Jim Schermbeck is a native Texan with a life long passion for politics and film. Born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas. Schermbeck attended Austin College in Sherman Texas, a small liberal arts institution affiliated with the Presbyterian Church where he received degrees in Political Science and Philosophy-Religion. He then went to graduate school in film at the University of North Texas and University of Texas in Arlington,

Schermbeck worked for over two decades as a community organizer, focusing on environmental health issues in the Dallas Fort Worth area. While fighting to keep Dallas free of toxic waste, Schermbeck pursed filmmaking in his spare time and volunteered to work on campaigns for both reform Democratic and Republican candidates.

In 2000 Schermbeck moved to Lubbock, Texas with his wife and daughter and began to pursue filmmaking full time. He partnered with longtime filmmaker Mark Birnbaum, and in 2003 their first co-produced feature-length documentary Larry v. Lockney premiered to critical acclaim.

After the success of Larry v. Lockney Schermbeck and Birnbaum began work on The Big Buy- which has been three years in the making.

Also see: Mark Birnbaum's biography