James Mercer II
Oakland,CA
Summary
Artistic professional with strong background in artistic direction and production management. Known for driving impactful creative projects and fostering environment of collaboration and innovation. Relied upon for adaptability and keen eye for detail, consistently delivering high-quality results. Expertise in project management and team leadership, enhancing overall artistic vision and execution.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
Work History
Associate Artistic Director
African-American Shakespeare Company
04.2023 - Current
- Directed artistic vision for productions, ensuring alignment with cultural themes and community engagement.
- Leads casting processes, selecting diverse talent to enhance production authenticity and representation.
- Managed rehearsal schedules, optimizing time efficiency while maintaining artistic integrity of performances.
- Conducted auditions and managed casting calls for projects.
- Provided feedback on casting decisions to producers and directors.
- Coordinated with production teams to ensure all necessary paperwork was completed for each actor cast in a production.
- Drafted character breakdowns from scripts for use in the audition process.
- Organized callbacks as needed during the audition process.
- Reviewed headshots and resumes submitted by prospective talent.
- Attended to administrative tasks such as copying scripts, developing breakdowns, creating shortlists, contacting actors and managing actor paperwork and contracts to keep process flowing and avoid production delays.
- Teaching artist of various ages
- Analyzed audience feedback to refine performance quality and improve overall production outcomes.
- Established partnerships with local arts organizations to expand outreach and collaboration opportunities.
- Curated season programming that reflected community interests and increased attendance rates.
- Oversaw casting processes, selecting diverse talent to enhance production authenticity and representation.
Acting Faculty & Recruiter
American Conservatory Theater
03.2023 - Current
- Taught overall acting and movement for American Conservatory Theater's Summer Training Congress, which trains adult actors to prepare them for rigorous training.
- Taught improv to middle school aged students
- Taught Intro to Acting for adults in the Studio A.C.T. program
- Maintained attendance and monitored student progress
- Provided individual attention to actors
- Mediation between students
- Provided individual feedback to student to help them reach their goals
- Held workshops to recruit for A.C.T. various programming
- Conducted thorough candidate screenings, assessing qualifications and cultural fit for various roles.
Theatre Director
Self-Employed
United States
01.2022 - Current
- Directed diverse theatrical productions, ensuring artistic vision aligned with organizational goals.
- Collaborated with designers to develop innovative stage concepts and enhance audience engagement.
- Mentored emerging actors, fostering a culture of creativity and professional growth.
- Implemented streamlined rehearsal processes, optimizing time management and resource allocation.
- Oversaw casting processes, selecting talented actors that best fit the vision for each production while creating a balanced ensemble dynamic on stage.
Actor
Self-Employed
United States
08.2009 - Current
- Portrayed diverse characters in various productions, enhancing storytelling through dynamic performances.
- Collaborated with directors and production teams to refine scripts and develop character arcs.
- Attended auditions and casting calls, maintaining professionalism and adaptability in competitive environments.
- Engaged with audiences during live performances, fostering connections and enhancing viewer experience.
- Mentored junior actors, providing guidance on performance techniques and industry best practices.
- Analyzed scripts for character depth, contributing insights that shaped overall production quality.
- Developed strong relationships with industry professionals, expanding network for future collaborations.
- Participated in table reads and rehearsals, ensuring a thorough understanding of scripts and character motivations.
- Exhibited strong professionalism by maintaining punctuality, preparedness, and open communication throughout all stages of the production process.
- Experience touring, physical theatre, educational theatre, and devising
Box Office Associate
The Second City
Chicago, IL
10.2017 - 05.2019
- Processed ticket sales using point-of-sale systems, ensuring accurate transactions and customer satisfaction.
- Managed cash handling procedures, maintaining accountability and compliance with financial policies.
- Assisted in organizing promotional events, enhancing customer engagement and driving sales growth.
- Trained new associates on box office operations, fostering a collaborative team environment.
- Resolved customer inquiries and complaints promptly, improving service quality and retention rates.
- Implemented workflow improvements, increasing operational efficiency during peak ticket sales periods.
- Streamlined box office operations for increased efficiency through organized scheduling and accurate recordkeeping.
- Increased ticket sales by providing excellent customer service and maintaining a thorough knowledge of upcoming events.
- Trained new box office associates on company policies and procedures, contributing to a cohesive team environment.
- Handled high-pressure situations calmly during sold-out events or technical difficulties at the box office, maintaining professionalism while resolving problems quickly.
- Greeted guests as they entered the theater and directed them to their show for the evening.
- Sold merchandise along with tickets
Data Entry Clerk & Reception
J. Knipper & Associates
Lawrenceville, NJ
02.2014 - 09.2017
- Developed streamlined processes for data entry tasks, resulting in time savings for team operations.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to improve data collection methods, driving process enhancements.
- Completed data entry tasks with accuracy and efficiency.
- Followed established procedures to enter and process data correctly.
- Organized, sorted, and checked input data against original documents.
- Scanned documents and saved in database to keep records of essential organizational information.
- Entered data into various computer systems accurately using Microsoft Office Suite.
- Maintained strict confidentiality of sensitive client information, ensuring compliance with industry regulations and company policies.
- Created and maintained data entry logs to track data entry activities.
- Communicated with supervisors and colleagues to process data quickly and resolve discrepancies.
- Maintained a high level of accuracy and speed through continuous self-assessment, surpassing company standards consistently.
- Single-handedly tripled the income of the company through form processing
- Performed regular audits on database content to identify outdated or inaccurate records requiring updates or removals.
- Reduced turnaround time for projects by consistently meeting or exceeding deadlines while maintaining high-quality work output.
Education
Master of Fine Arts - Acting For Theater
American Conservatory Theater
San Francisco05-2022
Master of Fine Arts - Film
New York Film Academy
Los Angeles, CA06-2013
Bachelor of Music - Music & Entertainment Business
William Paterson University
Wayne, NJ01-2012
No Degree - Acting
School At Steppenwolf
Chicago, IL08-2018
Skills
- Visual art creation
- Script analysis
- Client relationships
- Microsoft Office Suite
- Schedule coordination
- Curriculum design
- Videography
- Film and video production
- Artistic collaboration
- Staff hiring and management
- Stage direction
- Art program development
- Strong analytical skills
- Excellent team player
- Visual storytelling
- Video editing
- Superb attention to detail
- Creative direction
- Canvas
- Mac OS X proficient
- Acting
- Adaptable
- Following directions
- Emotional expression
- Television and film experience
- Vocal tone
- Voice projection
- Character research
- Singer, Baritenor
- Enunciation and diction
- Vocal control
- Cold reading
- Improvisation techniques
- Character development
- Audition preparation
- Audience engagement
- Production management
- Sound design
- Casting expertise
- Acting coaching
- Time management
- Multitasking
- Critical thinking
- Decision-making
Timeline
Associate Artistic Director
African-American Shakespeare Company
04.2023 - Current
Acting Faculty & Recruiter
American Conservatory Theater
03.2023 - Current
Theatre Director
Self-Employed
01.2022 - Current
Box Office Associate
The Second City
10.2017 - 05.2019
Data Entry Clerk & Reception
J. Knipper & Associates
02.2014 - 09.2017
Actor
Self-Employed
08.2009 - Current
Master of Fine Arts - Acting For Theater
American Conservatory Theater
Master of Fine Arts - Film
New York Film Academy
Bachelor of Music - Music & Entertainment Business
William Paterson University
No Degree - Acting
School At Steppenwolf