Jim Cummings (filmmaker)

Last updated
Jim Cummings
Jim Cummings during an interview, October 2020.png
Cummings in 2020
Born (1986-10-31) October 31, 1986 (age 38)
New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
Alma mater Emerson College (BFA)
Occupations
  • Filmmaker
  • actor
  • composer
Years active2009–present
Awards See below

Jim Cummings (born October 31, 1986) is an American filmmaker, actor, and composer. [1] [2] [3] He is known for writing, directing and starring in the 2016 short film Thunder Road , [4] which he extended into a 2018 feature film of the same name. [5] He also wrote, directed and starred in The Wolf of Snow Hollow (2020), and The Beta Test (2021). [6] [7] [8] [9] He also starred in The Last Stop in Yuma County (2023). [10]

Contents

Early life and education

Cummings is from New Orleans. [11] [12] He graduated from Emerson College in Boston in 2009. [13] He relocated to Los Angeles following a divorce and worked as a producer for CollegeHumor. [14]

Career

For his work in Thunder Road (2018), Cummings won the South by Southwest Grand Jury Award for Best Narrative Feature. [15] He was also nominated for the 2018 Independent Spirit John Cassavetes Award for his work in Thunder Road. [16] [17]

In March 2024, it was announced that Cummings, along with PJ McCabe and Thomas Cross, launched an independent production studio named Cool & Happy Limited. [18]

Filmography

Feature films

YearFilm Director Writer Producer Editor Notes
2010No Floodwall HereYesYesYesYesFeature directorial debut
2014Confusion Through SandNoNoYesNo
2015 The Grief of Others NoNoYesNo
2015 Krisha NoNoAssociateNo
2015 13 Cameras NoNoYesNo
2018 Thunder Road YesYesNoYesAlso composer
2020 Beast Beast NoNoYesNo
The Wolf of Snow Hollow YesYesNoNo
2021 The Beta Test YesYesNoYesCo-written / directed with PJ McCabe
2023 The Last Stop in Yuma County NoNoExecutiveNo

Short films

As a director

As a producer

Acting roles

YearFilmRoleNotes
2014This is Jay CalvinJay CalvinShort film
2015 13 Cameras Paul
2016 Thunder Road Jim ArnaudShort film
2017The Mountains of MourneJimShort film
2017The Show About the ShowYouTube Commentator
2018 Thunder Road Jim Arnaud
2019 Greener Grass Rob
2020 The Wolf of Snow Hollow John Marshall
2020 The Block Island Sound Dale
2021 The Beta Test Jordan Hines
2021 Halloween Kills Pete McCabe
2023 Barry Barry BerkmanEpisode: "wow"
2023 The Last Stop in Yuma County The Knife Salesman
2025 The Righteous Gemstones Captain CaneEpisode: "Prelude"
2025 Redux Redux TBA

Awards and nominations

Film festival awards

YearFestivalFilmAwardResultRefs.
2014 USA Film Festival Confusion Through SandAnimation1st Place
Indianapolis International Film Festival American Spectrum Prize - Best ShortWon
2016 Sundance Film Festival Thunder Road Grand Jury Prize - Short FilmWon
SXSW Film Festival Grand Jury Award for Narrative ShortNominated
Special Jury Award for ActingWon
Provincetown International Film Festival Jury Award - Best Narrative ShortWon
Philadelphia Film Festival Jury Award - Best Short FilmNominated
Palm Springs International ShortFest Special Jury AwardWon
Los Angeles Film Festival Jury Prize - Outstanding PerformanceWon
HollyShorts Film Festival Best Short NarrativeWon
ÉCU Film Festival Festival Award - Non-European ShortsWon
Chicago International Film Festival Audience Choice Award - Best Short FilmWon
Champs-Élysées Film Festival Best American Short FilmWon
Audience AwardWon
Atlanta Film Festival Jury Award - Best Short FilmWon
Anchorage International Film Festival Best Short FilmWon
ShortList Film FestivalCreators League PrizeWon
2017Sundance Film FestivalThe RobberyGrand Jury Prize - Short FilmNominated
SXSW Film FestivalGrand Jury Award - Narrative ShortNominated
Champs-Élysées Film FestivalBest American ShortWon
Anchorage International Film FestivalBest Super Short FilmWon
2018SXSW Film Festival Thunder Road Grand Jury Prize - Narrative FeatureWon
Sidewalk Film FestivalBest Narrative FeatureWon
Seattle International Film Festival Grand Jury Prize - New American Cinema CompetitionWon
Golden Space Needle Award- Best ActorNominated
Deauville American Film Festival Grand PrixWon
Nashville Film Festival Grand Jury Prize - New DirectorWon
Fayetteville Film FestivalBest Narrative FeatureWon
Philadelphia Film FestivalArchie Award- Best First FeatureNominated
Munich Film FestivalBest Film by an Emerging DirectorNominated
Buffalo International Film FestivalBest Feature NarrativeNominated
Athens Film FestivalBest PictureNominated
Heartland Film Festival Grand Prize - Narrative FeatureNominated

