While we await the next feature from triple threat, actor/writer/director Jim Cummings—known for his excellent indies, “Thunder Road,” The Wolf of Snow Hollow” and “The Beta Test”—the actor is still demonstrating he can be a viable lead outside of his own movies too. His latest film is the Western crime feature “The Last Stop In Yuma County,” which features a sprawling indie cast (he’s also an exec-producer on the film) and has been described as “an old-fashioned shoot ’em up.”
Read More: ‘The Beta Test’: Jim Cummings & Pj McCabe Talk Their Dark Hollywood, Cancel Culture Satire [Interview]
The feature-length debut of writer/director Francis Galluppi, known for several shorts and Mt.
Continue reading ‘The Last Stop In Yuma County’: Jim Cummings Stars In New Western Crime Thriller Arriving In May at The Playlist.
Read More: ‘The Beta Test’: Jim Cummings & Pj McCabe Talk Their Dark Hollywood, Cancel Culture Satire [Interview]
The feature-length debut of writer/director Francis Galluppi, known for several shorts and Mt.
Continue reading ‘The Last Stop In Yuma County’: Jim Cummings Stars In New Western Crime Thriller Arriving In May at The Playlist.
- 4/3/2024
- by Edward Davis
- The Playlist
Filmmakers Jim Cummings, Pj McCabe and Thomas Cross have teamed up to launch a new independent production studio, Cool & Happy Limited. Cummings and McCabe will serve as the studio’s chief creatives, while Cross will head up production.
“The same team has been making stuff for eight years. We started in shorts and then made three features: ‘Thunder Road’ ‘The Wolf of Snow Hollow’ and ‘The Beta Test,’ most recently,” Cummings says. After enduring the Covid pandemic and last year’s Hollywood labor strikes, things came into perspective for the trio. “These are the people that I actually want to hang out with. It kind of perfectly aligned with what was happening in the industry. It has never been harder to get something through the front door of Hollywood.”
As Cummings puts it, the priority is making “unsanitized, well-crafted movies for cinema fanatics.” He cites Cool & Happy’s ability to...
“The same team has been making stuff for eight years. We started in shorts and then made three features: ‘Thunder Road’ ‘The Wolf of Snow Hollow’ and ‘The Beta Test,’ most recently,” Cummings says. After enduring the Covid pandemic and last year’s Hollywood labor strikes, things came into perspective for the trio. “These are the people that I actually want to hang out with. It kind of perfectly aligned with what was happening in the industry. It has never been harder to get something through the front door of Hollywood.”
As Cummings puts it, the priority is making “unsanitized, well-crafted movies for cinema fanatics.” He cites Cool & Happy’s ability to...
- 3/28/2024
- by Katcy Stephan
- Variety Film + TV
Stars: Will Madden, Angela Wong Carbone, Hilty Bowen, James Babson, Shirley Chen, Hannah Mckechnie, Skyler Bible, Courtney Dietz, Erik Leupp, Donna Allen, Brianne Moncrief, Jim Cummings, Stephen Ruffin | Written by Pj McCabe | Directed by Danny Madden
The “cameras” franchise – for yes, 15 Cameras is actually the Third film in the series – has had a bit of a fractured history. The first film debuted at Frightfest 2015 under the title Slumlord, then was released a year later under the title 13 Cameras. Two years later the rest of the world would get 14 Cameras, whereas here in the UK the film was quietly put out on VOD platforms as I See You… with zero fanfare or much fan reaction for that matter either.
Now comes 15 Cameras. Released some five years after the original sequel this film, sadly, does not feature Neville Archambault’s creed serial-killing, camera-watching Gerald, after the actor passed away last year. This...
The “cameras” franchise – for yes, 15 Cameras is actually the Third film in the series – has had a bit of a fractured history. The first film debuted at Frightfest 2015 under the title Slumlord, then was released a year later under the title 13 Cameras. Two years later the rest of the world would get 14 Cameras, whereas here in the UK the film was quietly put out on VOD platforms as I See You… with zero fanfare or much fan reaction for that matter either.
Now comes 15 Cameras. Released some five years after the original sequel this film, sadly, does not feature Neville Archambault’s creed serial-killing, camera-watching Gerald, after the actor passed away last year. This...
- 10/9/2023
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
Exclusive: Joy Sunday (Wednesday) has signed with Gersh for representation in all areas.
Sunday made a splash in the Netflix hit series Wednesday in the role of Bianca Barclay, a siren and queen bee of Nevermore Academy who is set up early on as the titular character’s (Jenna Ortega) arch nemesis.
“When Bianca came into my life, I was honestly so happy to play her because, in a lot of ways, it was an opportunity to get to soften and to expand on a character like her,” Sunday told Deadline in a December interview. “I was just elated to be able to put my own spin on it and to really provide a nuanced take on the mean girl, the strong girl. I feel lucky to have been able to play her.”
Although the role of Bianca is her breakout, Sunday has appeared in Jim Cumming’s & Pj McCabe...
Sunday made a splash in the Netflix hit series Wednesday in the role of Bianca Barclay, a siren and queen bee of Nevermore Academy who is set up early on as the titular character’s (Jenna Ortega) arch nemesis.
“When Bianca came into my life, I was honestly so happy to play her because, in a lot of ways, it was an opportunity to get to soften and to expand on a character like her,” Sunday told Deadline in a December interview. “I was just elated to be able to put my own spin on it and to really provide a nuanced take on the mean girl, the strong girl. I feel lucky to have been able to play her.”
Although the role of Bianca is her breakout, Sunday has appeared in Jim Cumming’s & Pj McCabe...
- 7/11/2023
- by Rosy Cordero
- Deadline Film + TV
After premiering on Fandor last fall, the SXSW genre-bender Jethica is now streaming on the Bloody Disgusting-powered Screambox!
Variety hailed Jethica as an “ingenious, deadpan horror-satire that asks, ‘Can you ghost a ghost?’”
Now that the movie has been available to stream for a few weeks, we’re sharing this hilarious Spoilery trailer that counts off how many times a character says “Jethica” in Jethica.
In this future cult classic, Jessica lives in fear of a man named Kevin who follows her everywhere she goes. While on a road trip in New Mexico, she reconnects with Elena—an old friend she hasn’t seen since high school—who has been hiding out at her deceased grandmother’s ranch. When Kevin mysteriously appears again, Jessica and Elena seek help from beyond the grave to get rid of him for good… but Kevin is different from other stalkers and won’t move on so easily.
Variety hailed Jethica as an “ingenious, deadpan horror-satire that asks, ‘Can you ghost a ghost?’”
Now that the movie has been available to stream for a few weeks, we’re sharing this hilarious Spoilery trailer that counts off how many times a character says “Jethica” in Jethica.
In this future cult classic, Jessica lives in fear of a man named Kevin who follows her everywhere she goes. While on a road trip in New Mexico, she reconnects with Elena—an old friend she hasn’t seen since high school—who has been hiding out at her deceased grandmother’s ranch. When Kevin mysteriously appears again, Jessica and Elena seek help from beyond the grave to get rid of him for good… but Kevin is different from other stalkers and won’t move on so easily.
- 7/7/2023
- by Brad Miska
- bloody-disgusting.com
This week is once again loaded up with fresh new horrors, most of them available at home. The lone theatrical release, however, is one you don’t want to miss with a crowd this weekend.
Here’s all the new horror releasing June 13 – June 18, 2023!
For daily reminders about new horror releases, be sure to follow @HorrorCalendar.
Most recently adapted by Leigh Whannell for Universal’s 2020 movie The Invisible Man, the classic H.G. Wells story gets a new adaptation with Fear the Invisible Man.
Fear the Invisible Man was released on VOD outlets today, June 13.
It’s not an official Universal Studios horror movie, mind you, but Wells’ The Invisible Man is a classic tale that’s in the public domain, allowing for indie productions such as this one.
In the film from Hanover Pictures, “A young British widow shelters an old medical school colleague, a man who has somehow turned himself invisible.
Here’s all the new horror releasing June 13 – June 18, 2023!
For daily reminders about new horror releases, be sure to follow @HorrorCalendar.
Most recently adapted by Leigh Whannell for Universal’s 2020 movie The Invisible Man, the classic H.G. Wells story gets a new adaptation with Fear the Invisible Man.
