About

BIO

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J.T. Cummins (aka James Cummins) is an American suspense, fantasy and horror author and screenwriter who utilizes internet distribution to micro-publish his fast-paced, short enovels directly to econsumers everywhere.

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By coupling the active voice and minimal exposition of the screenplay with the narrative conventions of the novel, Cummins produces lean, mean, mind’s eye movies designed to be read in about the same time it takes to watch a feature length motion picture. This technique provides digital consumers with an exciting reading experience specifically geared to their electronic devices, and busy, modern day lifestyles.

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Cummins studied art and film/video at the California Institute of the Arts under the only full character animation scholarship awarded by the Walt Disney Company during the institute’s 1978-79 academic year.

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J.T. Cummins’ early career was as a conceptual illustrator, sculptor and special make-up effects artist for film and television, notably The Thing, House, Strange Invaders, and Enemy Mine. Frustrated by the way his work was being presented on film, Cummins left the effects industry in 1990 to establish himself as a screenwriter and director with the horror movie classic The Boneyard, followed by Dark:30, and Harbinger.

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Early in 2002, Cummins’ life took a dramatic turn as a direct result of open heart surgery to replace a defective mitral valve. During his recuperation, and in recognition of the debt he felt he owed the Los Angeles branch of the American Heart Association for providing information that helped save his life, Cummins wrote and illustrated the inspirational picture book for all ages Good Things to Share. Through book sales, bookstore signings, school appearances, and special AHA fundraising events, Cummins raised and donated proceeds to benefit the organization’s venerable children’s health education program Jump Rope For Heart. JRFH reaches over 5 million elementary school children every year, and since its inception 25 years ago, has raised over $325 million for research against heart disease and stroke.

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A prolific writer with a D.I.Y. aesthetic, Cummins carved out a niche for himself early in the ebook revolutioin by self-publishing efiction exclusively for the digital market. His extensive backlist includes the bestselling mystery Cobblestones, and the horror-adventure The Jitters.  His suspenseful enovels are all available for digital download in the most popular formats for a wide range of ereading devices at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Smashwords.

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FILMOGRAPHY

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DIRECTOR

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1997 HARBINGER (Filmwave Entertainment) - Director.

1993 DARK:30 (Grand Am) - Director.

1990 THE BONEYARD (Prism Entertainment) - Director.

1983 STRANGE INVADERS (Orion) - Second Unit Director.

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SPECIAL MAKE-UP EFFECTS

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1990 THE BONEYARD (Cori Film) - Dir. James Cummins. FX co-creator.

