In June-July 2026, James traveled to Beijing to participate in the annual Looking China Youth Film Project, a short documentary program which introduces Western filmmakers to Chinese culture. In an intense 2.5 week timespan, James and his collaborators worked tirelessly to create a short portrait piece of an acclaimed Chinese painter, Qin Kunying (also known as Aqin).

Since Aqin’s work is characterized by an abstract, hazy nature, James used a number of unconventional techniques to elevate the visuals. Most notably, he experimented with using PrismFX glass, which normally is only used for music videos, to create a surreal, dreamlike visual landscape.

The project was also extremely fulfilling from a cultural exchange standpoint. Working with Chinese collaborators Peppa Destined Perfect and Hubery Wang, James learned an immense amount about Chinese culture and gained invaluable foreign documentary experience.