Independent Spirit Awards

YearFilmAwardResultNotes
2019 Thunder Road John Cassavetes Award NominatedShared with Natalie Metzger, Zack Parker and Benjamin Weissner

References

  1. ↑ Horton, H. Perry (28 June 2017). "Short(s) of the Day: A New Triptych of Films from Jim Cummings". Film School Rejects . Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  2. ↑ Rubin, Rebecca (24 June 2020). "Vanishing Angle Sets Jim Cummings Thriller 'The Beta Test' as Next Film (Exclusive)". Variety . Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  3. ↑ Winfrey, Graham (14 July 2017). "How One Sundance Short Led to a $150,000 Production Deal (and Much More)". IndieWire . Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  4. ↑ gayne, Zach (21 July 2016). "Interview: Jim Cummings Takes Hold on Thunder Road". Screen Anarchy . Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  5. ↑ Sarachan, Risa (3 January 2019). "Independent Filmmaker Jim Cummings On How Filmmakers Can Create And Distribute Without Help". Forbes . Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  6. ↑ Swope, Michelle (8 October 2020). "Interview – Director Jim Cummings on the Hair-Raising Creature Effects in The Wolf of Snow Hollow and Working With the Legendary Robert Forster". Dread Central . Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  7. ↑ Means, Sean P. (9 October 2020). "For director of 'Wolf of Snow Hollow,' filming a werewolf movie in Utah was like 'winter summer camp'". The Salt Lake Tribune . Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  8. ↑ Thompson, Simon (7 October 2020). "Jim Cummings Talks 'The Wolf Of Snow Hollow' And Making Movie Magic On A Budget". Forbes . Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  9. ↑ Hermanns, Grant (9 October 2020). "CS Interview: Writer/Director/Star Jim Cummings on The Wolf of Snow Hollow". Comingsoon.net . Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  10. ↑ Cavanaugh, Patrick (May 6, 2024). "The Last Stop in Yuma County Star Jim Cummings Talks Finding the Right Tone for the Neo-Noir". Comicbook.com. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
  11. ↑ Richards, Olly (28 May 2019). "'Thunder Road' director Jim Cummings: 'I failed for so many years'". Time Out . Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  12. ↑ Nicholson, Tom (28 May 2019). "How To Make The Year's Funniest, Saddest And Cheapest Indie Film". Esquire . Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  13. ↑ "Award-winning Thunder Road Plays at Emerson LA". Emerson Today. 27 April 2018. Retrieved August 18, 2022.
  14. ↑ "Interview: Jim Cummings Takes Hold on THUNDER ROAD". ScreenAnarchy. 2016-07-21. Retrieved 2024-02-15.
  15. ↑ Haring, Bruce (13 March 2018). "SXSW Film Festival Jury Awards: 'Thunder Road' By Jim Cummings Wins Narrative". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  16. ↑ Lewis, Hilary (16 November 2018). "Independent Spirit Awards: 'Eighth Grade,' 'First Reformed' Among Best Feature Nominees". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  17. ↑ Goldberg, Matt (16 November 2018). "'We the Animals', 'Eighth Grade', and 'You Were Never Really Here' Lead Independent Spirit Awards". Collider . Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  18. ↑ Stephan, Katcy (March 28, 2024). "Jim Cummings, PJ McCabe and Thomas Cross Launch Cool & Happy Production Studio (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
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