Filmmakers Jim Cummings, PJ McCabe, and Thomas Cross have joined forces to establish a new independent production studio named Cool & Happy Limited. With Cummings and McCabe taking on the roles of chief creatives and Cross leading production, the trio brings a wealth of experience to their latest venture.
Having collaborated for eight years, the team has transitioned from creating shorts to producing three feature films: 'Thunder Road,' 'The Wolf of Snow Hollow,' and 'The Beta Test.' The challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and recent Hollywood labor strikes prompted the trio to reevaluate their priorities and focus on working with like-minded individuals.
Cool & Happy Limited aims to create authentic, well-crafted films tailored for cinema enthusiasts. One of their key strengths lies in their ability to self-finance and self-distribute, a strategy they believe represents the future of filmmaking. By balancing larger projects with smaller, self-distributed films, the studio intends to maintain creative control while engaging directly with their audience.
Cummings emphasizes the importance of producing content rather than relying solely on production services, highlighting the studio's commitment to staying agile and authentic in their approach. Their debut short comedy film, 'The Last Brunch,' premiered at SXSW, signaling a promising start for Cool & Happy Limited. Additionally, the studio has another completed short film in the pipeline, with plans to secure festival screenings later this year.
