About Me

Lighting was never a career James Matlock chose — it was one he grew up inside. Raised by a father working in the concert industry, he spent his formative years around production long before he ever touched a board. That background gave him something most designers take years to develop: an instinct for how light feels to an audience, not just how it looks from the booth.

In high school, a stage crew class turned that instinct into craft. By the time he was designing full productions independently, he had already built a reputation for working clean, moving fast, and delivering designs that punch well above their rig budget. His credits now span regional professional theatre, high-profile live events, and film — from self-designed shows on an ETC Element to serving as Associate LD to David O. Smith at the Eccles Theatre for the Utah High School Musical Theatre Awards, and programming under LD James Padilla at Salt Lake Acting Company.

Currently pursuing a B.A. in Theatre Arts with a Concentration in Design and Technical Management at Weber State University on a full-tuition theatre scholarship, James brings both academic rigor and real professional experience to every project. He is a member of IATSE Local 99 and holds certifications in AVID ProTools 110 and 210M.