Fear the Invisible Man was released on VOD outlets today, June 13.
It’s not an official Universal Studios horror movie, mind you, but Wells’ The Invisible Man is a classic tale that’s in the public domain, allowing for indie productions such as this one.
In the film from Hanover Pictures, “A young British widow shelters an old medical school colleague, a man who has somehow turned himself invisible.
- 6/13/2023
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
After premiering on Fandor last fall, the SXSW genre-bender Jethica is now streaming on the Bloody Disgusting-powered Screambox!
Variety hailed Jethica as an “ingenious, deadpan horror-satire that asks, ‘Can you ghost a ghost?’”
In this future cult classic, Jessica lives in fear of a man named Kevin who follows her everywhere she goes. While on a road trip in New Mexico, she reconnects with Elena—an old friend she hasn’t seen since high school—who has been hiding out at her deceased grandmother’s ranch. When Kevin mysteriously appears again, Jessica and Elena seek help from beyond the grave to get rid of him for good… but Kevin is different from other stalkers and won’t move on so easily.
Well received by critics and audiences, the film has a 95% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and has screened at festivals around the world including SXSW, Busan, Overlook, Maryland, Filmfort, Germany’s B3 Biennial,...
Variety hailed Jethica as an “ingenious, deadpan horror-satire that asks, ‘Can you ghost a ghost?’”
In this future cult classic, Jessica lives in fear of a man named Kevin who follows her everywhere she goes. While on a road trip in New Mexico, she reconnects with Elena—an old friend she hasn’t seen since high school—who has been hiding out at her deceased grandmother’s ranch. When Kevin mysteriously appears again, Jessica and Elena seek help from beyond the grave to get rid of him for good… but Kevin is different from other stalkers and won’t move on so easily.
Well received by critics and audiences, the film has a 95% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and has screened at festivals around the world including SXSW, Busan, Overlook, Maryland, Filmfort, Germany’s B3 Biennial,...
- 6/13/2023
- by Brad Miska
- bloody-disgusting.com
Arrow Video have released The Beta Test in the UK on a 2-Disc Limited Edition Blu-ray featuring a whole host of extras.
Eyes Wide Shut meets Office Space, The Player and Black Mirror in The Beta Test, the acclaimed thriller from Jim Cummings, creator of Thunder Road and The Wolf of Snow Hollow.
A ruthless, manipulative, and soon-to-be married Hollywood agent receives a mysterious letter inviting him to an anonymous sexual encounter. After some uncertainty he accepts, but euphoria turns to paranoia as he becomes ensnared in a sinister world of lies, infidelity and murder.
Strikingly shot and with pitch-perfect performances that will make you squirm in your seat, The Beta Test is a stylish, scathing satire of preening toxic masculinity, the dangers of technology, and the hollowness of Hollywood success.
2-disc Limited Edition Contents
• High Definition (1080p) Blu-ray presentation
• Original lossless 5.1 audio
• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and...
Eyes Wide Shut meets Office Space, The Player and Black Mirror in The Beta Test, the acclaimed thriller from Jim Cummings, creator of Thunder Road and The Wolf of Snow Hollow.
A ruthless, manipulative, and soon-to-be married Hollywood agent receives a mysterious letter inviting him to an anonymous sexual encounter. After some uncertainty he accepts, but euphoria turns to paranoia as he becomes ensnared in a sinister world of lies, infidelity and murder.
Strikingly shot and with pitch-perfect performances that will make you squirm in your seat, The Beta Test is a stylish, scathing satire of preening toxic masculinity, the dangers of technology, and the hollowness of Hollywood success.
2-disc Limited Edition Contents
• High Definition (1080p) Blu-ray presentation
• Original lossless 5.1 audio
• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and...
- 5/8/2023
- by Peter 'Witchfinder' Hopkins
- Horror Asylum
Exclusive: Writer, director, producer, and actor Jim Cummings (The Beta Test) has signed with Anonymous Content for management.
Cummings is an acclaimed indie filmmaker who most recently teamed with Pj McCabe to co-write and direct The Beta Test — a genre-bending feature, which world premiered at the 2021 Tribeca Film Festival. He also produced and starred in that title alongside Virginia Newcomb and McCabe. The film about a Hollywood agent who gets caught up in a sinister world of lying, infidelity, and digital data screened later played as an official selection of the Berlin Film Festival, where Cummings and McCabe were nominated for the Encounters Award. It was released by IFC in November of 2021.
Cummings first garnered attention with the short Thunder Road, which he wrote, directed, produced and starred in. The film about a man eulogizing his mother won the Grand Jury Prize at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival, along with Sxsx...
Cummings is an acclaimed indie filmmaker who most recently teamed with Pj McCabe to co-write and direct The Beta Test — a genre-bending feature, which world premiered at the 2021 Tribeca Film Festival. He also produced and starred in that title alongside Virginia Newcomb and McCabe. The film about a Hollywood agent who gets caught up in a sinister world of lying, infidelity, and digital data screened later played as an official selection of the Berlin Film Festival, where Cummings and McCabe were nominated for the Encounters Award. It was released by IFC in November of 2021.
Cummings first garnered attention with the short Thunder Road, which he wrote, directed, produced and starred in. The film about a man eulogizing his mother won the Grand Jury Prize at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival, along with Sxsx...
- 12/6/2022
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Happy Monday, dear readers! We’re back with this week’s horror and sci-fi home media releases, and we have a ton of killer titles arriving on Tuesday that you will undoubtedly want to add to your own Blu-ray and DVD collections. Scream Factory is showing Wes Craven’s Cursed some love with their new Collector’s Edition release, and not to be too confusing, the 2022 historical horror The Cursed is also headed to multiple formats this week as well.
The Beta Test by Jim Cummings and Pj McCabe is headed to both Blu-ray and DVD this Tuesday, courtesy of IFC, and if you haven’t had a chance to check it out yet, Behind the Monsters: Season 1 is a fun watch for anyone who is super into iconic horror characters. Conor McMahon’s vampire comedy Let the Wrong One In is also being released this week, and if you’re a big Jason fan,...
The Beta Test by Jim Cummings and Pj McCabe is headed to both Blu-ray and DVD this Tuesday, courtesy of IFC, and if you haven’t had a chance to check it out yet, Behind the Monsters: Season 1 is a fun watch for anyone who is super into iconic horror characters. Conor McMahon’s vampire comedy Let the Wrong One In is also being released this week, and if you’re a big Jason fan,...
- 5/9/2022
- by Heather Wixson
- DailyDead
Exclusive: AMC’s genre streamer Shudder has picked up Northern Irish folk horror Mandrake, which debuted earlier this year at FrightFest Glasgow.
In a deal with Blue Finch Films, Shudder picked up exclusive rights in North America, UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.
Pic follows probation officer Cathy Madden who is given the task of rehabilitating notorious killer ‘Bloody’ Mary Laidlaw back into society after twenty years of jail. Cathy has always believed that every client deserves a shot at redemption, but her beliefs are firmly tested when two children disappear near Mary’s farm.
Scottish BAFTA-winner Deirdre Mullins (The Drowning) plays Cathy, and Derbhle Crotty (Notes On A Scandal) stars as ‘Bloody’ Mary Laidlaw. Seamus O’Hara (The Northman), Jude Hill (Belfast) and Roisin Gallagher (The Dry) round out the cast.
The project marks the directorial debut from Lynne Davison and is produced by Marie-Thérèse Mackle (Derry Girls series 3) and...
In a deal with Blue Finch Films, Shudder picked up exclusive rights in North America, UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.
Pic follows probation officer Cathy Madden who is given the task of rehabilitating notorious killer ‘Bloody’ Mary Laidlaw back into society after twenty years of jail. Cathy has always believed that every client deserves a shot at redemption, but her beliefs are firmly tested when two children disappear near Mary’s farm.
Scottish BAFTA-winner Deirdre Mullins (The Drowning) plays Cathy, and Derbhle Crotty (Notes On A Scandal) stars as ‘Bloody’ Mary Laidlaw. Seamus O’Hara (The Northman), Jude Hill (Belfast) and Roisin Gallagher (The Dry) round out the cast.
The project marks the directorial debut from Lynne Davison and is produced by Marie-Thérèse Mackle (Derry Girls series 3) and...
