James Brown

Documentary Director / Editor

Kia Ora — I began Branch Out Media in 2007 when I left an easy-going job making education videos to branch out on my own as a freelance director and editor. I am based in Auckland, New Zealand, but work with clients around the globe telling stories, big and small.

Over the past 20 years I have edited for many of New Zealand's top documentary directors and producers — Leanne Pooley, Annie Goldson, Cass Avery, Oskar Kightly, Roger Donaldson, Pietra Brettkelly, Justin Pemberton, Matthew Metcalfe and many others.

I've received three national awards for documentary editing: 2013 Moa with director Annie Goldson, 2020 NZTVA with co-editor Prisca Bouchet, and 2025 NZSA with my long-time editing partner Tim Woodhouse.

As a director I have shot all over the world, primarily on my long-form series "An American Rugby Odyssey", filmed in New Zealand, USA, China, UK, Europe, Japan, Brazil, Fiji and Tanzania.

If you're looking for editing services please check out my rate and availability.

Filmography

2026

At the end of February I travelled to Los Angeles for the premiere of the last two films in my long-running series "An American Rugby Odyssey". For the past 3 years I've taken on a mentoring role, helping the students document their own experiences, for a series of "Student Cuts". As for the rest of the year... I'm wide open for once.

2025

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2004–6

During this period I worked full time directing and editing educational art documentaries for The Learning Connexion, as well as music videos, short films and corporate videos.

2003

James Brown Profile Picture