Interview - Thunder Road – Let’s talk with Jim Cummings

By Mulder, Los Angeles, Vanishing Angle Film Studio, 18 october 2018

We had the privilege to meet Jim Cummings and discuss his internationally acclaimed film Thunder Road, his career and his filmmaking process.

Jim Cummings started his filmmaking career working on sets in any positions he could get until he thought that making his own film wasn’t impossible. He wrote a short film, Thunder Road, that won Short Film Grand Jury Prize at the 2016 Sundance Film festival. Then he thought that this story could be told in a feature film. He wrote a script, launched a fundraising campaign and got the support he needed to make, even more than expected, to make it.

The feature film, Thunder Road, was also unanimously acclaimed in festivals (Grand Jury Award at the 2018 SXSW Film Festival, Grand Prix at the Deauville American Film Festival…) and by the audience worldwide.

The writer, director and actor succeeds in conveying his thoughts about life and not to be a spectator of it through a very large range of emotions. We laugh, we cry, we get upset sometimes but more importantly, we feel.

This film is about emotions and not being restrained by the others, by society rules, by ourselves. The film opening itself says it all: no one expresses one’s feelings the same way and it’s okay.

Despite his “shocking success” Jim Cummings remains very humble and aware of the fact that things won’t get easier and that hard work is the key to last as a filmmaker.
.
Synopsis
A police officer comes to grips with the death of his mother while giving a heartfelt eulogy at her funeral.

Thunder Road
Written and Directed by Jim Cummings
Produced by Natalie Metzger, Zack Parker, Benjamin Wiessner
Starring Jim Cummings, Kendal Farr, Nican Robinson
Cinematography : Lowell A. Meyer
Edited by Brian Vannucci
Production companies : The 10 East, Vanishing Angle
Distributed by Paname Distribution (France
Release date : March 12, 2018 (SXSW Film Festival), September 12, 2018 (France)
Running time : 92 minutes

video and photo : Stephanie Renaud for Mulderville

A big thanks to Natalie Metzger and Jim Cummings