Interview with... Gregory Scott Cummins

I first noticed my next interviewee when he appeared as one of the acrobats in Batman Returns.

Then again when I saw the Sylvester Stallone film, Cliffhanger. Most recently in The Italian Job, and into a slew of TV shows like Bones and It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia.

I'm referring to the actor, Gregory Scott Cummins.

I hope you enjoy this interview.

1. You've appeared in some major films. This must be satisfying for you as an actor.

YES, DEFINITELY. I'VE HAD LARGER AND MORE MEATY ROLES IN WHAT I'D CALL THE A-, B+, AND B FILMS. BUT IN THE MAJOR "A" GRADE FILMS, I'VE HAD OPPORTUNITIES TO SHOOT THEM IN SOME INCREDIBLE LOCATIONS AROUND THE WORLD, IN ADDITION TO WORKING WITH MANY OF THE BEST ACTORS AND DIRECTORS IN THE BUSINESS. THEY HAVE PROVIDED ME SOME AMAZING EXPERIENCES AND ADVENTURES.

2. How did you get involved with Batman Returns?

EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A SMALL ROLE, TIM BURTON HAD INTERVIEWED A LOT OF STUNT PEOPLE FOR THAT ROLE BUT WASN'T SAFISFIED. I HAD PREVIOUSLY SHOT A LEAD ROLE ON AN INDEPENDENT LOW BUDGET FILM DIRECTED BY THE 2ND UNIT (STUNT DIRECTOR) OF "BATMAN RETURNS" MAX KLEVIN. SO HE REMEMBERED MY WORK IN THE FILM I ACTED IN FOR HIM AND HE SAID TO TIME BURTON - THAT IF HE DIDN'T LIKE ME FOR THE ROLE - HE'D RESIGN (HALF JOKING I'M SURE) -SO HE TOOK ME IN TO MEET AND AUDITION FOR TIME BURTON - AND I GOT THE ROLE.

3. Did you interact much with the cast of the film, Cliffhanger?

OH YES, THIS IS ONE OF THOSE INCREDIBLE FILMS I HAVE DONE WHERE IT WAS A COMPLETE ADVENTURE - HARD DIFFICULT CONDITIONS IN THE ITALIAN ALPS - BUT ALSO THE MOST INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCES - SEEING PLACES AND LOCATIONS THAT A PERSON WOULD SPEND A FORTUNE AND HALF A LIFETIME TRYING TO VISIT. THE COMRADERIE THAT THE ENTIRE CAST DEVELOPED WAS VERY STRONG. WE ALL BECAME EXTREMELY CLOSE - BECAUSE WE WERE SHOOTING IN INCREDIBLY BEAUTIFUL - BUT RUGGED AND DANGEROUS PLACES AND CONDITIONS - SO WE ALL BONDED - LOOKED OUT FOR EACH OTHER - AND SPENT A LOT OF TIME TOGETHER. IN THOSE DAYS A 6 MONTH SHOOT WAS CONSIDERED A FAIRLY LONG ONE. TO THIS DAY, WHENEVER I RUN INTO JOHN LITHGOW, WE BOTH IMMEDIATELY REMEMBER HOW INCREDIBLE THAT EXPERIENCE WAS AND GREET EACH OTHER AS IF WE HAVE NEVER BEEN OUT OF TOUCH. JOHN LITHGOW IS ALSO ONE OF THE NICEST GUYS I HAVE EVER MET - IN OR OUT OF THE BUSINESS. AND STALLONE WAS GREAT FUN TO WORK WITH AS WELL - AN ACTING ICON WHO COULDN'T HAVE BEEN NICER OR MORE FUN TO WORK WITH.

