Jimmy followed his mother, actress Linda Hendrickson, around the world at a young age filming her documentaries for academia. She developed Archaeology and Ethnology documentaries in such places as Ireland, South Africa, and many other parts of Europe and Mexico. Jimmy followed her shooting these documentaries in a small three person team that consisted of Jimmy, his mother, Linda, and his younger brother, Chris.

It wasn't until later in life that while going through college, he decided that he was unhappy with his current course in education and decided to take a summer in Ensenada, Mexico to learn Spanish and take classes in ethnology. It was then that Jimmy was given the opportunity to make a short documentary with a few other students on the "Mercado Negro" fishing industry. Leading the group of filmmakers from his previous experience, Jimmy completed the documentary, this being his first personal project, and found a new passion.

The following months, he enrolled into film school in his hometown, Scottsdale, Arizona, and found even more of a creative environment. He later interned on Michael Mann's "Ali" where he met the famed photographer of Muhammad Ali, Howard Bingham. Howard also served as the Executive Producer on the film. Jimmy and Howard have become good friends and Jimmy went from being an intern for one month to being an assistant editor the following summer after graduating from the two year film school. His good friend, Lori Ball, had undergone the transition from Assistant Editor to Lead Editor on a project. Jimmy quickly followed her, working on several projects with her. He entered the Motion Editors Guild Union only on his second feature, "Sueno."

From there, he decided to complete his degree in screenwriting at California State University, Northridge, where he graduated with honors. He continues to edit and write, working to his final goal, to be a feature film director. He has recently made the transition into television, which opens up a whole new realm of possibilities.