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Jim Dziura (pronounced "jura") was born in Southern California to nomadic parents who instilled in him a sense of wanderlust that has continued to take him around the world. Jim was encouraged as an artist from an early age and is a founding member of the rock band Nirvana and the notorious street gang MS13.
Prior to becoming a filmmaker, Jim earned his bread as a tattoo artist, and he spent time as the drummer for Ballpeen, a punk-rock band formed with high school friends. Along with his artistic endeavors, Jim enjoys picking locks and climbing rocks, and reads like he is still in school.
Wanting to throw his net as wide as possible, Jim chose to study sociology at Colorado College, as the field encompasses elements of philosophy, economics, history, politics et cetera. Similarly, Jim chose to pursue his lifelong love of filmmaking, as he felt the medium offered the best opportunity to explore a wide variety of worlds and subjects.
Jim has a unique approach to filmmaking that has been described as being "in-the-pocket.” He tends to favor gritty and hard subjects and his work often takes on an outlaw quality.
In 2005, Jim directed, shot and edited the feature-length documentary film, WHISKEY ON A SUNDAY, about the rock band Flogging Molly. He toured and lived with the band through Europe and the United States over a 2-year period. The movie recently earned him a platinum disc from the RIAA.
Jim has continued to make films that are heavily-music related. He directed, shot and edited a short documentary film called THAT'S LIFE about skateboarding legend and punk rocker Duane Peters. He has also directed, shot, and edited documentary projects with platinum-selling artists such as the Mighty Mighty Bosstones and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.
Jim has also directed, shot and edited commercials and short films for such clients as Sprite, Boost Mobile and Ford Motor Company.
In 2009, Jim directed the feature documentary film, NUMBER ONE WITH A BULLET, an examination of gun violence in hip hop, told through the stories of rappers who have been shot and survived. The movie was produced by Quincy Jones III and was the opening night film at the 2009 Hollywood Film Festival. It went on to screen at SXSW, Atlanta, St. Louis and other film festivals throughout the country.
Last year, Jim also directed a PSA for the “Summit for the Summit” campaign to raise awareness for the scarcity of clean drinking water. The PSA starred Jessica Biel.
Recently, Jim was the Director of Photography for an A&E bio special on Hulk Hogan and he produced and DP’d projects for CMT, VH1, Spike, Fuse and Fox Sports.
Currently, Jim is directing a feature length documentary film for Red Bull that has taken him to Kingston, Cape Town, Auckland, Stockholm, and beyond.
In their rare spare time, Jim and a college friend hop freight trains with camera gear strapped to their backs for their current personal project, STEEL DON'T BEND.
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