The Chronicles Group: Biography and mission statement
The Chronicles Group is an international nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization comprised of communicators, scientists, policy leaders, professionals and academics whose mission is to accurately convey the existential threats confronting Earth in the 21st century. The Chronicles Group takes an aggressive, issue and solution-based approach to documenting these wide-ranging and urgent challenges humankind is currently facing, including: climate crisis, overpopulation, human rights violations, biodiversity loss, pandemics, weapons of mass destruction, and the water/ energy/ food security nexus.
Documentary filmmaker and policy influencer James Thebaut founded The Chronicles Group in 2000 as a tool of public advocacy. The organization uses media to raise awareness, educate, and propose solutions for profound issues that are critically affecting both human and ecological systems today. Thebaut initially applied his distinctive storytelling and visual style over a multitude of hard-hitting topics including history and true crime, evidenced by feature films such as “The Iceman Tapes,” and “A Deadly Business.” However, the last two decades of environmental upheaval have compelled him to focus on the growing dangers and unforeseen impacts of a broad range of issues related to water scarcity, international security threats, and climate crises.
Examples of some of the important works created by The Chronicles Group include: “California’s Watershed,” “Beyond the Brink: A Matter of National Security,” “Running Dry”(narrated by Jane Seymour), and “The Cold War and Beyond.”
The Chronicles Group is currently in development with “Turning Back the Doomsday Clock,” its most impactful project to date. The film places a spotlight on escalating global crises, highlighting science-based solutions for the myriad of existential threats confronting the planet.
Documentary filmmaker and policy influencer James Thebaut founded The Chronicles Group in 2000 as a tool of public advocacy. The organization uses media to raise awareness, educate, and propose solutions for profound issues that are critically affecting both human and ecological systems today. Thebaut initially applied his distinctive storytelling and visual style over a multitude of hard-hitting topics including history and true crime, evidenced by feature films such as “The Iceman Tapes,” and “A Deadly Business.” However, the last two decades of environmental upheaval have compelled him to focus on the growing dangers and unforeseen impacts of a broad range of issues related to water scarcity, international security threats, and climate crises.
Examples of some of the important works created by The Chronicles Group include: “California’s Watershed,” “Beyond the Brink: A Matter of National Security,” “Running Dry”(narrated by Jane Seymour), and “The Cold War and Beyond.”
The Chronicles Group is currently in development with “Turning Back the Doomsday Clock,” its most impactful project to date. The film places a spotlight on escalating global crises, highlighting science-based solutions for the myriad of existential threats confronting the planet.
James Thebaut, President/Founder, Executive Producer/Director
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The Chronicles Group is the result of James Thebaut understanding the need for world policy for human sustainability. After serving his country in Germany as part of the US Army, he returned and began his quest for lifelong learning completing two Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree. This led him to see how we are squandering the precious gift we have. While studying Landscape Architecture at the University of Washington, he created and produced his first documentary, A Tale of Two Cities, that compared and contrasted Southern California to the Puget Sound region. The goal was to keep Seattle from repeating the ecological mistakes made in Orange County and the San Fernando Valley.
As an Environmental Planner in Seattle during the 70’s, when environmental studies and awareness were relatively new, Jim was at the forefront creating the first programmatic environmental statement in the US. His findings regarding proposed nuclear power plants near Seattle resulted in the withdrawal from the proposal. Through a public education project on a proposed Super Tanker Port, his information led to the denial by both the State and Federal governments. During a run for Mayor of Seattle, he created a 30-minute documentary illustrating the lack of energy policy, urban growth guidelines, and city planning. Since then, Jim has been involved in commercial films like the 1986 CBS drama, A Deadly Business, starring Alan Arkin and Armand Assante, that revealed the true story of illegal toxic waste dumping in New York and New Jersey. However, his passion was documentaries like Bad Cops, Execution at Midnight, The Cold War and Beyond, and The Iceman: Conversations with a Killer, that exposed the toxicity of the human race. He then turned back to the environment by creating, producing, and directing Beyond the Brink, Renewable Energy Desalination for the Middle East and North Africa, and The American Southwest: Are We Running Dry? His 2005 film, Running Dry” based on Paul Simon’s book “Tapped Out” shaped policy and spearheaded the “Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act” passed by Congress in 2005 and updated in 2015. James is a frequent speaker at conferences but also before the United Nations and the US Congress where his educational speeches continue to shape holistic global sustainability policy like “Senator Paul Simon Water for the World Act.” He continues his drive to inform the world and initiate positive movement. |
Reid Davis, Co-Executive Producer
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Currently, Co- Executive Producer with Jim Thebaut and the Chronicles
