The following is an interview with actor Russell Cummings, who plays Elias on the Crypt web series, The Sunny Family Cult. In this interview, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief Barbra Dillon chats with Cummings about his approach to his character, what he is looking forward to about Season 3, his upcoming projects, and more!
Barbra Dillon, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief: The third season of your web series, The Sunny Family Cult, will soon be launching on Crypt. For our readers who may be unfamiliar, what can you tell us about the premise of the series?
Russell Cummings: A decades-dormant cult comes back to life by my character Elias as the leader. The power and leadership is being handed down to my daughter Taylor (Trew Mullen). The series reveals the brutal conditions and rules that the “family” has to live by and the struggle that my daughter Taylor is dealing with. Does she want to be the leader of this violent, but family-oriented, cult? Or does she want to live a “normal” life?
BD: What can you share with us about your approach to the character of Elias, your creative process in preparing for the role, and your experience in working with the cast and crew?
RC: Elias is one of the most interesting characters I’ve played. On one hand, he’s a charismatic, articulate, loving leader of this community. But on the other hand, he’s a stone-cold killer. What a person would not be able to comprehend is the vulnerability that is inside the heart of Elias. He loves his daughter and wants to protect her, her emotions, and her ability to lead a normal life. But he also had the uncommon responsibility of sending his daughter down a brutal, destructive path. How do you condition one’s daughter, someone you love more than life itself, to be a unrepentant murderer. Luckily, I have an insightful director in Gabriel Younes who allows me to mature into the character of Elias while lending me his vision of who Elias could and should be. Trew Mullen (Taylor) who plays my daughter, from the moment I met her, I bonded with her emotionally and that rendered it easy to play her father. Stefanie Estes who plays the role of my wife Karen is a wonderful actress and a true professional and the adhesive in the series that keeps the family together. I think series had been such a hit because of the style and visuals created by the amazing make-up and costume departments.
BD: The web series is headed into its third season with a very enthusiastic fanbase. How would you describe your interactions with fans of the show, and what do you think most strongly connects viewers to the characters and storylines?
RC: Most of our viewers are younger and are true fans of the horror genre who, of course, understand that this is entertainment. But I feel that the fans appreciate the story line of the sensibility and conflict of Elias and Taylor’s complicated relationship, and yet the terror of living in a cult.
BD: What are you most looking forward to about season 3?
RC: I cant wait to find out how Taylor escapes the clutches of her abductor and how Elias will deal with the situation.
BD: Are there any other projects on which you are currently working that you would like to share with our readers?
RC: I’ve recently been cast in the crime/action drama, Rip Tide, starring Val Kilmer and Mina Suvari, and the comedy Greene Rush shooting in Austin, TX. Also, look for me starring in the grindhouse spaghetti western, 6 Bullets to Hell, that just came out on DVD!
BD: Lastly, what would you like to tell fans who want to learn more about The Sunny Family Cult?
RC: I appreciate the dedication and to stay tuned. Go to Facebook or YouTube and learn all about The Sunny Family Cult. I guarantee them a nail-biting experience!
