We were lucky to catch up with Robert Malcolm Cumming recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Robert Malcolm thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?
Last year I was cast as the lead in the feature film MOLAR. A picaresque tragicomedy following an ex-rockstar pariah through a weekend of mishaps, missteps, and wild characters as he tries to get some semblance of his life and self back. I remember going into the audition hungover and fully in character for ‘Malcolm Culdesac’ which I found so funny because I’m “Malcolm Cumming” who’s first dream was to be a rockstar. I felt in my bones that that part was mine, that there was no one else for that role, however, I lost out at first to another actor. Five months later as luck would have it, they recast 2 weeks before production and I was at the top of the list and before long, I was cast. The next 3 months of shooting was a masterclass. 130 pages where I was in practically every scene going through the gamut of emotion. Working with a team that quickly became some of my closest friends. I got to put a whole character with an entire life into being thanks to the director Jon Campbell Rose. It was just a once in a lifetime opportunity, with such a well-written script, and an unbelievably talented team.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
Oh, well… Lets get started then. I’m an actor – back in the 50’s that meant that you could sing, dance and act. Now, that means you better be able to sing, act, dance, write, direct, produce, edit, color, sound, graphic design, and most likely work two jobs while you get your auditions in on time and waylay any questions from family/friends asking when you’re going to be setting into a real career. Because even being SAG, 86% of union actors don’t qualify for health benefits, so you’re always hustling. And if you don’t take the time to create roles for yourself to show off your characters, role-types and talents, then you’ll be pigeonholed into the dreaded type-cast. A sailor who doesn’t know where they’re going can’t tell a good wind from a bad wind. So set sail, fuck around, find out, find your star and follow it where it leads. That will the be the best thing you can do: show the world firsthand what you can do simply by doing it. Start on your iPhone, a cast & crew of you and if you stick to it, a talented team as well as your own skill and confidence will build as well. That was the start of business partner Josh Maya and I’s production company SPICY JAM PRODUCTION.
I’m still very very unknown, but I’m working consistently and that is just as exhilarating as it is surprising to say. We’ve all heard success is 90% preparation and 10% luck, but what’s played the most significant role for me has truly been simply being an open, professional, and most importantly kind collaborator in any project. We’re all strangers, meeting in the dark, be a light when you can. Be someone people want to work with – I can’t tell you how many jobs I’ve been on where the single most important rule is “Don’t Be an Asshole”. You’ll enjoy your own work even more that way. Word will spread good or bad, and I think your own talent will flourish more when it doesn’t have to squeeze through the ego. Easy breezy bb.
At the end of the day, me personally, I act AND I write. I’m too impatient to wait for the next role to find me because I have a pessimism that tells me I’ll never book again, so I have to write it for myself. I love finding an idea, an image, a feeling that I can’t exorcise otherwise. I obsess until I can finally get it out of me put it on the page, film it, edit and release it. Like a fine sliver. I’m drawn mostly to darkly comedic and the sincerely absurd. I love any movie, tv show, book, song, piece of art that walks the tightrope of completely fucked, uncanny emotional uncertainty, and magic realism. There’s comfort in the ordinary, but I prefer the hope that a dash of extraordinary brings to the table. I like to think that’s what I as an actor and our projects at Spicy Jam can do as well.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
Honestly, it’s just my absolute favorite thing in the world to do. I’d be acting & writing even without the money (and I often have). For whatever reason, I love wrestling with these dreams and brining them out into the light. Sometimes the world is much too much to process and leaves you feeling powerless. These little stories, these performances, these productions bring a sort of catharsis to you and hopefully in the end, a catharsis for the audiences. As the iconic Nicole Kidman says “heartbreak feels good in a place like this.” It’s ridiculous and hilarious and we all roll our eyes every time, but we keep coming back because hard as it is to admit – it’s true.
Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?
Hmmm… I’ll just leave it with a list of current favorites for me. I can’t stop listening to the entire discography of the band Timber Timbre and Earl Sweatshirts’ new album Noir Dire. My favorite books recently have been “The Vine that Ate the South” by J.D. Wilkes (thank you Bailey for your recommendation), “Demon Copperhead” by Barbara Kinsolver (so badass) and then The Shining by Stephen King on audio book – that shit had me walking around in the daylight feeling like the whole world was a thin veil hiding a dark past that was going to lure me in (it still might). As for TV – I’m rewatching LOTR Rings of Power, which needs no explanation it’s so great and Samurai Jack (because it’s stunning). As for movies, I’ve been looking backwards a little bit and both versions of Suspira (Argento & Guadagnino) are phenomenal but Guadagnino’s is just brilliant. Then David Mamet’s “House of Games” has been one of the most entertaining, grounded yet playful movies i’ve seen in a while. These have me in a chokehold for various reasons.
Now, after finishing a grungy western romance “ROYAL COUNTRY”, an arthouse medieval horror ‘KNIGHT” and an experimental dark comedy “I LOVE ROCKS: a self help guide to self destruction”, my interest are currently point me towards motorcycles, badlands, volatile love and pulp. So, keep a look out for SPICY JAM’s upcoming projects “PUDDLE WITH GOOSE” directed by Jon Campbell Rose, starring Michelle Bachelor & myself, and “LIVE LAUGH LOVE” written by Josh Maya and myself.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.spicyjamproduction.com
- Instagram: @Malcolm.url
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-malcolm-cumming-a9917968/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCazEd3b_Lp0Q4qdGxIwUKag
- Other: Music: https://open.spotify.com/track/2Is3lkgKxpsfYaojN7xCLy?si=7dbc24af5cce4a93 https://open.spotify.com/artist/4J03uK4JOFR3CyuAokXea3?si=kTcvaDFlQXeoQVAcW5nYRQ https://open.spotify.com/artist/0JQ3L4JSVTXjd19q910caP?si=WownTyx_QJCdOdGy7miokg
Image Credits
image credits to: Danny Corey, Jon Campbell Rose, Drew Ganyer