James R. Messenger was a documentarian best known for his Emmy Award-winning work on the short film The Taj Majal, which won the gold in 1982 for outstanding informational or cultural programming as well as outstanding cinematography for director of photography Arnie Sirlin. The Taj Mahal, which Messenger wrote, produced and directed, told the romantic story behind the famous building.
He was also nominated for two Academy Awards, for his work on the documentary shorts Of Time, Tombs and Treasures (1977), and Koryo Celadon (1979). The former told the story of the discovery of Pharoah Tutankamun's tomb, while the latter told the story of Korean pottery maker Yoo Kun-Hyong, who was declared a National Living Treasure by Korea.
Messenger also worked extensively in telecommunications and was known for many years as “Mr. Network.” He served as a producer of the first intercity television broadcast via laser beam over fiber optic cable. He was also the executive producer of the first coast-to-coast hi-def TV broadcast featuring David Crosby and Graham Nash.
James R. Messenger was a documentarian best known for his Emmy Award-winning work on the short film The Taj Majal, which won the gold in 1982 for outstanding informational or cultural programming as well as outstanding cinematography for director of photography Arnie Sirlin. The Taj Mahal, which Messenger wrote, produced and directed, told the romantic story behind the famous building.
He was also nominated for two Academy Awards, for his work on the documentary shorts Of Time, Tombs and Treasures (1977), and Koryo Celadon (1979). The former told the story of the discovery of Pharoah Tutankamun's tomb, while the latter told the story of Korean pottery maker Yoo Kun-Hyong, who was declared a National Living Treasure by Korea.
Messenger also worked extensively in telecommunications and was known for many years as “Mr. Network.” He served as a producer of the first intercity television broadcast via laser beam over fiber optic cable. He was also the executive producer of the first coast-to-coast hi-def TV broadcast featuring David Crosby and Graham Nash.
Messenger died April 21, 2015. He was 66.
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