Maxwell Cunningham, from Los Angeles, California, is an up-and-coming actor and producer, making waves in the industry. From Top Dog to One More Time, Cunningham takes acting to the next level. In A Life’s Worth, the six-part drama series he starred in recently, he explores new emotional horizons. Beyond acting, Cunningham has also utilised his talent in producing. In this interview, Maxwell discusses his projects and how he has navigated his characters, stories, and career.

Janae McIntosh: You recently filmed Season 1 of “A Life’s Worth.” Can you tell me about your experience filming this show?
Maxwell Cunningham: It was honestly one of the most rewarding projects I’ve ever worked on, and not just because I got to wear a bulletproof vest and a barret. It was intense, both physically and emotionally. We went through a boot camp that was so realistic, I would wake up in the middle of the night, months later, and start saluting our major. But honestly, the real weight of it came from portraying actual events. We weren’t just playing soldiers; we were honouring people who lived through something unimaginable. That responsibility sticks with you.

JM: What were some things you relied on to help you get closer to Forss, your character on “A Life’s Worth”?
MC: Honestly, the biggest source was the real veterans themselves. Many of us had the honour of meeting the veterans who actually served in the battalion in which we adapted into the series. The Yugoslavian war was less than 30 years ago, so these brave men and women who served are still relatively young, sharp, and they have this quiet strength that makes you realise, ‘Oh… I better not screw this up.’ We read many books about the subject, and I watched as much wartime footage as I could stomach. I even went to Bosnia myself along with a group of veterans. But it was the boot camp, the infamous boot camp, that really brought it home. One week of Hell. It helped us understand a fraction of what these guys went through, and that was enough to keep us sort of grounded.

JM: You are also a producer. What inspired you to take that step in film producing?
MC: I just really, really love film. It’s my true passion. My only obsession. I feel like I carry it with me everywhere I go, like a perfume. After a dear friend of mine, Lucas Lynggaard Tønnesen, told me his friend, a director in Copenhagen, had an insane film idea, I wanted to play a part in realising it. The film I executively produced is called RECKLESS. It just came into a few cool festivals, and we’ll be premiering it this fall.

JM: Do you have any future projects you mind talking about, or maybe something you are looking forward to?
MC: I have a film coming out later this year called Mecenaten, or ‘The Art Patron’ in English. It’s a suspense drama, starring me, Lucas Lynggaard Tønnesen and Carla Sehn, and it's about two best friends who study together at an art school. When they meet a young hip art patron who sells them a dream, their friendship gets put to the test, and things quickly begin to spiral. I also just finished filming a film called In Starland, my first time shooting in the U.S, and the first time I’ve worked on a US production. It was beautiful, and I still can’t believe I got to be a part of it. We were in coastal Mississippi for like 6 weeks, having an absolute blast. I can’t speak about anything in detail. But I have a feeling it’ll be a topic of discussion when it comes out. Clarence Maclin, the star of this film, is just phenomenal.

JM: Lastly, are there some films that heavily influence your work?
MC: I’m still very new at this. I feel like I’m experimenting a lot, finding my voice, as they say. I’m always drawn to performances that are like when you watch a magician on stage. I’ve been watching a lot of John Cassavetes movies lately. Some of the films he made with his wife, such as A Woman Under the Influence, Gloria, or Opening Night, are really jaw-dropping in a lot of ways.