- 5/6/2022
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
On this special Indie Horror Month episode of Daily Dead's official podcast, Heather Wixson is joined by writer, director, and actor Jim Cummings to discuss his films Thunder Road, The Wolf of Snow Hollow, and The Beta Test (coming to Blu-ray and DVD on May 10th). Cummings also talks about working with David Gordon Green and Danny McBride on Halloween Kills, he reflects on his experiences with crowdfunding, and he gives insightful advice to aspiring filmmakers, including how you can get involved with his The Short to Feature Lab!
You can listen to the new episode of Corpse Club right now on iTunes, Google Play, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Stitcher, TuneIn, YouTube, Pandora, and SoundCloud, and go Here to catch up on our Indie Horror Month 2022 features!
Looking for more scary good Corpse Club content? Be sure to check out our Corpse Club website and memberships. Not only can you view past episodes,...
You can listen to the new episode of Corpse Club right now on iTunes, Google Play, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Stitcher, TuneIn, YouTube, Pandora, and SoundCloud, and go Here to catch up on our Indie Horror Month 2022 features!
Looking for more scary good Corpse Club content? Be sure to check out our Corpse Club website and memberships. Not only can you view past episodes,...
- 4/29/2022
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
The Fangoria Chainsaw Awards Return to Shudder Sunday, May 15: "Fangoria, Fangoria Studios and Shudder announced today that the 2022 Fangoria Chainsaw Awards will premiere on Sunday, May 15th at 7pm Et, exclusively on Shudder, AMC Networks’ premium streaming service for horror, thrillers, and the supernatural.
The ceremony, which recognizes outstanding achievements in horror film and television, will once again be hosted by actor and writer David Dastmalchian, and will feature Dee Wallace, Joe Lo Truglio, Joe Dante, Tracie Thoms, Jim Cummings, Rachel True and the directing team known as Radio Silence among its presenters. (See below for the full presenters list.) This year’s nominees include Candyman, Last Night in Soho, Titane, Chucky, and Midnight Mass. The special is produced by Armen Aghaeian, produced and directed by Ama Lea, and written by Michael Varrati. Executive Producers are Tara Ansley, Abhi Goel, and Phil Nobile Jr.
“Last year’s Chainsaw Awards...
The ceremony, which recognizes outstanding achievements in horror film and television, will once again be hosted by actor and writer David Dastmalchian, and will feature Dee Wallace, Joe Lo Truglio, Joe Dante, Tracie Thoms, Jim Cummings, Rachel True and the directing team known as Radio Silence among its presenters. (See below for the full presenters list.) This year’s nominees include Candyman, Last Night in Soho, Titane, Chucky, and Midnight Mass. The special is produced by Armen Aghaeian, produced and directed by Ama Lea, and written by Michael Varrati. Executive Producers are Tara Ansley, Abhi Goel, and Phil Nobile Jr.
“Last year’s Chainsaw Awards...
- 4/20/2022
- by Jonathan James
- DailyDead
Backstabbing. Ruthless. Two-faced. Revenge.
Those words appear in a towering font on the poster for the 1994 film “Swimming With Sharks,” behind an image of (now disgraced) actor Kevin Spacey screaming directly into the face of his co-star, Frank Whaley. The film gave audiences an unflinching look at Hollywood’s workplace culture — as it was then, before current efforts to eradicate toxic and inexcusable behavior.
Verbal and physical abuse, staplers and phones hurled at employees, 20-hour workdays, sexual harassment and rampant degradation all play out in the film, which was reportedly based on writer-director George Huang’s experiences under producers Joel Silver and Scott Rudin. “Swimming With Sharks” has become a touchstone for industry survivors, and Roku will unveil a TV series adaptation of the film on April 15.
In the nearly two decades since it was released, a subgenre has sprung up surrounding these backlot stories, especially in the post-#MeToo era.
Those words appear in a towering font on the poster for the 1994 film “Swimming With Sharks,” behind an image of (now disgraced) actor Kevin Spacey screaming directly into the face of his co-star, Frank Whaley. The film gave audiences an unflinching look at Hollywood’s workplace culture — as it was then, before current efforts to eradicate toxic and inexcusable behavior.
Verbal and physical abuse, staplers and phones hurled at employees, 20-hour workdays, sexual harassment and rampant degradation all play out in the film, which was reportedly based on writer-director George Huang’s experiences under producers Joel Silver and Scott Rudin. “Swimming With Sharks” has become a touchstone for industry survivors, and Roku will unveil a TV series adaptation of the film on April 15.
In the nearly two decades since it was released, a subgenre has sprung up surrounding these backlot stories, especially in the post-#MeToo era.
- 4/6/2022
- by Matt Donnelly
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Michael Patrick Jann has been tapped to direct the Western horror film Organ Trail for Paramount Pictures, with Olivia Applegate (Love and Death), Clé Bennett (The Man in the High Castle), Zoé De Grand Maison (Riverdale), Nicholas Logan (Dopesick), Sam Trammell (True Blood) and Jessica Frances Dukes (Ozark) signing on to star.
The film written by Meg Turner finds a young Abigale Archer friendless and alone in a brutal Montana winter during the 1870s—fighting for survival and to retrieve her one earthly possession, her family’s horse, from a gang of bloodthirsty bandits. Jann will produce alongside David Codron.
Jann is a writer, director and producer who began his career as a member of the sketch comedy group The State, then co-creating the MTV show of the same name. He served as an executive producer and director for the series Reno 911!, also exec producing Flight of the Conchords...
The film written by Meg Turner finds a young Abigale Archer friendless and alone in a brutal Montana winter during the 1870s—fighting for survival and to retrieve her one earthly possession, her family’s horse, from a gang of bloodthirsty bandits. Jann will produce alongside David Codron.
Jann is a writer, director and producer who began his career as a member of the sketch comedy group The State, then co-creating the MTV show of the same name. He served as an executive producer and director for the series Reno 911!, also exec producing Flight of the Conchords...
- 3/16/2022
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Centenary screening of Nosferatu, world premiere of stoner comedy The Smoke Master bookend event.
Brazil’s Fantaspoa genre festival, billed as the largest of its kind in Latin America, is returning to an in-person event for the first time since 2019 and has unveiled its first wave of titles.
This year’s International Fantastic Film Festival of Porto Alegre will take place in five cinemas around the southern city from April 15-May 1. It is bookended by a special opening night centenary screening of F. W. Murnau’s vampire classic Nosferatu accompanied by a live soundtrack performed by Carlos Ferreira and Brazilian...
Brazil’s Fantaspoa genre festival, billed as the largest of its kind in Latin America, is returning to an in-person event for the first time since 2019 and has unveiled its first wave of titles.
This year’s International Fantastic Film Festival of Porto Alegre will take place in five cinemas around the southern city from April 15-May 1. It is bookended by a special opening night centenary screening of F. W. Murnau’s vampire classic Nosferatu accompanied by a live soundtrack performed by Carlos Ferreira and Brazilian...
- 3/14/2022
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: UTA has signed writer, director, producer and actor Jim Cummings (The Beta Test) for representation in all areas.
Cummings most recently partnered with Pj McCabe to co-write and direct The Beta Test, also producing and starring in that genre-bender, which premiered to critical acclaim at the 2021 Tribeca Film Festival. That film also starring McCabe and Virginia Newcomb sees an engaged Hollywood agent receive a mysterious letter for an anonymous sexual encounter, becoming ensnared in a sinister world of lying, infidelity and digital data. IFC Films released it in the U.S. in November.
Cummings also wrote, directed, produced and starred in the acclaimed short film Thunder Road, which won the Short Film Grand Jury Prize at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival, along with SXSW’s Special Jury Award and other honors. He later adapted the short, in which a man eulogizes his mother, into a 2018 feature of the same name,...
Cummings most recently partnered with Pj McCabe to co-write and direct The Beta Test, also producing and starring in that genre-bender, which premiered to critical acclaim at the 2021 Tribeca Film Festival. That film also starring McCabe and Virginia Newcomb sees an engaged Hollywood agent receive a mysterious letter for an anonymous sexual encounter, becoming ensnared in a sinister world of lying, infidelity and digital data. IFC Films released it in the U.S. in November.
