James G. Williams

Co-Founder and Creative Principal — Blue Ink Syndicate

I am a founder and creative principal of Blue Ink Syndicate. We are an entertainment company that loves to tell compelling stories that connect with our audiences. We communicate online, in live performance art, show productions, interactive media design, web marketing, branding strategy and digital film production.

The name “Blue Ink Syndicate” is a result of merging companies with Christina Grenard, Stephen Fishwick and myself to expand the adventure of innovation in the entertainment industry. Our new company name takes the “Blue” from Ambient Blue Creative and the “Ink” from Artists Ink. ”Syndicate” represents the many talented people we collaborate with and represent.

While I was studying film in college, I began my career at SeaWorld San Diego in the nineties. From 1995 to 1999, I collaborated with Christina Grenard to create a series of innovative education and training videos for the SeaWorld Adventure Park. I then moved into the Marketing Department as Senior Web Designer. While in this role, I developed and enhanced SeaWorld’s websites as well as strengthening the Busch Entertainment Corporation’s Internet strategies. I was also instrumental in building and leading a multi-park Internet team that helped the SeaWorld & Busch Gardens parks more efficiently produce and publish content for the Internet.

In 1999, I founded Ambient Blue, a digital film company, with producing partner Christina Grenard. Since then, I have produced, filmed and edited independent digital films such as Sparkle and The Warning (an audience-interactive online film where viewers vote on key plot points following each episode).

In 2003, I won the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) Brass Ring Award for Innovation in website design for the creation of R.L. Stine’s Haunted Light House 4-D. This website was a marketing launch for the new spine-tingling 4-D movie experience at four Anheuser-Busch Adventure Parks including two SeaWorld and two Busch Gardens theme parks.

In 2005, Ambient Blue expanded its services to become Ambient Blue Creative to include interactive marketing and design. I led the design and produced the new SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Animals new media microsite, Connections, plus many more exciting projects. The site’s Web 2.0 environment includes blogs, online video content, interactive Flash elements and games. The website continues to grow as it reaches millions of users ever year.

It was also in 2005 that Christina Grenard and I began a creative partnership with Southern California fine artist and entertainer Stephen Fishwick when he asked us to produce a live art show called Splash! Paint in Motion. Ambient Blue Creative used our digital film, interactive marketing and design skills to create the brand, online presence, print materials and marketing campaign for Splash!

In a creative expansion of business structure, Christina Grenard, Stephen Fishwick and I linked Artists Ink – a collective of over 200 independent artists – with the Ambient Blue Creative Corporation to form Blue Ink Syndicate. Blue Ink Syndicate offers our clients a single source for booking artists, creating marketing campaigns, production of videos, websites and live event productions.

In 2007, I co-produced and directed Splash! Faces of the Wild — a live art experience that premiered at the World Famous San Diego Zoo in June of 2007. In addition, I co-composed the Faces of the Wild Soundtrack and designed a line of merchandise featuring artwork by Stephen Fishwick. The show won runner up in IAAPA’s “Best Overall Production” of 2007.

Today: Check back to follow the adventure! I have a lot of exciting projects lined up for this year and beyond!

I would like to thank everyone for supporting me over the years. Andrijana, my amazing girlfriend and all of my family and friends. I wouldn’t be here today without you!

Get ready, this is only the beginning!!!