James Morrison began 1998 by completing his second short film, NUDE DESCENDING. This film is about a generous friend who agrees to substitute for another in a life studies art class. His panic-laden thoughts while posing nude are the subject of the film. This time writing, Riad Galayini directing and producing, Morrison also makes a brief appearance in the film.
January 23: Morrison guest-starred in the premiere mid-season pickup episode of BEYOND BELIEF. As William Corzene, Morrison depicted an artist whose talent seemed to be bringing painless death to his clients with the completion of each client’s portrait.
February 15: On National Public Radio, Morrison could be
heard in RUBY McCOLLUM, a radio play for which he recorded a role in July 1997. Based on
the book, RUBY McCOLLUM: WOMAN IN THE SUWANNEE JAIL by William Bradford Huie. James
Morrison played Huie himself.
Ruby McCollum was a black woman convicted of murdering a white doctor in Florida in the
early 1950's. For obvious reasons she did not get a fair trial, and Huie, a journalist
originally from the South, became obsessed with her case. He spent seven years trying to
get her a new trial.
Huie is the author of several books including THE AMERICANIZATION OF EMILY. The cast of
the play included Jean Smart, Paul Winfield, John Randolph and Loretta Devine as Ruby. The
script was by Ron Milner and Steve Albrezzi.
March 5, 12, and 19: Morrison starred in a recurring guest role on PREY. As Lewis, a member of a new species, Morrison played an evil assassin intent on recovering his former prodigy from the "corruption" of human compassion.
March 26: On DIAGNOSIS MURDER, Morrison guest-starred as Lloyd Nichols, the gruffest member of a car racing team dealing with sabotage and murder.
April: At the Taos Talking Picture Festival, NUDE DESCENDING brought producer/director Riad Galayini the George Melies Award for overall look and style.
Also in April, Morrison began working on a new feature film entitled ABILENE. Shot for five weeks on location in Texas, Morrison plays a sheriff named Bernie. ABILENE also stars Ernest Borgnine, Kim Hunter and Park Overall.
May 9: Morrison guest-starred in the season finale of PROFILER. As Will Cook, Morrison played the publisher and friend to a vengeance-seeking photojournalist.
SHADOW OF DOUBT, a movie Morrison made with Tom Berenger and Melanie Griffith in 1997, has seen a video release in Asia and a viewing at the Cannes Film Festival. Hopes remain high that the video company that purchased the film, Largo Entertainment, will release the film either in the theatres or on video in the U.S. this year.
November 18: Morrison appeared in an episode of UPN’s new sci-fi adventure, SEVEN DAYS. In the first season’s seventh episode entitled, "Shadow Play," Morrison played a NSA hitman named Cotter.
November 4 - December 4: THE CAINE MUTINY COURT-MARTIAL played at the Tamarind theatre in Los Angeles. Morrison portrayed Captain Queeg; a man relieved of his command for his erratic behavior. The subsequent court- martial attempts to prove whether or not the mutiny was justified.
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