCormick and Mulroney earning Best Actress and Best Actor awards for their performances. Set for release in June 2025 via Samuel Goldwyn Films, the film follows a corrupt senator who plots to eliminate his burnout stepdaughter to gain political sympathy—only for the plan to backfire when she discovers her untouchable talent for assassination. Packed with dark humor, absurdist twists, and a wildly entertaining ensemble, Killing Mary Sue cements Sunshine’s status as an indie filmmaker to watch.

We caught up with Sunshine to talk about Killing Mary Sue, his creative process, guilty pleasures, and the one drink he refuses to make at home.

Tell us about the projects you are working on.

This summer I’m gearing up for the release of my next feature film, Killing Mary Sue. It’s an action/comedy starring Sierra McCormick, Dermot Mulroney, Jake Busey, Sean Patrick Flanery, and just a ton of other killer cast members. I can’t tell you how ready my team and I are to share this project with the world. When this film first came together, my producers and I set out to make something silly, edgy, action packed, and with a little bit of heart. I’m grateful for all of their guidance in bringing that spirit to life. We’re premiering the film at the Los Angeles Film Festival, where we won Best Actor, Best Actress, and are still in contention to win Best Picture. Lots of exciting things going on right now!

With your busy schedule, what do you like to do with your downtime?

I’m the kind of guy who really never stops working or even stops thinking about working. With my downtime I’m always writing new scripts, new ideas, or watching new films (which for my line of business is kinda work, right?). That all being said, I do force myself to get to the gym often.

When you go out to eat, where do you like to dine?

I’ll take a cheap meal and enjoy it just as much as an expensive one. Chick-fil-A is my guilty pleasure. I grew up in a small town in Maine where we didn’t have many fast-food options and my entire perspective on what fast-food could be changed after arriving in a big city. But generally, I’ve also been on a big Korean BBQ kick lately.

What types of dishes do you typically order?

Give me a rare steak. I’m also a sucker for some chicken wings.

Any favorite bars?

I like atmospheric and low energy dive bars. Places that don’t call attention to themselves. Those are the spots where you don’t need to fight your way through a crowd and can actually have a conversation.

What drinks do you order when out? Favorite drink?

I’ll typically go for wine or cocktails. Chardonnay or Moscato are my favorite wines. I’ll even order a Moscato with my entree despite the fact that the waiters will always remind me it’s supposed to be a dessert wine. For cocktails, I’ll usually go for a Moscow mule.

Do you prepare drinks at home?

I don’t know the first thing about how to prepare drinks. I got a muddler once at a workplace Christmas party and someone had to explain to me what it was.

Tell us about your home bar. What is it stocked with?

At home, I always just go for the wine. If you couldn’t tell from the last question, I need to keep it simple when I’m at home.

Have you ever been a bartender?

I would be a horrible bartender. A fun fact about me is that I didn’t actually have my first alcoholic drink until I was twenty-five, and I feel like I’ve been playing catchup ever since trying to wrap my head around the complexities of it all.

If you could share a drink with anyone, who would it be?

Denis Villeneuve, Kenny Hotz, or Bryan Danielson. Yes, those are three very different people, and I admire them all.

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