Illinois Native Readying His Movie Premiere in Home-State

A filmmaker from Illinois is readying the premiere of his newest feature in his home-state, as part of the film's tour across the country in various screenings.

Meet Jack Martin, a Downers Grove, IL native, who has been making short films for many years. He's worked on big-budget movies like Godzilla vs. Kong and Pacific Rim Uprising, and he's seen tremendous success on the short film circuit too. His short film Manhunt was a 2019 Film Pipeline Finalist. Now, his latest, Bolt from the Blue, shot in the state of Alaska, is about to be screened at an iconic suburban theater just outside of Chicago.

I caught up with Jack Martin, who now lives in Los Angeles, on the phone ahead of the film's premiere. Bolt from the Blue will be screened at the Tivoli Theatre in Downers Grove on Sunday, September 15th at 5pm. Tickets are available now, and Martin couldn't be more excited to bring his work home.

Here's the plot of Bolt from the Blue:

An overlooked engineer is sent to Alaska to scope out an eccentric scientist's claim that capturing lightning can be a new source of renewable energy. - per IMDb

Although he resides in Los Angeles, Martin is a tried and true Midwestern kid. He spoke about fond memories of him and his brothers (Kevin Michael Martin serving as the lead in Bolt from the Blue) grabbing video cameras and making up their own stories on the fly. Martin added that he sees himself as a filmmaker who makes movies for those in the Midwest: big, fun, family friendly popcorn movies with strong messages and a big heart.

Bolt from the Blue carries the themes of unpredictable weather and climate change along with it, but Martin urges the film is a "beacon of hope in an otherwise stressful world." One look at the poster on the film's IMDb page gives you the impression it'll be an enjoyable diversion from the hectic world in which we live.

In addition to its screenings across the country, Bolt from the Blue will see a release on Amazon Prime on September 27th. However, obviously if you have the opportunity to see it in a theater, you should support it and support a local artist coming back home.

Take a listen to my interview with filmmaker Jack Martin below. Follow Martin on his Instagram and his personal website, where you can also learn more about Bolt from the Blue!