“Do not judge me by my successes, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again.”

- Nelson Mandela

James Wallace
Author | Screenwriter | Producer 

James Wallace is an Australian author, screenwriter, and film producer with a unique background in high-stakes currency trading. His experiences in New York's financial world have directly inspired his novel TRADERS: The Whale's Wager, the first in a planned trilogy.

As co-producer of the upcoming feature film Hostage with acclaimed director Storm Ashwood, James combines 26 years of global financial markets experience with a deep passion for storytelling. He is also overseeing the film adaptation of his book, TRADERS, and preparing his romantic drama The Soho Oracle as the next slated production—a feature film ranked among the top emerging screenplays globally, which tells the story of a young man torn between a haunting prophecy and the love of his life.

James' passion for the fight to reduce human slavery and child trafficking directly inspired his involvement with Hostage, a film that explores the darker undercurrents of human exploitation beautifully wrapped in a thrilling bank heist.

Prior to transitioning into film, James held senior roles at leading institutions including Westpac (Sydney/New York), Citigroup, Camelotfund, and Excalibur Funds, where his innovative approach to currency trading earned him global recognition (Barclay Hedge Top 10 FX Firms in 2010 and 2014).

James founded Braveheart Films in 2021, focusing on developing and producing globally resonant stories. Based in Sydney, he divides his time between Australia, Bali, Thailand, and Los Angeles, drawing creative inspiration from his international experiences.

A global traveller by nature, James is passionate about music—having written and performed the song "Can You Feel It," featured in his Nine Network documentary Life Challenge Kokoda—as well as AFL (as a dedicated Sydney Swans supporter), and crafting stories that reflect the complexity of power, ambition, greed, and the darker sides of human nature. Some of his films, such as The Soho Oracle, also explore the power of love in the face of extreme odds. These insights have been shaped by both his career in global finance and his academic experience studying The Politics of Genocide under the brilliant Dr. Colin Tatz at Macquarie University.

In all aspects of his work, James embodies a rare blend of financial acumen, creative vision, and social conscience. Whether navigating complex markets, writing powerful narratives, or producing films that challenge and inspire, James remains dedicated to telling stories that resonate on a global scale and foster meaningful impact.