Jim Cummings: Sundance 2026 Exclusive Interview with Outstanding Screenplays

From Thunder Road to premiering his new TV series THE SCREENER at Sundance Film Festival 2026. Jim Cummings has built one of the most singular careers in indie film. We sat down with him for an extensive interview — and it’s required viewing for anyone chasing a career in writing or filmmaking. Follow Jim Cummings: https://www.instagram.com/jimmycthatsme/ https://www.coolandhappy.studio/ Follow Sophie Lovell Anderson: https://www.instagram.com/sophielovellanderson/ #JimCummings #TheScreener #sundancefilmfestival 0:00 - Intro 0:25 - The Screener 3:04 - Stolen material in the film industry 5:35 - Working under the radar with lawyers & attorneys 9:21 - Having legal conversations over artistic conversations 12:41 - Screening The Screener 14:20 - Funding 18:12 - Knowing your audience 20:37 - When is a script done? 24:21 - Editing is murder 28:15 - Difference in screenplay formats 31:37 - Music while writing 35:05 - Idea for Thunder Road short film 38:02 - Writing and creating Thunder Road feature 39:17 - Staying handcuffed to one project at a time 40:50 - What makes The Screener exciting 43:32 - Stop calling yourself an "aspiring" screenwriter 45:59 - Last Sundance in Park City 47:21 - Outro Submit to our Screenplay Competitions: https://www.outstandingscreenplays.com/ Submit your FEATURE Film Screenplay: https://www.outstandingscreenplays.com/competitions-feature Have an idea for a TV series? Have you written a TV pilot for it? Submit it to our screenplay competition: https://www.outstandingscreenplays.com/competitions-tv Have a short screenplay you wish to turn into a film or get feedback on from Oscar winning screenwriters? Submit it to our shorts competition: https://www.outstandingscreenplays.com/competitions-shorts Visit our website to read screenplays of your favorite films: https://www.outstandingscreenplays.com/ #screenwriter #screenwriting #screenplay #outstandingscreenplays #film #filmmaking #cinema #movies #didyouknow #writing #writers #advice #tips #films