James A. Contner
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7Hallmark films
across 7 rated films
Mostly standard issue
Best reviewed
Most recent
James A. Contner worked the camera side of Hallmark, a director and cinematographer rather than a face on the poster, and he packed seven films into a short, busy window between 2005 and 2008. His instincts run conventional. The weirdness is low, the settings lean toward the big city rather than the snowy small town, and there is not a Christmas title in the bunch, which makes him a bit of an outsider in a catalog built on December. The ratings sit in the middle, around 5.8 on average, but two of his pictures tie for the high mark at 6.6: "You've Got a Friend" from 2007 and the 2005 mystery "McBride: Anybody Here Murder Marty?", with the "Jane Doe" entry "How to Fire Your Boss" close behind at 6.2. If you like your Hallmark grounded and a touch procedural, his run is worth a look.
Follow & about James
- From
- United States
James Atwater Contner is an American film, television director and cinematographer. His work includes episodes of such television series as Miami Vice, Angel, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Firefly, The X-Files and Star Trek: Enterprise. He has also directed several films, including One Hot Summer Night (1998), and Shark Swarm (2008).
3 films
James has shared more Hallmark sets with Jessy Schram than with anyone else.
3 films, one enduring on-screen pairing.
Known for
Director · 2008
Weirdness 2/10
Director · 2007
Weirdness 3/10
Director · 2005
Weirdness 3/10
Director · 2007
Weirdness 7/10
Director · 2007
Weirdness 3/10
Director · 2005
Weirdness 3/10
On-screen partners
James’s most frequent on-screen partner is Jessy Schram, with 3 films together.
Recurring roles
James is a recurring face in Jane Doe.
Where James fits in
The corners of the Hallmark universe James keeps turning up in. Each one is a full ranked guide.
All 7 movies
Newest first2000s
7 films- 2008
Ladies of the HouseDirector · Suburb5.9Weird 3/10 - 2008Shark SwarmDirector · Beach Town3.4Weird 2/10
- 2007Jane Doe: How to Fire Your BossDirector · Big City6.2Weird 7/10
- 2007Jane Doe: Ties That BindDirector · Big City6.0Weird 3/10
- 2007You've Got a FriendDirector · Small Town6.6Weird 3/10
- 2005Jane Doe: Vanishing ActDirector · Suburb6.1Weird 3/10
- 2005McBride: Anybody Here Murder Marty?Director · Big City6.6Weird 3/10
James’s standouts
In pictures
A quick look at James’s Hallmark run — headshot and the posters fans know best.
- James A. Contner
James’s creative circle
Go-to cast
- Jessy Schram3 films
- Joe Penny3 films
- Lea Thompson3 films
- William R. Moses3 films
- Zack Shada3 films
Who James works with
The cast and crew James keeps ending up on set with — the regular faces you’ll recognise from one film to the next. Bigger circle, more films together.
Movies by year
Ratings profile
Average 5.8 across 7 rated movies — each dot is one film.
