بیوگرافی
Award-winning writer and director Chris Jaymes has built a multifaceted career spanning several decades, working as an actor, writer, director, and producer. He is a published author known for a bestselling graphic novel, has toured extensively as a piano and keyboard player with various bands, and his debut feature film as writer/director earned numerous awards and nominations.
Jaymes began his acting career at 17 with a guest role on the hit series Wings, although his scene was cut before filming. Shortly after, he was cast alongside Cory Haim and opposite Helen Hunt in the CBS movie-of-the-week Murder in New Hampshire: The Pamela Wojas Smart Story; after Cory Haim left the production, Chad Allen replaced him. Over the following years, Jaymes appeared in popular shows including LOST and Party of Five, working with notable directors like Ivan Reitman and actors such as Robin Williams, Billy Crystal, Martin Short, and William Shatner.
As a director, his debut feature, In Memory of My Father, starring Judy Greer and Jeremy Sisto, won 20 international awards and nominations. These included Best Picture at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival and CineVegas International Film Festival, Best Debut Feature at Sonoma Valley Film Festival, and Best Director at three different festivals. Jaymes served as writer, producer, and director on the film.
He has since directed numerous feature films and television projects, including Long Story Short starring Martin Short; Making A Scene featuring William Shatner and Cloris Leachman; The Cottage starring David Arquette; the FOX Studios Netflix Original Bad Samaritans produced by Walt Becker; Mile High produced by Coquette Productions for the Travel Channel; and various others for networks such as CBC, Lifetime, and Sundance Channel.
Jaymes authored the original screenplay Sons of Chaos, centered on the 1821 Greek War of Independence, which was adapted into a graphic novel published by Penguin Random House/IDW in English-speaking territories and by Kaktos Publications in Greece, where it became a bestseller. His screenplay Unconditional was named a 2016 Semi-Finalist in the Academy of Arts and Sciences Nicholl Fellowship competition. His nonfiction book Boxing Day, published in 2007, recounts his experiences as an aid worker during the 2004 tsunami that devastated Southeast Asia. Additionally, his research and footage of marine mammals earned the 2014 Michael DeBakey Journalism Award, recognizing outstanding journalism highlighting responsible use of animal models in medical discoveries and scientific breakthroughs.
A talented pianist, Jaymes played with the band Bootstraps, formerly signed to Capitol Records, and has toured with rockabilly icon Wanda Jackson. He studied piano and arranging/orchestration at Berklee College of Music.
He has dedicated significant effort to ocean and marine mammal conservation, including developing the Ocean Aquarium Concept as a forward-thinking solution for protecting marine life and ecosystems.
Jaymes grew up in Huntington Beach before relocating at 17 to a loft in downtown Los Angeles, living among musicians and skateboarders including Jason Lee (My Name is Earl) and Scott Weiland (Stone Temple Pilots).
Between 1994 and 1996, he trained at the South Coast Repertory Theater conservatory in Costa Mesa, performing in productions on both the Main and Second stages, such as Three Sisters and Measure for Measure.
From 1997 to 1999, he took on numerous stage roles, including Claire in Jean Genet's The Maids at L.A.T.C., Michael in Curtains at the International City Theater, and Don Baker, the blind guitarist lead in Butterflies Are Free at the Matrix Theater in 1999.
During the peak of MySpace, Jaymes worked as a Freelance Content Producer, helping develop the platform's homepage into a video content hub by producing spots featuring artists and events like the Beastie Boys, Wyclef Jean, Lance Bass, and the Toronto Film Festival.
Simultaneously, he produced and directed commercials and web campaigns for clients such as Intel, Lenovo, HarperCollins, FRS, NaturaPet, Nikki Sixx, and LiveBooks.com. He also devoted efforts to numerous nonprofit organizations including One Generation, Island Dolphin Care, and the Sweet Relief Musician’s Fund.
