Inside Murder at the Lufferton Christmas Musical: Reuben Cook on Art and Community Filmmaking
- Community Film Project
- May 15
- 3 min read
Updated: May 20
Meet Ron: The Theatre Kid With a Troublemaking Streak
Cook describes his character Ron as a teenager who thrives on humor, chaos, and pushing boundaries. “He's a prankster,” Cook said. “He gets into trouble, particularly at his highschool.”
Ron’s connection to the theatre comes through family ties, though not exactly in the warm-and-fuzzy way people might expect.
Forced into community service after an off-screen prank gone wrong, Ron ends up working at the theatre under the strict supervision of his “evil step uncle.”
Naturally, things only spiral from there.
As Detective Redding begins investigating Chad’s suspicious death, Ron uses humor as both a defense mechanism and a distraction tactic.
“Ron definitely copes with humor,” Cook explained. “And he also deflects with humor.”
That balance between comedy and emotional vulnerability gives the character a unique place within the ensemble cast. While Ron often lightens the mood, there’s also a protective instinct beneath his sarcasm and antics during the film.
“He doesn't want any of his friends at the theater to be found guilty,” Cook said. “So he's pushing the detective away as much as he can.”
“My parents are both artists and performers in their own ways,” Cook explained. “I feel very grounded when I myself am performing.”
In fact, his very first acting role came when he was still a baby.
Cook says, "I haven't seen it, but I was a baby holding a bomb detonator and the short film concept was they had to trade it out with a pickle, so I didn't blow them up."
We asked him "What would you say to younger Reuben that might be nervous about making friends on set or just 'messing up' on set, what would you say to them?
He says "I would love to highlight how much everyone on this project appreciates each other, and it's the perfect environment for lighthearted creation and also, beyond this appreciation for each other, everyone is sacrificing something for each other which is crucial to a serious production."
He continued to say "I thought they would never go with me" referring to auditions.
He continues to say "It's been such a welcoming experience."
“I love to create,”
He talked about enjoying the process of bringing a character to life and contributing to a larger vision rather than chasing some huge celebrity goal. And honestly, that attitude probably makes sense for a movie like this.
Independent productions usually survive because people care enough to keep showing up, especially on long shooting days when things inevitably get stressful or complicated.
The way Cook talks about the experience makes it sound less like a steppingstone and more like something he genuinely enjoyed being part of.
It was an honor to interview you, Reuben! See you at the premiere!
-Desiree from Community Film Project
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