About Me (and Mischief)
James Gingold is a writer, creative director, and experiential designer working at the intersection of interactive narrative, immersive live events, and game design. He holds an MFA from the California Institute of the Arts, where he completed a dual degree in Creative Writing and Experience Design & Production with a specialization in Integrated Media.
His thesis project, Edda, is an interactive narrative RPG set in a post-apocalyptic high fantasy world, where the player controls a journalist who uncovers forgotten history and must decide what truth to tell. The game explores memory, media literacy, and the ethics of storytelling through play.
Before graduate school, James spent over a decade in television as a writer, director, and co-executive producer, primarily in documentary and unscripted programming. His credits include Bar Rescue (Paramount Network), Funniest Wins (TBS), Food Fortunes (Food Network), Adventure Capitalists (Travel Channel), and national broadcast events for NBC, FOX News, Google, and YouTube.
He is the founder of The Adventure Academy, an after-school enrichment program for ages 8–12 that teaches STEM, teamwork, and media literacy through roleplaying games.
James is currently developing ImagineIY as an immersive events production company and building toward a long-term vision in themed entertainment. He is always looking for the next great story to tell and the next great show to put on.
Mischief is a mutt bossie-doodle focused on peanut butter, hikes with his dad, and napping. He is a very good boy.
EDUCATION
Master of Fine Arts — CalArts · Valencia, CA · May 2026
Creative Writing and Experiential Design & Production · Specialization in Integrated Media
Thesis: Edda, an interactive narrative RPG (proof-of-concept, Unity)
Bachelor of Arts — Webster University · St. Louis, MO · June 2023
Media Studies · Minor in Childhood Education · Certificate in Entrepreneurship
Graduated magna cum laude
Certificate of Achievement — Pasadena City College · Los Angeles, CA · June 2023
Theater Technology
Associates of Applied Sciences Tribeca Flashpoint Media Arts Academy · Chicago, IL · January 2011
Film & Broadcast Media, Focus in Screenwriting
SELECTED PROJECTS & PRODUCTIONS
Edda — Thesis Project · CalArts · 2024–2026
Interactive narrative RPG set in a post-apocalyptic high fantasy world with journalism as its core mechanic. Written, designed, and built in Unity — the first 4 complete chapters and full combat system built as playable concept demo. Explores themes of memory, media literacy, and complicity in constructing shared truth.
Art-Mageddon — Halloween Live Music Event · CalArts · 2025
Large-scale immersive show. 1,400 guests with a budget of $75k and featuring bands, DJs, live actors, curated cocktails, and a haunted maze. Presented with support of multiple vendor partners for lights, video, and alcohol. — creative director and writer.
NYE in Space — Immersive New Year’s Event · ImagineIY · 2025–2026
Immersive party with volumetric capture, green screen production, and live performance elements. — creative director and writer.
Curated Experience — Integrated Narrative Installation · CalArts · 2025
Multi-media walkthrough attraction with 8 storylines and 13,220 words across 34 hidden story logs accessed through a personal device. 26 visitors averaged 16 logs per visit; 7 guests discovered the hidden ending. Engagement tracked via custom website system.
Aquarium — Performance Installation · CalArts · 2026
Immersive performance installation exploring space, light, and presence. Guests interacted with the space and each other through a website that pushed timed updates to coincide with the live show. — co-writer and actor.
Danton’s Death — Technical Director · CalArts 2025
Georg Büchner — directed by Hunter Abal
Mother Courage and Her Children — Technical Director · CalArts · 2024
Bertolt Brecht — directed by Ilse Castro Corona
Atomic Shelter — Immersive Experience · CalArts · 2023
A walkthrough attraction for 8 guests at a time with interactive character actors and a reactor programming mini-game to decide the nuclear fate of the survivors. — creative director and writer.
Angel City — Stage Manager · Pasadena City College · 2023
Sam Shepard — directed by Will Ahrens
Clear the Air · Stage Manager · Pasadena City College · 2023
Dance Recital
TELEVISION & MEDIA CREDITS
Co-Executive Producer — Bar Rescue (Seasons 3, 5, 6, 7) · Paramount Network / 3 Ball Entertainment · 2016–2020
Story Producer — Tex-Mex Motors Post (Season 1) · Netflix / MAK Pictures
Producer — Unreleased Film History Project (Pilot) · Disney+ / ABC Studios · 2019
Co-Executive Producer — Unreleased Music Project (Pilot) · FM.TV / Spaceland · 2018
Producer & Director — “Anki” / “Reserve” · Futurism · 2018
Field Story Producer — Family Takeover (Season 1) · Spike TV / Ugly Brother Studios · 2015
Field Director — Bar Rescue: Back to the Bar (Season 2) · Spike TV / 3 Ball Entertainment · 2015
Supervising Field Producer — Adventure Capitalists (Pilot) · Travel Channel / 3 Ball Entertainment · 2015
Story Producer — Food Fortunes (Season 1) · Food Network / 3 Ball Entertainment · 2015
Writer & Story Producer — The Kitten Bowl II · Hallmark Channel / Eyeworks USA · 2015
Writer & Story Producer — The Paw Star Game · Hallmark Channel / Eyeworks USA · 2015
Writer & Director — FOX News / Google GOP Presidential Debate · FOX News / YouTube / Whirled · 2016
Writer & Director — NBC News / YouTube Democratic Debate · NBC / YouTube / Whirled · 2016
Director — #CreatorSpotlight Series (Episodes 1–3) · YouTube / Whirled · 2016
Director — Introducing the Newslab · Google / Whirled · 2015
Segment Producer — Funniest Wins (Season 1) · TBS / Eyeworks USA · 2014
Story Editor — My Big Fat Revenge (Season 1) · Oxygen / Eyeworks USA · 2013
Associate Producer — Splash! (Season 1) · ABC / Eyeworks USA · 2013
Story Editor — Operation Change (Season 1) · OWN / Wondros Productions · 2012–2013
AWARDS
2019 Critics’ Choice Real TV Award — Nominee
TEACHING & EDUCATION
Founder & Creative Director — The Adventure Academy · 2022–2023
After-school enrichment program for ages 8–12
Teaches STEM, teamwork, and broadcast literacy through roleplaying games
Special Education Paraprofessional — La Cañada High School 7/8 · 2022–2023
SKILLS
Creative: Immersive experience design, interactive narrative, game writing & design, creative producing, team leadership, technical direction, set design
Production: Video production, cinematography, editing, live broadcast, integrated media performance, field production
Technical: Unity (game development), Arduino, Programmable Logic Controllers, AutoCAD, Fusion 360
Software: Photoshop, Premiere, Illustrator, InDesign, Avid, WordPress, Asana, Microsoft Office, Google Workspace
Collaborative Narrative: Dungeon Master (20+ years), TTRPG world-building, collaborative storytelling, campaign design
FULL CREDITS