James Thomas Cummins has been involved in all phases of the motion
picture industry. Starting in 1980 as an illustrator and continuing as
a special effects designer and, ultimately, screenwriter and director.
Studying Film/Video and Character Animation at the California Institute
of the Arts, he was awarded the only full scholarship granted by the
"Walt Disney Company" during the Institute's 1978-79 academic year.
Prior to his screen-writing and directing assignments, Cummins was
responsible for designing and executing the special make-up effects for
New World Pictures House - Das Horrorhaus (1985), Orion's
Das Geheimnis von Centreville (1983), ABC's
Targoor - Reise ins Grauen (1981),
as well as television episodes of
Unbekannte Dimensionen (1985)
and Hitchhiker - Unglaubliche Geschichten (1983). He
also made design and sculpting contributions to such major motion
pictures as: Enemy Mine - Geliebter Feind (1985),
Katzenmenschen (1982),
Das Ding aus einer anderen Welt (1982),
Cocoon (1985),
DeepStar Six: Das Grauen in der Tiefe (1989),
Der weiße Hai 3 (1983),
Zurück in die Gegenwart (1986),
Tot & begraben (1981),
Das Engelsgesicht - Drei Nächte des Grauens (1982),
Elvira - Herrscherin der Dunkelheit (1988),
Herzquietschen (1981) and
Der Exterminator (1980).
His credits as a writer-director include Atmosphere Entertainment's
Harbinger (1996), Grand AM's
Dark:30 (1993), and Prism Entertainment's
The Boneyard (1991), starring
Phyllis Diller and the late
Norman Fell.
As a direct result of open heart surgery early in 2002, he created and
illustrated "Good Things To Share", an inspirational picture book for
all ages, starring cartoon tyke, "Little Doodle". Benefiting directly
from the work of the American Heart Association, Mr. Cummins donates a
portion of all sales from "Good Things To Share" to the organization's
children's health programs, including "Jump Rope For Heart".
