Jim Cummings (filmmaker)

For other people with similar names, see James Cummings.
Jim Cummings
Cummings in 2020.
Born (1986-10-31) October 31, 1986 (age 38)
New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
Alma materEmerson College (BFA)
Occupations
  • Filmmaker
  • actor
  • composer
Years active2009–present
AwardsSee 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 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]

Early life and education

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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

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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

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Shorts

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As a director

  • Brothers (2009)
  • The Flamingo (2012)
  • Us Funny (2016)
  • Call Your Father (2016)
  • Thunder Road (2016)
  • The Mountains of Mourne (2017)
  • Hydrangea (2017)
  • The Robbery (2017)
  • It's All Right, It's Ok (2017)
  • Is Now A Good Time? (2024)

Feature films

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Year Film Director Writer Producer Editor Notes
2010 No Floodwall Here Yes Yes Yes Yes Feature directorial debut
2014 Confusion Through Sand No No Yes No
2015 The Grief of Others No No Yes No
2015 Krisha No No Associate No
2015 13 Cameras No No Yes No
2018 Thunder Road Yes Yes No Yes Also composer
2020 Beast Beast No No Yes No
The Wolf of Snow Hollow Yes Yes No No
2021 The Beta Test Yes Yes No Yes Co-written / directed with PJ McCabe

Acting roles

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Year Film Role Notes
2014 This is Jay Calvin Jay Calvin Short film
2015 13 Cameras Paul
2016 Thunder Road Jim Arnaud Short film
2017 The Mountains of Mourne Jim Short film
2017 The Show About the Show YouTube 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 Berkman Episode: "wow"
2023 The Last Stop in Yuma County The Knife Salesman

Awards and nominations

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Film festival awards

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Year Festival Film Award Result Refs.
2014 USA Film Festival Confusion Through Sand Animation 1st Place
Indianapolis International Film Festival American Spectrum Prize - Best Short Won
2016 Sundance Film Festival Thunder Road Grand Jury Prize - Short Film Won
SXSW Film Festival Grand Jury Award for Narrative Short Nominated
Special Jury Award for Acting Won
Provincetown International Film Festival Jury Award - Best Narrative Short Won
Philadelphia Film Festival Jury Award - Best Short Film Nominated
Palm Springs International ShortFest Special Jury Award Won
Los Angeles Film Festival Jury Prize - Outstanding Performance Won
HollyShorts Film Festival Best Short Narrative Won
ÉCU Film Festival Festival Award - Non-European Shorts Won
Chicago International Film Festival Audience Choice Award - Best Short Film Won
Champs-Élysées Film Festival Best American Short Film Won
Audience Award Won
Atlanta Film Festival Jury Award - Best Short Film Won
Anchorage International Film Festival Best Short Film Won
ShortList Film Festival Creators League Prize Won
2017 Sundance Film Festival The Robbery Grand Jury Prize - Short Film Nominated
SXSW Film Festival Grand Jury Award - Narrative Short Nominated
Champs-Élysées Film Festival Best American Short Won
Anchorage International Film Festival Best Super Short Film Won
2018 SXSW Film Festival Thunder Road Grand Jury Prize - Narrative Feature Won
Sidewalk Film Festival Best Narrative Feature Won
Seattle International Film Festival Grand Jury Prize - New American Cinema Competition Won
Golden Space Needle Award- Best Actor Nominated
Deauville American Film Festival Grand Prix Won
Nashville Film Festival Grand Jury Prize - New Director Won
Fayetteville Film Festival Best Narrative Feature Won
Philadelphia Film Festival Archie Award- Best First Feature Nominated
Munich Film Festival Best Film by an Emerging Director Nominated
Buffalo International Film Festival Best Feature Narrative Nominated
Athens Film Festival Best Picture Nominated
Heartland Film Festival Grand Prize - Narrative Feature Nominated

Independent Spirit Awards

Year Film Award Result Notes
2019 Thunder Road John Cassavetes Award Nominated Shared with Natalie Metzger, Zack Parker and Benjamin Weissner

References

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  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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