Cummings also wrote, directed, produced and starred in the acclaimed short film Thunder Road, which won the Short Film Grand Jury Prize at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival, along with SXSW’s Special Jury Award and other honors. He later adapted the short, in which a man eulogizes his mother, into a 2018 feature of the same name,...
- 3/10/2022
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Cinetic Media has boarded sales on Yogi Berra documentary It Ain’t Over, which has wrapped production and is aiming for a festival premiere this year.
The film about the baseball icon features interviews with Billy Crystal, Bob Costas, Derek Jeter and Joe Torre alongside other baseball players, historians and broadcasters.
The feature follows the life and heralded career of baseball Hall of Famer, Berra. The iconic New York Yankee is considered by many to be the greatest catcher to ever play the game, winning ten World Series Championships, three Mvp awards, and appearing in 18 All-Star Games. He was a successful coach and manager, one of nine managers to lead both American and National League teams to the World Series. Off the field, Berra was also known for his quips, or “Yogisms”.
Matt Miller and Natalie Metzger from Vanishing Angle (The Beta Test) are serving as producers alongside Off...
The film about the baseball icon features interviews with Billy Crystal, Bob Costas, Derek Jeter and Joe Torre alongside other baseball players, historians and broadcasters.
The feature follows the life and heralded career of baseball Hall of Famer, Berra. The iconic New York Yankee is considered by many to be the greatest catcher to ever play the game, winning ten World Series Championships, three Mvp awards, and appearing in 18 All-Star Games. He was a successful coach and manager, one of nine managers to lead both American and National League teams to the World Series. Off the field, Berra was also known for his quips, or “Yogisms”.
Matt Miller and Natalie Metzger from Vanishing Angle (The Beta Test) are serving as producers alongside Off...
- 2/22/2022
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Emily Mortimer, Jim Cummings Board Pioneering European Crypto-Funded Feature ‘Calladita’ (Exclusive)
Emily Mortimer and writer-director Jim Cummings boarded Miguel Faus’ feature debut “Calladita,” whose financing is expected to be raised entirely through NFTs and Web3 systems.
It would mark the first time ever that a European film is backed by NTFs (non-fungible tokens) and decentralized web software handled by the crypto community Web3.
Based on the eponymous short film which played at the Palm Springs Short and London Short Film festivals, “Calladita” will offer a character study of its protagonist and, through her eyes, a portrait of the Catalan high bourgeoisie with a mix of realism and satire.
“I’m involved because I’m a big fan of Miguel, who’s short ‘Calladita’ I really loved,” Mortimer said in a statement.
Joining Mortimer, cast members include Spanish Academy Goya Award-winner Antonio de la Torre (“The Endless Trench”) Susana Abaitua (“Patria”) and Paula Grimaldo, who played the lead in the original short.
It would mark the first time ever that a European film is backed by NTFs (non-fungible tokens) and decentralized web software handled by the crypto community Web3.
Based on the eponymous short film which played at the Palm Springs Short and London Short Film festivals, “Calladita” will offer a character study of its protagonist and, through her eyes, a portrait of the Catalan high bourgeoisie with a mix of realism and satire.
“I’m involved because I’m a big fan of Miguel, who’s short ‘Calladita’ I really loved,” Mortimer said in a statement.
Joining Mortimer, cast members include Spanish Academy Goya Award-winner Antonio de la Torre (“The Endless Trench”) Susana Abaitua (“Patria”) and Paula Grimaldo, who played the lead in the original short.
- 2/15/2022
- by Emilio Mayorga
- Variety Film + TV
The new year is continuing apace at Hulu. The streamer’s list of new releases for February 2022 is highlighted by one very interesting project.
Pam and Tommy is set to premiere on Feb. 2. Perhaps the Groundhog Day release date is intentional as the show will cover a particular moment of celebrity, sex, and exploitation from the early ’90s that seems to have repeated itself over and over. Sebastian Stan and Lily James star as Tommy Lee and Pamela Anderson and the series follows the events and fallout of their homemade sex tape being stolen and unleashed on a nascent internet. If nothing else, getting the promo photos of Stan and James as the ’90s stars was worth it.
Read more Movies Willem Dafoe on Noir, Fate and Geeks in Nightmare Alley By David Crow Movies Matthew Vaughn on Finding The Man Who Would Be King’s Man By David Crow
Another Hulu original,...
Pam and Tommy is set to premiere on Feb. 2. Perhaps the Groundhog Day release date is intentional as the show will cover a particular moment of celebrity, sex, and exploitation from the early ’90s that seems to have repeated itself over and over. Sebastian Stan and Lily James star as Tommy Lee and Pamela Anderson and the series follows the events and fallout of their homemade sex tape being stolen and unleashed on a nascent internet. If nothing else, getting the promo photos of Stan and James as the ’90s stars was worth it.
Read more Movies Willem Dafoe on Noir, Fate and Geeks in Nightmare Alley By David Crow Movies Matthew Vaughn on Finding The Man Who Would Be King’s Man By David Crow
Another Hulu original,...
- 2/1/2022
- by Alec Bojalad
- Den of Geek
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on Thursday revealed the 276 feature films that are eligible for consideration at the 94rd Oscars, which are set to air live March 27 on ABC from the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.
The number is 90 fewer than last year’s 366, but this year’s eligibility period was only 10 months.
To be eligible for Best Picture consideration, films must have submitted a confidential Academy Representation and Inclusion Standards entry as part of the submission requirements. Nominations voting begins January 27 and concludes on February 1. The Oscar nominations will be revealed on Tuesday, February 8.
Today’s news comes about a month after the Academy released its shortlists in the International Film, Documentary Feature, Original Score, Original Song, Makeup & Hairstyling, Visual Effects, Sound and the Live-Action, Documentary and Animated Shorts categories.
Here is the full list of films eligible for Best Picture at the 94rd annual Academy Awards,...
The number is 90 fewer than last year’s 366, but this year’s eligibility period was only 10 months.
To be eligible for Best Picture consideration, films must have submitted a confidential Academy Representation and Inclusion Standards entry as part of the submission requirements. Nominations voting begins January 27 and concludes on February 1. The Oscar nominations will be revealed on Tuesday, February 8.
Today’s news comes about a month after the Academy released its shortlists in the International Film, Documentary Feature, Original Score, Original Song, Makeup & Hairstyling, Visual Effects, Sound and the Live-Action, Documentary and Animated Shorts categories.
Here is the full list of films eligible for Best Picture at the 94rd annual Academy Awards,...
- 1/20/2022
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
While time has seemingly ceased to exist in year two of the global pandemic, we’ve had no shortage of entertainment options. More films have had simultaneous theatrical releases and digital releases and most film festivals have been hybrid this year, offering both in-person and virtual access to journalists as well as audiences. We’re hoping this trend continues in 2022 to allow accessibility to all.
With that said, 2021 has been a great year for horror. I’ve been very fortunate to be able to view and cover some truly amazing horror films this year. As the world still feels like it’s in a state of chaos, I’ve continued to turn to horror as a form of therapy. I’ve seen some fantastic horror movies and shows this year that not only provided an escape from reality, but also showcased some wildly talented filmmaking. In no particular order, the...
With that said, 2021 has been a great year for horror. I’ve been very fortunate to be able to view and cover some truly amazing horror films this year. As the world still feels like it’s in a state of chaos, I’ve continued to turn to horror as a form of therapy. I’ve seen some fantastic horror movies and shows this year that not only provided an escape from reality, but also showcased some wildly talented filmmaking. In no particular order, the...
- 1/7/2022
- by Michelle Swope
- DailyDead
My final 2021 guests this week on the Deep Focus podcast are Jim Cummings and Pj McCabe, the co-directors, co-writers, and co-stars of IFC Films’ “The Beta Test,” Yes, this conversation is overdue. “The Beta Test” came out in late November, but it is available on all digital platforms to rent now, and let’s just say as a bit of a tease: you will see “The Beta Test” on our forthcoming list of the Best Films Of 2021 That You Didn’t See running in early January.
Continue reading ‘The Beta Test’: Jim Cummings & Pj McCabe Talk Their Dark Hollywood, Cancel Culture Satire at The Playlist.
Continue reading ‘The Beta Test’: Jim Cummings & Pj McCabe Talk Their Dark Hollywood, Cancel Culture Satire at The Playlist.
