Since its inception, the YVFF brings A-List Talents to Yucca Valley for a Masterclass event.
The Yucca Valley Film Festival is proud to announce that this year’s free Masterclass will feature award-winning actor and director James Morrison.
Saturday, Nov 8, 2025, 3pm | Main Room (Yucca Room)
4:30pm: Picture Signing
• Actor, director, musician
• SAG Award Nominee (Screen Actors Guild)
• Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award Winner
• Slamdance Winner
• Wrote and directed several award-winning short films
• Directed and co-produced the feature documentary Showing Up.
With a career spanning over four decades, James Morrison is best known to global audiences as CTU Director Bill Buchanan on FOX’s acclaimed series 24—a fan-favorite character he portrayed over the course of five seasons, earning a lasting place in the show’s legacy.
His portrayal of Buchanan—a steadfast and authoritative leader navigating high-stakes counterterrorism operations—became a defining presence in the show’s intense narrative, earning him widespread recognition and acclaim from both audiences and critics alike.
In 2017, Morrison embodied Warden Dwight Murphy In the Showtime revival of Twin Peaks (2017).
As the administrator of Yankton Federal Prison, Morrison brings his commanding on-screen presence to yet another legacy franchise.
Beyond his work in television, Morrison has built an exceptional body of work across film and stage, while also writing, directing, and teaching the craft he has devoted his life to. His performance in The Jazz Funeral was praised for its range, and for the authenticity of the onscreen father–son dynamic.
On the big screen, James Morrison’s recognizable gravitas and grounded, powerful presence made him a regular in major films, where his versatility shines across a range of notable projects directed by Steven Spielberg, Sam Mendes, Joel Schumacher, and others.
Beyond 24 and Twin Peaks, Morrison portrayed Colonel Tyrus Cassius “T.C.” McQueen in Space: Above and Beyond (also known as Space: 2063)—a role that remains one of his most memorable.
Morrison is also a seasoned professional with an extensive list of guest appearances across a wide range of shows—both dramatic and comedic—contributing to many critically acclaimed series.
Morrison’s foundation lies in the theater, where he has built an exceptional body of work performing on stages across the country and internationally. His extensive experience includes working with leading directors and premier theater companies, earning accolades for his powerful performances. He is also a dedicated playwright and educator, passionately sharing his craft through teaching and mentoring the next generation of actors.
SHOWING UP is a feature length documentary conversation about the audition, directed by Riad Galayini and James Morrison. In this unprecedented look at the audition, some of our most accomplished actors reflect on the process of getting work. On the surface, SHOWING UP explores the actor’s audition. Looking deeper, it transcends the profession and examines what it takes for all of us to pursue what we most want to achieve in life.
Yucca Valley Film Festival 