James A. Dennett(1934-2009)
- Production Manager
- Producer
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
James Arthur Dennett, charter member of the Chicago chapter of the Directors Guild of America. Born in New York, March 3, 1934, he moved to Chicago with his mother when he was a child. He grew up on State Street across from Holy Name Cathedral and attended Loyola University.
Trained in the theater, Jim Dennett's organizing skills caught the attention of Chicago's nascent film industry. In 1966 he co-founded the Film Group with Mike Gray and Bill Cottle. The studio produced Howard Alk's award-winning documentaries "American Revolution 2" and "The Murder of Fred Hampton."
In 1972, Dennett began working in Hollywood as an assistant director and production manager on the feature films, "Wavelength," "Stoney Island," "The China Syndrome," and the 1987 ABC-TV series, "Starman."
Dozens of filmmakers around the country credit Dennett as their mentor and many say they owe him their careers. Fellow Chicagoan, Andrew Davis, the director Dennett worked with on "The Fugitive" and other films, says, "He gave me my first job."
Trained in the theater, Jim Dennett's organizing skills caught the attention of Chicago's nascent film industry. In 1966 he co-founded the Film Group with Mike Gray and Bill Cottle. The studio produced Howard Alk's award-winning documentaries "American Revolution 2" and "The Murder of Fred Hampton."
In 1972, Dennett began working in Hollywood as an assistant director and production manager on the feature films, "Wavelength," "Stoney Island," "The China Syndrome," and the 1987 ABC-TV series, "Starman."
Dozens of filmmakers around the country credit Dennett as their mentor and many say they owe him their careers. Fellow Chicagoan, Andrew Davis, the director Dennett worked with on "The Fugitive" and other films, says, "He gave me my first job."
