James Borto has made the Chicago area his home for most of his life. He attended NEIU to play football and pursue acting, where he was awarded a theater scholarship. While there, he took a great interest in writing and filmmaking, even transferring to Columbia College to pursue those goals. He attended writing workshops at various academies, including Second City.

James worked in advertising as a copywriter for Scott Ross Limited, where he worked on campaigns for Dad’s Rootbeer (Monarch Beverages) and Willy Wonka Candies. At the same time, he worked feverishly on a myriad of writing projects, including short stories, poetry and a deluge of screenplays. His work in advertising has been witnessed globally.