1989 SPEAK OF THE DEVIL (New World) - Dir. Raphael Nussbaum. FX creator.

1989 SLUMBER PARTY MASSACRE II (Concord) - Dir. Deborah Brock. FX creator.

1988 HITCHHIKER (HBO) - Dir. Philip Noyce. Key: S. Dupuis. “Nightshift” ep.

1988 DEEP STAR SIX (New World) - Dir. Sean Cunningham. Key: KNB. Sculptor.

1987 TWILIGHT ZONE (CBS) - Dir. Bradford May. FX creator “Gramma” episode.

1987 GARBAGE PAIL KIDS (Atlantic) - Dir. R. Amateau. Key: J. Buechler. Sculptor.

1986 ENEMY MINE (Fox) - Dir. Wolgang Peterson. Key: Chris Walas. Sculptor.

1986 STAR TREK: VOYAGE HOME (Paramount) - Dir. L. Nimoy. Concept (unused).

1986 ELVIRA: (New World) - Dir. J. Signorelli. Concept design.

1985 HOUSE (New World) - Dir. Steve Miner. FX creator.

1984 COCOON (Fox) - Dir. Ron Howard. FX storyboard illustration.

1984 MR. SMITH (Paramount) - Dir. Edward Weinberger. Sculptor.

1984 JAWS 3D (Universal) - Dir. Joe Alves. Sculptor.

1983 ALIEN PREDATOR (Transworld) - Dir. Deran Serafian. FX creator.

1983 STRANGE INVADERS (Orion) - Dir. Michael Laughlin. FX creator.

1982 THE THING (Universal) - Dir. John Carpenter. Key: Rob Bottin. Sculptor.

1982 HEARTBEEPS (Universal) - Dir. A. Arkush. Key: Stan Winston. Concept.

1981 INTRUDER WITHIN (ABC) - Dir. Peter Clark. FX creator.

1980 CAT PEOPLE (Universal) - Dir. Paul Schrader. Key: Tom Burman. Sculptor.

1979 DEAD & BURIED (Avco) - Dir. G. Sherman. Key: Stan Winston. Lab.

1979 EXTERMINATOR (Avco) - Dir. J. Glickenhaus. Key: Stan Winston. Lab.

1979 THE BEAST WITHIN (United Artists) - Dir. P. Mora. Key: Tom Burman. Lab.

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SCREENWRITER

(Does not include optioned specs)

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2007 THE BONEYARD 2 - Commissioned screenplay.

2005 MINUS FOUR a.k.a. 4BELOW (Film 101) - Spec screenplay.

2002 AT ALL COST (Marilyn Spielburg Prods.) - Commissioned rewrite.

1999 MARVIN MONSTER HUNTER (Gary Coleman Prods.) - T.V. treatment.

1997 HARBINGER (Atmosphere Ent.) - Spec screenplay (produced).

1996 WARHED (Burg Film) - Commissioned screenplay.

1995 THE DUMMY (Prism Ent.) - Commissioned rewrite.

1994 ME & THE GODS (Proto Ent.) - Commissioned rewrite (produced).

1993 NEW-U - (Homefire Ent.) - T.V. pilot teleplay (produced).

1993 THE SOOPER POODLES (Amazing Movies) - Commissioned screenplay.

1992 DARK:30 (Grand Am) - Spec Screenplay (produced).

1990 THE BONEYARD (Cori Film) - Spec screenplay (produced).

1987 LIGHTS OUT (Ambush Ent.) - Spec screenplay.

1987 SHADOW OF MAN (Cori Film & Television) - Spec screenplay.

1986 THE FIRST BEST STEP (Off The Pier Productions) - Spec screenplay.

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AUTHOR

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2010 WINSTROM (PopPix, fantasy and adventure) - Evil forces marshal Halloween witches, ghosts, black cats, and assassin jack o’ lanterns in a quest to locate a destructive supernatural talisman entrusted to the unknowing, adult grandson of a powerful backwoods witch.

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2010 MINUS FOUR (PopPix, suspense) - Four friends fight for survival after their car is buried beneath a winter avalanche.

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2009 THE JITTERS (PopPix Press, horror) - In a hostile mountain wilderness, a pack of monstrous woodland creatures pursue the survivors of a private plane crash and the stranded air rescue team sent to save them.

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2009 COBBLESTONES (PopPIx Press, mystery/legal thriller) - A hotshot, Martha’s Vineyard, Deputy D.A. becomes a pawn of island politics when he’s assigned to prosecute two modern day witches accused of ritual murder.

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2002 GOOD THINGS TO SHARE (PopPix LLC, ) - Author and illustrator of thirty page, hardcover, inpirational picture book. Contains original proverbs that teach and inspire.

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MISCELLANEOUS

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2010 CARDIOVILLE - Advisor for children’s animated health advocacy television series.

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2010 HAUNTED COMPUTER COMICS - Comic book script titled Monsterthon! for the horror anthology Grave Conditions 2.

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2009 LOVE TO LOVE YOU BRADY’S: The Bizarre Story of the Brady Bunch Variety Hour (ECW Press), Authors: Ted Nichelson, Susan Olsen, Lisa Sutton - Various graphics and photo retouching.

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2002/05 AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION - Book signings, readings, school appearances, and special events utilizing Good Things To Share as a fundraiser for the children’s health education program Jump Rope For Heart.

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1983/84 HASBRO TOYS - Toy designer and sculptor.

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EDUCATION

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1978/79 CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF THE ARTS - Film/video/character animation.

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AWARDS

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THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY (Scholarship) - Received the only full scholarship for film/video/character animation awarded by the Walt Disney Company during the California Institute of the Arts’ 1978/79 academic year.

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HONORS

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FRANK R. DUARTE SCHOLARSHIP - Award donated in J.T.’s name to a deserving medical student. Sponsord by the Hispanic Festivities Committee.