- 12/24/2021
- by Rodrigo Perez
- The Playlist
Neon’s Spencer with Kristin Stewart rang in an opening weekend of $2.149 million on 996 screens, a per screen average of $2,158 as the film failed to connect in a market that remains a stubbornly hard sell for specialty and independent films.
The well-reviewed (with raves for Stewart as Lady Diana) reimagining by director Pablo Larraín of a few fateful days at the Queen’s Sandringham Estate when the most famous royal marriage imploded took in an estimated $783,110 Friday; $780,697 Sat.; $585,522 Sunday.
Edgar Wright’s Last Night In Soho in 3,016 theatres took in $1.8 million its second weekend out for a total cume of $7.7M. Los Angeles was the top market, followed by New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Dallas, Boston, Toronto (which broke into the top ten this weekend), Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and Denver. The Music Box in Chicago, Village East in Manhattan, Alamo Brooklyn and Forum in Montreal were among the top ten best performing theaters,...
The well-reviewed (with raves for Stewart as Lady Diana) reimagining by director Pablo Larraín of a few fateful days at the Queen’s Sandringham Estate when the most famous royal marriage imploded took in an estimated $783,110 Friday; $780,697 Sat.; $585,522 Sunday.
Edgar Wright’s Last Night In Soho in 3,016 theatres took in $1.8 million its second weekend out for a total cume of $7.7M. Los Angeles was the top market, followed by New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Dallas, Boston, Toronto (which broke into the top ten this weekend), Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and Denver. The Music Box in Chicago, Village East in Manhattan, Alamo Brooklyn and Forum in Montreal were among the top ten best performing theaters,...
- 11/7/2021
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
Chicago – Creating a complex story and delivering it in a spectacular way was the accomplishment of two self-described “best friends.” Jim Cummings and Pj McCabe are the co-writers, directors and friends of the new film “The Beta Test” – releasing November 5th, 2021 – a thriller that takes on the darker side of human motivations.
Rating: 4.0/5.0
Jim Cummings is also featured as Jordan, a wannabe Hollywood agent-type and player who is constantly striking out in his various pitches. His life takes a turn when he receives a mysterious invitation for a no-strings-attached sexual encounter, six weeks before his marriage to Caroline (Virginia Newcombe). His decision to proceed is the impetus for his future and the story’s direction. This is a maniacal festival of truth, as Jordan’s inability to cover up his sins devolve into an ever-deepening spiral. Cummings is great as a pretty boy whose darkness is a shadow over all lives he encounters,...
Rating: 4.0/5.0
Jim Cummings is also featured as Jordan, a wannabe Hollywood agent-type and player who is constantly striking out in his various pitches. His life takes a turn when he receives a mysterious invitation for a no-strings-attached sexual encounter, six weeks before his marriage to Caroline (Virginia Newcombe). His decision to proceed is the impetus for his future and the story’s direction. This is a maniacal festival of truth, as Jordan’s inability to cover up his sins devolve into an ever-deepening spiral. Cummings is great as a pretty boy whose darkness is a shadow over all lives he encounters,...
- 11/7/2021
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
There are only a handful of filmmakers that everyone on The A.V. Club’s film staff can agree on, and Jim Cummings is one of them. With a recent run of playful, genre-bending movies that includes 2018’s Thunder Road, 2020’s The Wolf Of Snow Hollow, and the new film The Beta Test, Cummings has established himself as an…...
- 11/7/2021
- by Katie Rife
- avclub.com
Arriving in select theaters and on VOD and Digital platforms today is The Beta Test from co-writers/co-directors Jim Cummings and Pj McCabe, courtesy of IFC Films. The film’s story is centered around an engaged Hollywood agent (played by Cummings) who receives a mysterious letter inviting him to indulge in an anonymous sexual encounter mere weeks before his wedding, and the downward spiral that follows once he realizes that there are no secrets in life anymore.
Daily Dead recently had the opportunity to speak with both Cummings and McCabe (who also co-stars in the project) about their experiences collaborating on The Beta Test, and during the interview, the duo discussed their approach to the story and directorial duties on the comedic erotic thriller, as well as how they tackled blending several genres that don’t necessarily seem like they would work well together. McCabe and Cummings also chatted about...
Daily Dead recently had the opportunity to speak with both Cummings and McCabe (who also co-stars in the project) about their experiences collaborating on The Beta Test, and during the interview, the duo discussed their approach to the story and directorial duties on the comedic erotic thriller, as well as how they tackled blending several genres that don’t necessarily seem like they would work well together. McCabe and Cummings also chatted about...
- 11/5/2021
- by Heather Wixson
- DailyDead
Neon presents Spencer on just under 1,000 screens, Pablo Larraín’s well-reviewed psychological drama about the weekend Princess Diana rewrote the future of the British monarchy. The film is said to be looking at a $2 million-$2.5 million opening with an 84% Certified Fresh critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes but a 50% audience score (albeit from fewer than 50 ratings).
Meanwhile, Eternals is tracking to a $70M+ opening with flipped scores — 49% critics, 86% audience.
This is a period where counter-programming — a key role of independent film, specialty and arthouse fare, documentaries, barely exists. If recent Marvel Cinematic Universe release weekends are precedent, this one will be all Eternals all the time for the mostly younger crowds that are repopulating theaters.
Yet, even with no new wide-release superhero-mega-franchise hitting last weekend, nothing else opened well (except maybe Funimation’s My Hero Academia: World Heroes’ Mission). That includes indie Last Night in Soho despite a solid media campaign,...
Meanwhile, Eternals is tracking to a $70M+ opening with flipped scores — 49% critics, 86% audience.
This is a period where counter-programming — a key role of independent film, specialty and arthouse fare, documentaries, barely exists. If recent Marvel Cinematic Universe release weekends are precedent, this one will be all Eternals all the time for the mostly younger crowds that are repopulating theaters.
Yet, even with no new wide-release superhero-mega-franchise hitting last weekend, nothing else opened well (except maybe Funimation’s My Hero Academia: World Heroes’ Mission). That includes indie Last Night in Soho despite a solid media campaign,...
- 11/5/2021
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
There have been many uncertainties at the box office since the pandemic began, but if there’s one thing that remains as true as ever, it is the box office dominance of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). MCU films Black Widow and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings are two of the three top grossing films of the year, and the other film in the top three is Venom: Let There Be Carnage, which is part of Sony’s Spider-Man Universe and has some tie-ins with the MCU. This weekend sees the release of Eternals, the newest property in the MCU, and it is set to give the box office a jolt after a few weeks of declining grosses.
Opening on over 4,000 screens, the theatrical exclusive Eternals is the first film appearance of its titular race of immortal alien humanoid beings who are protectors of Earth against their evil counterparts the Deviants.
Opening on over 4,000 screens, the theatrical exclusive Eternals is the first film appearance of its titular race of immortal alien humanoid beings who are protectors of Earth against their evil counterparts the Deviants.
- 11/5/2021
- by Sam Mendelsohn <mail@boxofficemojo.com>
- Box Office Mojo
Each week we highlight the noteworthy titles that have recently hit streaming platforms in the United States. Check out this week’s selections below and past round-ups here.
A Cop Movie (Alonso Ruizpalacios)
There has never been a less auspicious time to make a “cop movie.” As scrutiny abounds from both within (content warnings on streaming services) and externally (social media) towards the past output of media producers, also suspect are the bevy of films and series that glamorize law enforcement, or see the police as uncomplicated arbiters of justice. Of course, last summer’s Black Lives Matter protests initiated all kinds of brave new thinking about a potential world devoid of cops. Like the Western genre, perhaps all police thrillers in future will be revisionist ones. Mexican director Alonso Ruizpalacios’ new Netflix-produced quasi-documentary, A Cop Movie, has thus arrived right on cue. – David K. (full review)
Where to...
A Cop Movie (Alonso Ruizpalacios)
There has never been a less auspicious time to make a “cop movie.” As scrutiny abounds from both within (content warnings on streaming services) and externally (social media) towards the past output of media producers, also suspect are the bevy of films and series that glamorize law enforcement, or see the police as uncomplicated arbiters of justice. Of course, last summer’s Black Lives Matter protests initiated all kinds of brave new thinking about a potential world devoid of cops. Like the Western genre, perhaps all police thrillers in future will be revisionist ones. Mexican director Alonso Ruizpalacios’ new Netflix-produced quasi-documentary, A Cop Movie, has thus arrived right on cue. – David K. (full review)
Where to...
