Actor James Morrison to lead masterclass on at Yucca Valley Film Festival

Award-winning actor James Morrison, best known for his role as Bill Buchanan on the hit TV series 24, will headline this year’s Yucca Valley Film Festival. He will conduct a masterclass on storytelling, creativity, and the art of humility in performance.




The Yucca Valley Film Festival begins on November 7th for its seventh year, bringing filmmakers, artists, and audiences together for a weekend of screenings, panels, and community celebration.




This year’s guest, actor and filmmaker James Morrison, says his approach to teaching is intuitive and based on what happens in the room.




“Whenever I enter anything that involves teaching, I wait and see what shows up. It’s about addressing the needs of the moment.”




With a career spanning four decades in television, film, theater, and music, Morrison considers himself a storyteller first and foremost. He views storytelling, whether through acting, writing, or song, as a sacred exchange between artist and audience.




“What we do as actors doesn’t exist without the audience.”








James Morrison


Morrison trained in Alaska and New York before earning his Equity card with the Alaska Repertory Theatre. He later studied for decades with acting teacher Harry Mastrogeorge in Los Angeles. Morrison also reflected on working with mentors like Robert Redford, who inspired his belief that creativity thrives in process, not perfection.




“You’re only as good as you dare to be bad,” Morrison recalls Redford saying at Sundance. Morrison added, “That’s always stayed with me.”




Alongside his wife, filmmaker Riad Galayini, Morrison has produced award-winning short films and the documentary Showing Up, which is used in over 200 university film programs.




The actor describes storytelling as a ritual that connects performer and audience. “It’s a circle,” he said. “Creation doesn’t exist without someone to receive it.”




This will be Morrison’s first visit to Joshua Tree in over 30 years. He says he’s looking forward to meeting local filmmakers and artists at the festival and seeing what stories the desert inspires.




Festival director Matt Beurois says Morrison’s participation highlights how the High Desert continues to attract world-class talent while nurturing local voices.




The Yucca Valley Film Festival will be held from November 7th to 9th at the Yucca Valley Community Center. The Masterclass with James Morrison is on Saturday afternoon, and the festival’s red carpet events are open to the public each evening. The Yucca Valley Film Festival is free and open to the public.




For a full schedule, visit yuccavalleyfilmfestival.com

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