4. You've also appeared in TV shows. Have you noticed much difference between TV and film?

GENERALLY, TV SHOWS HAVE TO SHOOT MUCH MORE QUICKLY. YOU HAVE ABOUT 7-8 DAYS TO SHOOT AN HOUR EPISODE (40-45 MINUTES MINUS COMMERCIALS ROUGHLY). FILMS CAN TAKE A LOT MORE TIME GENERALLY. OF COURSE THERE ARE BIG AND LOW BUDGET FILMS - AND ALL HAVE TIME PRESSURE - BUT TV HAS NO OPTION OF SHOOTING OVER THE SCHEDULED SHOOT DAYS. BUT AS AN ACTOR PLAYING DIFFERENT CHARACTERS - THERE'S NO MAJOR DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FILM AND TV - IT'S ALL ACTING - A LOT OF VERY HARD WORK - AND SOMETIMES A LOT OF FUN MIXED IN.

5. Please describe your work on the Buffy TV series.

ALWAYS FUN TO HAVE THEM DRESS ME UP AS A VAMPIRE - WITH THE FANGS! IT'S LIKE PLAY ACTING WHEN WE WERE KIDS RUNNING AROUND AND HAVING FUN - OR WEARING A NEAT HALLOWEEN COSTUME.

6. What was the appeal of appearing on Buffy?

THIS SHOW HAD A HUGE FOLLOWING, AND I ALWAYS LOOK FOR WORK WITH THE BIG HIT TV SHOWS. I'VE BEEN AMAZED AT THE FOLLOWING THAT SHOW STILL HAS TO THIS DAY, AND THAT'S PRETTY COOL.

7. What would be your ideal role?

OH BOY, I'VE BEEN PLAYING A LOT OF BAD GUYS FOR YEARS - BECAUSE I KIND OF TYPE CAST MYSELF IN THE BEGINNING OF MY CAREER IN ORDER TO GET CASTING DIRECTORS TO REMEMBER ME. IT WAS CONFUSING FOR THEM WHEN I WOULD SHOW UP IN TWO VISITS LOOKING AND SPEAKING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. MANY TIMES THEY WOULDN'T EVEN RECOGNIZE ME THE SECOND VISIT BECAUSE I'M KIND OF LIKE A CHAMELEON - AND CAN CHANGE MY APPEARANCE GREATLY - AND MY VOICE AND BODY MOVEMENTS ETC. SO RIGHT NOW - I WOULD LIKE A CHANCE TO SHAVE AND CUT MY HAIR AND PLAY A REGULAR RUNNING ROLE ON A HIT TV SERIES. IT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE A CONSISTENT JOB AND EVERYTHING THAT COMES WITH THAT. I'VE ALWAYS WORKED A LOT - BUT IT CAN BE EXHAUSTING RUNNING FROM ONE PROJECT TO ANOTHER TO ANOTHER - AND AUDITIONING A LOT IN BETWEEN. IT CAN WEAR YOU OUT. IT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE A CHANCE TO JUST WORK WITHOUT HAVING TO DO SO MUCH WORK TO GET WORK. I WOULD LOVE HAVING A RUNNING ROLE ON A COMEDY AS WELL.
ADDITIONALLY, I ALSO LOOK FORWARD TO THE OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE MY OWN ROLES IN MY OWN FILMS. I HOPE TO START DOING THAT SOON.

8. What's coming up next for you?

THAT'S THE NEAT THING ABOUT MY JOB - RIGHT NOW - I'M LOOKING FOR MY NEXT JOB - AND THAT MAKES EVERY DAY A CHALLENGE - BUT ALSO EXCITING. I NEVER KNOW WHAT'S COMING UP NEXT - UNTIL A JOB COMES - AND THEN IT'S ALWAYS A HUGE RUSH.

9. Is there an event or charity you would like to bring to my readers' attention?

I SUPPORT POLICE AND FIREFIGHTER HELP FUNDS - AS WELL AS CANCER RESEARCH.

I want to thank Gregory for his time and enthusiasm on this interview. It made it a lot of fun to do and I wish him all the best with his future projects.




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Until next time!