- 11/5/2021
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
The Beta Test, the newest micro-budget film from independent actor-writer-director Jim Cummings, finds the Emerson College alum teaming up with his friend, classmate, and collaborator Pj McCabe. The two worked together on 2020’s The Wolf of Snow Hollow, along with a slew of shorts over the past 15 years. Co-writing, co-director, and co-starring in The Beta Test, Cummings and McCabe craft a drama that leans into different genres more often than not—it wants to be “genre-fluid,” as the two describe it. In their own words, they just “wanted to make a dope movie.”
Following a scummy Hollywood talent agent (played by Cummings), the film navigates a topsy-turvy story focused on (mostly) bad people making (mostly) bad decisions. It attempts to satirize the prototypical “man in charge,” laughing at his mistakes and cautioning others to choose differently. It contains moments of pure shock, surrounding the agent’s involvement with a secret,...
Following a scummy Hollywood talent agent (played by Cummings), the film navigates a topsy-turvy story focused on (mostly) bad people making (mostly) bad decisions. It attempts to satirize the prototypical “man in charge,” laughing at his mistakes and cautioning others to choose differently. It contains moments of pure shock, surrounding the agent’s involvement with a secret,...
- 11/5/2021
- by Michael Frank
- The Film Stage
Jim Cummings and Pj McCabe’s “The Beta Test” is with a mad soufflé of a plot that starts with a Hollywood murder, climaxes in a nationwide sex conspiracy, and touches on everything from Harvey Weinstein to the WGA’s fight against packaging fees in between. At its heart, however, this endearingly overstuffed indie hinges on a simple observation that has nothing to do with digital growth, belittled assistants, or the Tiger Woods-directed all-dog reboot of “Caddyshack” that’s mentioned in a throwaway line by a talent agent who only speaks in throwaway lines: It’s never been easier to feel like your life isn’t good enough, and yet it’s never been harder to fuck around and find out. Literally. Temptation is only a click away, but you’d basically have to stage the heist from “Ocean’s Eleven” just to cheat on someone without getting caught.
On the one hand,...
On the one hand,...
- 11/2/2021
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
As the year winds down, November brings a packed slate of new releases––including festival favorites we can already recommend and others that hold a great deal of promise. From some of the greatest auteurs working today to breakthrough voices, there’s much to check out. See our picks below.
16. The Humans (Stephen Karam; Nov. 14 in theaters and on Showtime)
One of the notable premieres at the Toronto International Film Festival was writer-director Stephen Karam’s debut feature The Humans, adapted from his Tony Award-winning play. Coming from A24, the film follows Richard Jenkins, Jayne Houdyshell, Amy Schumer, Beanie Feldstein, Steven Yeun, and June Squibb in a story of a family who gathers in Manhattan for a Thanksgiving meal as their fears are laid bare. As C.J. Prince said in his TIFF review, “Everything is wrong in The Humans, Stephen Karam’s adaptation of his Tony-winning play. Set entirely...
16. The Humans (Stephen Karam; Nov. 14 in theaters and on Showtime)
One of the notable premieres at the Toronto International Film Festival was writer-director Stephen Karam’s debut feature The Humans, adapted from his Tony Award-winning play. Coming from A24, the film follows Richard Jenkins, Jayne Houdyshell, Amy Schumer, Beanie Feldstein, Steven Yeun, and June Squibb in a story of a family who gathers in Manhattan for a Thanksgiving meal as their fears are laid bare. As C.J. Prince said in his TIFF review, “Everything is wrong in The Humans, Stephen Karam’s adaptation of his Tony-winning play. Set entirely...
- 11/2/2021
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Other winners include ‘Blast’, ‘The Righteous’.
Oh-Seung Kwon’s Korean thriller Midnight has won the best feature award at UK genre festival Grimmfest, which ran as a hybrid in-person and online event this year.
The film, which debuted in South Korea in June this year, centres on a deaf mother and daughter who interrupt a serial psychopath as he attempts to claim his next victim, only to finds his wrath redirected toward them instead. Korean sales firm Finecut is handling sales on the title.
Scroll down for the full list of winners.
The award was chosen by a jury consisting of Stewart Bridle,...
Oh-Seung Kwon’s Korean thriller Midnight has won the best feature award at UK genre festival Grimmfest, which ran as a hybrid in-person and online event this year.
The film, which debuted in South Korea in June this year, centres on a deaf mother and daughter who interrupt a serial psychopath as he attempts to claim his next victim, only to finds his wrath redirected toward them instead. Korean sales firm Finecut is handling sales on the title.
Scroll down for the full list of winners.
The award was chosen by a jury consisting of Stewart Bridle,...
- 10/25/2021
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
If you're in the Los Angeles area and are looking for something fun to do the Wednesday before Halloween, we might have the perfect sexy, spooky event for you. IFC Films and Film Independent are presenting a live reading of Stanley Kubrick's "Eyes Wide Shut" with "The Beta Test" directors Jim Cummings and Pj McCabe. The best part? The directors request that the audience all dress in masks and capes, and full costumes are encouraged.
On Wednesday, October 27, 2021, Jim Cummings and Pj McCabe will direct a live reading of "Eyes Wide Shut," Kubrick's salacious story about a couple who get involved...
The post Eyes Wide Shut is Getting a Live Script Reading, and Full Costumes Are Encouraged appeared first on /Film.
On Wednesday, October 27, 2021, Jim Cummings and Pj McCabe will direct a live reading of "Eyes Wide Shut," Kubrick's salacious story about a couple who get involved...
The post Eyes Wide Shut is Getting a Live Script Reading, and Full Costumes Are Encouraged appeared first on /Film.
- 10/20/2021
- by Danielle Ryan
- Slash Film
IndieWire exclusively shares the news that Film Independent and IFC Films will host a live read of Stanley Kubrick’s classic 1999 erotic mystery “Eyes Wide Shut” on Wednesday, October 27 in Los Angeles. The reading of the script will be directed by Jim Cummings and Pj McCabe, the directors of the upcoming IFC release “The Beta Test.” The directors encourage audience members to come dressed in full “Eyes Wide Shut” regalia — that means masks and capes, a la the infamous scene where Tom Cruise finds himself at a sex party for the one percent inside a mansion, are requested. Besides, you’ll be wearing a face mask anyway.
The event will take place at the DGA Theater on Sunset Blvd. in LA at 7: 30 p.m. Pst. Tickets are $20 for Film Independent members, with a limit of two tickets per membership. Proof of Covid vaccination is required to attend the event.
The event will take place at the DGA Theater on Sunset Blvd. in LA at 7: 30 p.m. Pst. Tickets are $20 for Film Independent members, with a limit of two tickets per membership. Proof of Covid vaccination is required to attend the event.
- 10/18/2021
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Indiewire
A24’s Lamb hit the top ten for the second week running (No. 8) at the North American box office, surging past $2 million. The Rescue expanded to 552 theaters, the widest documentary screen count since Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain, said distributor Greenwich Entertainment, anticipating it will ultimately top $1M. Holdovers outperformed newcomers this weekend, including IFC’s Cannes selection Bergman Island.
For the three days, Lamb grossed an estimated $534,000 in 865 theater with a per screen average of $628. Weekend tally: Friday-$172,135; Sat.-$211,925; Sun.-$158,944. The R-rated horror-folktale where a childless couple in rural Iceland make an alarming discovery in their sheep barn, has a estimated cume of $2,037,730.
National Geographic Film’s The Rescue by Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin (Free Solo) has a projected gross of $386,400, or a $700 PSA. Greenwich said the film, about the dramatic rescue of a Thai boys soccer team from a flooded cave, has a total...
For the three days, Lamb grossed an estimated $534,000 in 865 theater with a per screen average of $628. Weekend tally: Friday-$172,135; Sat.-$211,925; Sun.-$158,944. The R-rated horror-folktale where a childless couple in rural Iceland make an alarming discovery in their sheep barn, has a estimated cume of $2,037,730.