Group, developing the implementation and distribution of their highly anticipated global film project, Turning Back The Doomsday Clock. He is also President/CEO, Entertainment Concepts International - Mr. Davis is a veteran Television Broadcaster, Development, Distribution & Syndication Executive with over 40 years of Domestic & International industry experience with a broad skill set in General Management, Broadcast Start-Ups, Worldwide Television and Film Distribution, Content Creation and Acquisitions, Program Rights Negotiations and Licensing, Production, Programming, Program Development, New Media and Entertainment Industry Consulting. Mr. Davis began his career in Television Syndication as a Division Sales Manager at Gold Key Entertainment (a division of Technicolor) selling B movies and classic television series. Along the way Mr. Davis was part of the team that launched the CBS off-network television series, Dallas at Lorimar, sold Barry and Enright Productions game shows, Tic Tac Dough and Jokers Wild and as Vice President at ITC Entertainment, a boutique distribution and production company and was the top revenue producer for Academy Award winning films and classic British television series. His innovative marketing approaches propelled ITC into the First-Run television business while surviving multiple leveraged buy-outs. Following his long tenure at ITC, Mr. Davis formed the niche oriented worldwide entertainment company, Entertainment Concepts International, where as President, he has successfully launched numerous television series and films worldwide and has been instrumental in helping independent producers develop and distribute their first-run programming. He has also lent his support to major distribution companies as a consultant as well as various broadcasters across the U.S. Mr. Davis has also been involved in broadcast and development consulting for live events as well as building, acquiring and managing multiple television properties while providing advertising sales services. Other aspects include Large Format film development and back end financing, building and launching production company television divisions and the creation of television pilots for various producers and broadcast groups. Mr. Davis’ broadcast efforts include his tenure as Vice President and General Manager of KDOC-TV Los Angeles. He was responsible for 50 employees overseeing all aspects of day-to-day business including it’s digital build-out while establishing a new “Fun To Watch” station identity and a commitment to generate a younger demographic. Mr. Davis reorganized the sales department, corrected and limited a brief financial downturn, significantly increasing revenues and ratings in most day-parts and positioned the station for a forthcoming sale. Upon leaving the station after an offer to create and build a new television network, Mr. Davis had built a cohesive plan to unify all departments and orient all efforts toward common goals, which led to a cohesive culture, unifying employees and creating enhanced communications. As co-founder and President of the first television network (Local Television Network) to launch in the U.S. exclusively delivering local programming to the 18-34 demographic, Mr. Davis was responsible for raising and managing millions of dollars in investment capital, managing all build-out, day-to day operations and all departments which included over 150 employees. Mr. Davis oversaw the creation and production of eight weekly series and a daily news half-hour and developed significant revenue upon launch. Local Television Network created substantial buzz from coast to coast. More recently, Mr. Davis as COO for Film On Television Networks, built, launched and rebranded KHIZ-TV Los Angeles, as it became KILM-TV for Film On, the first complete Social Network broadcasting station in the U.S. Mr. Davis is also the founder and CEO of the Inspire Channel, The Classic Entertainment Network and Partner and President of Extreme Channel Ltd and LSD Media LLC as well as the co-creator and co-executive producer of a new automotive television series, Dealing with Dealers. While still overseeing the day-to-day business of Entertainment Concepts International including new production and syndication launches, Mr. Davis has also taught the Business of Film and Television along with Production Management in the Department of Communication Arts at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, California. Mr. Davis is also leading an effort to locate, acquire and turn around distressed television broadcast properties as well as building and launching digital streaming channels worldwide. Mr. Davis is a graduate of Northeastern Illinois University with a B.A. degree in Communications and resides in Southern California and Western Washington. |
James Qutami, Editor and Cameraman
James Qutami is a dedicated Producer/ Editor/ Writer/ Cinematographer working in Los Angeles and San Francisco. An industry veteran with decades of experience in all aspects of production and entertainment marketing. A passionate storyteller, Qutami has had the privilege to work and learn from some of the most influential advertisers and filmmakers in the business. See more at www.jamesqutami.com.
Felix N. Mendoza, Camera Operator
Felix N. Mendoza III is a Northern California based DP, camera operator, FAA certified drone operator and sound recordist. Born is San Jose, and raised in the Central Valley, Felix has witnessed first hand the importance of abundant water and thriving agriculture. In 2002, he started his career in television as a photojournalists, earning multiple Emmy® awards with the Univision affiliate in Sacramento. Later in his career, he explored the TV Production side of his career, as a staffer for Pacsat. There, he worked on shows such as The Ellen DeGeneres Show and Late Show with David Letterman. In 2019, Mendoza went independent and created a television production company in Sacramento called “FM3 Videography” with clients from PBS, Travel Channel to The Chronicles Group.