National Geographic Film’s The Rescue by Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin (Free Solo) has a projected gross of $386,400, or a $700 PSA. Greenwich said the film, about the dramatic rescue of a Thai boys soccer team from a flooded cave, has a total...
- 10/17/2021
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
Jim Cummings is about to trade the wolf men of Utah for the shark men of Tinseltown. In "The Beta Test," he portrays a Hollywood agent, a real "Swimming with the Sharks" type, who receives a letter in the mail inviting him to "an anonymous, no-strings-attached sexual encounter" with a secret admirer in a hotel room. He already has a fiancée, and naturally, he's expected to wear a blindfold for this encounter. I'm sure that will end well.
Cummings most recently wrote, directed, and starred in "The Wolf of Snow Hollow," in which he played an alcoholic cop who gets caught up in the mystery of a series of...
The post The Beta Test Trailer: Jim Cummings Takes on Toxic Masculinity Again, This Time in Hollywood appeared first on /Film.
Cummings most recently wrote, directed, and starred in "The Wolf of Snow Hollow," in which he played an alcoholic cop who gets caught up in the mystery of a series of...
The post The Beta Test Trailer: Jim Cummings Takes on Toxic Masculinity Again, This Time in Hollywood appeared first on /Film.
- 10/15/2021
- by Joshua Meyer
- Slash Film
Exclusive: The Park, a dystopian drama series that explores a society left to be governed by children as a mysterious virus starts killing off all adults, has wrapped production for Topic and Vanishing Angle.
The limited series, which is written and directed by Shal Ngo, who directed an episode of Hulu’s short film series Bite Size Halloween, and produced by Natalie Metzger (The Beta Test), is set to make the festival rounds with Topic and Vanishing Angle looking for broadcasters and streamers in the U.S. and internationally.
The Park stars Secrets of Sulphur Springs pair Chloe Guidry and Nhedrick Jabiar and Carmina Garay (PEN15).
It is a dystopian coming-of-age series focused on three kids who find themselves in an abandoned amusement park, aiming to unite whoever remains. With dangers lurking around every corner, they will do whatever it takes to survive their hellish Neverland.
Topic’s Ryan Chanatry...
The limited series, which is written and directed by Shal Ngo, who directed an episode of Hulu’s short film series Bite Size Halloween, and produced by Natalie Metzger (The Beta Test), is set to make the festival rounds with Topic and Vanishing Angle looking for broadcasters and streamers in the U.S. and internationally.
The Park stars Secrets of Sulphur Springs pair Chloe Guidry and Nhedrick Jabiar and Carmina Garay (PEN15).
It is a dystopian coming-of-age series focused on three kids who find themselves in an abandoned amusement park, aiming to unite whoever remains. With dangers lurking around every corner, they will do whatever it takes to survive their hellish Neverland.
Topic’s Ryan Chanatry...
- 10/15/2021
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
"Now I'm suspicious of everyone... We're so terrified of stepping out of line." IFC Films has just unveiled a second official trailer for The Beta Test, a seductive, provocative thriller from filmmaker Jim Cummings (of Thunder Road and The Wolf of Snow Hollow). The first UK trailer arrived a few weeks back, time for another look. Cummings teams up with actor Pj McCabe to co-write & co-direct this film, which initially premiered at the Berlin Film Festival this year. It's opening in the US in art house cinemas starting in early November. A married Hollywood agent receives a mysterious letter for an anonymous sexual encounter and becomes ensnared in a sinister world of lying, infidelity, and digital data. It's partially a commentary on the world of agents in Hollywood, and partially a commentary on the disruptive nature of sexual provocation, how easily it can tear things apart. The film stars Cummings & McCabe,...
- 10/15/2021
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Thunder Road and The Wolf of Snow Hollow writer-director-actor Jim Cummings is back with his latest feature The Beta Test. A selection at Berlinale, Tribeca, and Fantastic Fest, the film follows a married Hollywood agent who receives a mysterious letter for an anonymous sexual encounter and becomes ensnared in a sinister world of lying, murder, and infidelity. Ahead of a release on November 5, the U.S. trailer and poster have now landed.
Michael Frank said in his review, “Jim Cummings has become something of an indie film wunderkind, making low-budget, critically-acclaimed projects that hit festivals and reach the depths of Film Twitter, many members of which Cummings used to follow from his own account. Partnering with Pj McCabe to co-direct, co-write, and co-star in The Beta Test, Cummings’ latest feature concerns modern relationships. With Cummings taking the lead as Hollywood agent and resident douchebag Jordan, his story and performance rarely...
Michael Frank said in his review, “Jim Cummings has become something of an indie film wunderkind, making low-budget, critically-acclaimed projects that hit festivals and reach the depths of Film Twitter, many members of which Cummings used to follow from his own account. Partnering with Pj McCabe to co-direct, co-write, and co-star in The Beta Test, Cummings’ latest feature concerns modern relationships. With Cummings taking the lead as Hollywood agent and resident douchebag Jordan, his story and performance rarely...
- 10/14/2021
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
“The Beta Test,” the critically-acclaimed indie about the intersection of toxicity in Hollywood and digital culture, has unveiled an anxiety-ridden first trailer.
The IFC Films title, which played the Berlin International Film Festival this year and sits at 100% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, stars Jim Cummings, who wrote and directed the film with Pj McCabe.
The satire follows an engaged talent rep who accepts a mysterious offer to engage in a consensual and anonymous sexual encounter — only to face severe repercussions as his work and home life fall apart in the aftermath. The filmmakers called the project a dark thriller about the problematic nature of the entertainment industry and humanity’s willingness to jeopardize our happiness in small and constant decisions.
The film asks the question “In the age of internet consumerism and digital tracking, does anyone truly have privacy? And can we ever truly rest without having all the answers?...
The IFC Films title, which played the Berlin International Film Festival this year and sits at 100% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, stars Jim Cummings, who wrote and directed the film with Pj McCabe.
The satire follows an engaged talent rep who accepts a mysterious offer to engage in a consensual and anonymous sexual encounter — only to face severe repercussions as his work and home life fall apart in the aftermath. The filmmakers called the project a dark thriller about the problematic nature of the entertainment industry and humanity’s willingness to jeopardize our happiness in small and constant decisions.
The film asks the question “In the age of internet consumerism and digital tracking, does anyone truly have privacy? And can we ever truly rest without having all the answers?...
- 10/14/2021
- by Matt Donnelly
- Variety Film + TV
(Welcome to ...And More, our no-frills, zero B.S. guide to when and where you can watch upcoming movies and shows, and everything else you could possibly stand to know.)
Social commentary and steamy temptation collide in the latest film from Jim Cummings, "The Beta Test." Get a peek at how chaotic life can get once a drastic mistake gets the better of you. For one ruthless Hollywood agent, overcoming paranoia is the name of the game — and he isn't exactly winning. If this thrilling tale sounds tempting, keep reading to learn more about the upcoming release of "The Beta Test."
"The Beta Test" gets its theatrical...
The post The Beta Test: Release Date, Cast, and More appeared first on /Film.
Social commentary and steamy temptation collide in the latest film from Jim Cummings, "The Beta Test." Get a peek at how chaotic life can get once a drastic mistake gets the better of you. For one ruthless Hollywood agent, overcoming paranoia is the name of the game — and he isn't exactly winning. If this thrilling tale sounds tempting, keep reading to learn more about the upcoming release of "The Beta Test."
"The Beta Test" gets its theatrical...
The post The Beta Test: Release Date, Cast, and More appeared first on /Film.
- 10/13/2021
- by Shania Russell
- Slash Film
Writer/director/actor Jim Cummings joins hosts Josh Olson and Joe Dante to discuss a few of his favorite movies.
Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode
Thunder Road short film (2016)
Thunder Road (2018)
The Wolf Of Snow Hollow (2020)
The Beta Test (2021)
Jack Reacher (2012)
The ’Burbs (1989) – Ti West’s trailer commentary, Burbs-Mania from Tfh
Big (1988)
War Of The Worlds (2005) – Glenn Erickson’s 4K Blu-ray review
Psycho (1960) – John Landis’s trailer commentary, Randy Fuller’s wine pairings
Children Of Men (2006)
Y Tu Mama Tambien (2002)
Russian Ark (2002) – Brian Trenchard-Smith’s trailer commentary
The Beach (2000)
Titanic (1997)
28 Days Later (2003)
Victoria (2015) – Eduardo Rodriguez’s trailer commentary
Krisha (2015)
Dogtooth (2009)
Inside Out (2015)
Toy Story (1995)
Finding Nemo (2003)
Wall-e (2008)
Up (2009)
Rosemary’s Baby (1968) – Mark Pellington’s trailer commentary, Oren Peli’s trailer commentary
False Positive (2021)
Repulsion (1965) – Michael Lehman’s trailer commentary
Seduced And Abandoned (1964)
Divorce Italian Style (1961)
La Dolce Vita (1960) – Dan Ireland’s trailer commentary
My Beautiful Girl, Mari (2002)
Speed Racer...
Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode
Thunder Road short film (2016)
Thunder Road (2018)
The Wolf Of Snow Hollow (2020)
The Beta Test (2021)
Jack Reacher (2012)
The ’Burbs (1989) – Ti West’s trailer commentary, Burbs-Mania from Tfh
Big (1988)
War Of The Worlds (2005) – Glenn Erickson’s 4K Blu-ray review
Psycho (1960) – John Landis’s trailer commentary, Randy Fuller’s wine pairings
Children Of Men (2006)
Y Tu Mama Tambien (2002)
Russian Ark (2002) – Brian Trenchard-Smith’s trailer commentary
The Beach (2000)
Titanic (1997)
28 Days Later (2003)
Victoria (2015) – Eduardo Rodriguez’s trailer commentary
Krisha (2015)
Dogtooth (2009)
Inside Out (2015)
Toy Story (1995)
Finding Nemo (2003)
Wall-e (2008)
Up (2009)
Rosemary’s Baby (1968) – Mark Pellington’s trailer commentary, Oren Peli’s trailer commentary
False Positive (2021)
Repulsion (1965) – Michael Lehman’s trailer commentary
Seduced And Abandoned (1964)
Divorce Italian Style (1961)
La Dolce Vita (1960) – Dan Ireland’s trailer commentary
My Beautiful Girl, Mari (2002)
Speed Racer...
- 10/12/2021
- by Kris Millsap
- Trailers from Hell
Indie director Jim Cummings and co-star Pj McCabe have made a scornful part-thriller about an unctuous agent in thrall to the system
Writer-director-actor Jim Cummings’ has already made two films, Thunder Road and The Wolf of Snow Hollow, which were very well received on the American indie circuit. His latest, The Beta Test, co-written and directed with its co-star Pj McCabe, is part delicious satire of Hollywood culture and part frustratingly muddled thriller. But the good bits are sufficiently impressive it wouldn’t be fair to hold its flaws against it too much. We mustn’t be greedy for perfection.
Greed, as it happens, is probably the major sin of a Tinseltown agent called Jordan (played by Cummings), followed closely by lust, wrath, pride and envy. Given his rigorously gym-toned figure it would seem that Jordan is less guilty of gluttony or sloth, but there’s probably more than enough...
Writer-director-actor Jim Cummings’ has already made two films, Thunder Road and The Wolf of Snow Hollow, which were very well received on the American indie circuit. His latest, The Beta Test, co-written and directed with its co-star Pj McCabe, is part delicious satire of Hollywood culture and part frustratingly muddled thriller. But the good bits are sufficiently impressive it wouldn’t be fair to hold its flaws against it too much. We mustn’t be greedy for perfection.
Greed, as it happens, is probably the major sin of a Tinseltown agent called Jordan (played by Cummings), followed closely by lust, wrath, pride and envy. Given his rigorously gym-toned figure it would seem that Jordan is less guilty of gluttony or sloth, but there’s probably more than enough...
- 10/11/2021
- by Leslie Felperin
- The Guardian - Film News
Weaving light Hollywood satire and fear of Big Data into a parable of erotic temptation, Jim Cummings and Pj McCabe’s The Beta Test watches as a mysterious one-night stand threatens to destroy a young agent’s life. Playing the agent in question, Cummings works the same muscles that attracted attention in the festival darling Thunder Road and its follow-up, The Wolf of Snow Hollow: Exploring the varieties of volatile awkwardness and desperation, he plays a well-known type (the showbiz ladder-climber who’s nothing but a smile) while making the character unlike any we’ve seen.
Cummings is Jordan Hines, a hungry young agent who acts as ...
Cummings is Jordan Hines, a hungry young agent who acts as ...
- 9/29/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Weaving light Hollywood satire and fear of Big Data into a parable of erotic temptation, Jim Cummings and Pj McCabe’s The Beta Test watches as a mysterious one-night stand threatens to destroy a young agent’s life. Playing the agent in question, Cummings works the same muscles that attracted attention in the festival darling Thunder Road and its follow-up, The Wolf of Snow Hollow: Exploring the varieties of volatile awkwardness and desperation, he plays a well-known type (the showbiz ladder-climber who’s nothing but a smile) while making the character unlike any we’ve seen.
Cummings is Jordan Hines, a hungry young agent who acts as ...
Cummings is Jordan Hines, a hungry young agent who acts as ...
- 9/29/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Get in touch to send in cinephile news and discoveries. For daily updates follow us @NotebookMUBI.NEWSAbove: Melvin Van Peebles. (Courtesy of Shadow & Act)We're deeply saddened by the news that the great Melvin Van Peebles has died. A filmmaker, director, novelist, playwright, and composer, Van Peebles was a pioneer of independent cinema, best known for his films Watermelon Man (1970) and Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song (1971). In an official statement, Van Peebles' son, filmmaker Mario Van Peebles, states: "He was a pioneer, a maverick and one cool cat." Exiled Iranian filmmaker Bahman Ghobadi has published an open letter to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, discussing the struggles faced by refugees whose films are censored, banned, and restricted from being shown to the Academy. Ghobadi proposes "a refugee team of filmmakers; they can have their works viewed by a jury and eventually one movie can be chosen from the refugee team.
- 9/29/2021
- MUBI
Considering Fantastic Fest 2021 is this writer’s first time back at an in-person festival since Sundance 2020, I’m very excited (and a teeny bit nervous) about getting to spend a whole week indulging in movies from all over the world once again. Later this week, Fantastic Fest will be kicking off on Thursday, and will continue running in-person through September 30th (and the Ff Virtual Fest will begin the very same day).
And even though I’m always pumped for Fantastic Fest’s entire genre-spanning programming slate, there are a handful of films that have already caught my eye, and I thought I’d go ahead and preview 13 titles that I’m incredibly psyched to see as a horror and sci-fi fan. Also, I just wanted to make a note: I didn’t include films that Daily Dead has already covered at previous festivals. Not that they’re not worthy,...
And even though I’m always pumped for Fantastic Fest’s entire genre-spanning programming slate, there are a handful of films that have already caught my eye, and I thought I’d go ahead and preview 13 titles that I’m incredibly psyched to see as a horror and sci-fi fan. Also, I just wanted to make a note: I didn’t include films that Daily Dead has already covered at previous festivals. Not that they’re not worthy,...
- 9/22/2021
- by Heather Wixson
- DailyDead
Following Thunder Road and The Wolf of Snow Hollow, writer-director-actor Jim Cummings is working at a steady clip with his latest feature, The Beta Test, having premiered at Berlinale earlier this year. Also a Tribeca and Fantastic Fest selection, the film follows a married Hollywood agent who receives a mysterious letter for an anonymous sexual encounter and becomes ensnared in a sinister world of lying, murder, and infidelity. Ahead of a release on November 5, the first trailer has now arrived courtesy of the U.K.
Michael Frank said in his review, “Jim Cummings has become something of an indie film wunderkind, making low-budget, critically-acclaimed projects that hit festivals and reach the depths of Film Twitter, many members of which Cummings used to follow from his own account. Partnering with Pj McCabe to co-direct, co-write, and co-star in The Beta Test, Cummings’ latest feature concerns modern relationships. With Cummings taking the...
Michael Frank said in his review, “Jim Cummings has become something of an indie film wunderkind, making low-budget, critically-acclaimed projects that hit festivals and reach the depths of Film Twitter, many members of which Cummings used to follow from his own account. Partnering with Pj McCabe to co-direct, co-write, and co-star in The Beta Test, Cummings’ latest feature concerns modern relationships. With Cummings taking the...
- 9/22/2021
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
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