Jimmy Jack

Jimmy Jack, born 1978 (age 44–45), also credited as Jimmy the Exploder, is the nom de plume of screenwriter Daniel Houghton, best known for the 2008 film The Black Balloon.

This article is about the Australian filmmaker and writer. For the song by the White Stripes, see The White Stripes (album).

Jimmy Jack
Born
Daniel Houghton

1978
OccupationScreenwriter
Years active2006-present
Notable workThe Black Balloon

The Black Balloon

Jack (credited as Jimmy The Exploder) co-produced and co-wrote the screenplay for the Australian feature film The Black Balloon with director Elissa Down. The duo recruited Strictly Ballroom producer Tristram Miall as producer. The narrative is semi-autobiographical, mostly drawn from Down's childhood experiences, but she asked Jack to join her in writing the screenplay.[1][2]

Jack and Down won Best Original Screenplay for the script at the 2008 Australian Film Institute Awards.[3] Jack caused a minor controversy when, accepting his award, he read out a negative review of the film and said "fuck you" to the critic, for which he received a standing ovation.[4][5]

Jack also shared with Down the 2007 Western Australian Premier's Book Award[6] and the 2008 Australian Writer's Guild AWGIE Award[7] for the screenplay.

Other film work

In 2009 it was reported that international model Gemma Ward (who acted in The Black Balloon) would be starring in Jack's next feature film Sex, Brains & Rock 'n' Roll.[8] Jack described it as a 'zombie rockumentary' and told reporters that he was looking at Macaulay Culkin to play the other lead role.[8] The film was not made. Jack is working on two projects currently in development, a Smashing Pumpkins documentary titled The Arising and a film called Luka Magic.[9]

Writing

Jack (as Jimmy The Exploder) has contributed to publications including The Guardian. His more notable publications have been social commentary on his hometown of Perth,[10] and an obituary for his friend artist Matt Doust.[11]

Exhibition work and distribution company

In 2010 Jack curated the John Hughes Retrospective at the Northbridge Piazza, funded by the City of Perth.[12]

In 2013 Jack founded the film sales and distribution company Video Archives. The company was named after the video store Quentin Tarantino worked at in Los Angeles before his career took off.[13]

Jack was one of the founders of the Perth Underground Film Festival (PUFF) which was part of the Perth Fringe Festival in 2015.[14]

Henry Saw and the Museum of Perth

In 2015 Jack worked together with a group of prominent Western Australians to found the Museum of Perth. Jack owned Henry Saw cafe which was neighbours with the museum and named after the grocer who first roasted coffee beans in Perth.[15]

Controversy

In December 2018 Jack (under his real name Daniel Houghton) appeared in Perth Magistrates Court on various charges related to a domestic incident with his then 21-year-old girlfriend, for which Jack was later convicted.[16][17] He was also convicted in a district court on another count related to the same incident. In March 2019, Judge Ronald Birmingham issued a fully suspended custodial sentence to Jack. However, he was issued with a lifetime restraining order and fined a total of $5000 (of which $3000 was to be paid to his former girlfriend as compensation).[18][19] Judge Birmingham also described Houghton as "a very capable and successful person".[20]

Jack was allegedly spoofed by Australian filmmakers Henry and Aaron in Henry & Aaron's 7 Steps to Superstardom[21], The Ballad of Danny Danielson[22] and Henry & Aaron’s ABC2 Xmas Quickie. Their main character Danny "The Dynamite" Danielson was based on Jack's pseudonym Jimmy The Exploder, and their experiences working with him. Perth actor James Helm plays Danny Danielson.[23]

References
  1. "INTERVIEW: JIMMY JACK". Film and Television Institute. 11 May 2008. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  2. Lynden, Barber (26 January 2008). "Mirth and melancholy". The Australian. Retrieved 14 August 2008.
  3. "Past Awards". www.aacta.org. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
  4. Maddox, Emily Dunn and Garry (8 December 2008). "I'd just like to spank my critics". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  5. Jimmy The Exploder banned AFI speech, archived from the original on 21 December 2021, retrieved 17 March 2020
  6. "Leake, George, (1856–24 June 1902), Premier and Attorney-General of Western Australia", Who Was Who, Oxford University Press, 1 December 2007, doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.u188069
  7. "In the Underbelly of the AWGIEs". IF Magazine. 16 August 2008. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  8. Pepper, Daile (12 May 2009). "Gemma Ward set to star in Jack's zombie movie". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  9. "Jimmy the Exploder". imdb.com. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  10. Exploder, Jimmy The (4 March 2014). "Mate, Perth is not a hipster city | Jimmy The Exploder". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  11. Exploder, Jimmy The (4 September 2013). "Matt Doust: a tribute". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  12. "JOHN HUGHES RETROSPECTIVE // SCIENCE UNDER THE STARS // CUT & PASTE DVD". Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  13. "Perth film distributor Video Archives to release Australian horror film Jugular". IF Magazine. 27 February 2014. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  14. "Perth film buffs get a timely dose of PUFF". WAtoday. 12 February 2015. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  15. "History in making for museum". The West Australian. 8 July 2015. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  16. "Perth filmmaker Jimmy the Exploder facing jail time". The West Australian. 1 February 2019. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
  17. Menagh, Joanna (1 February 2019). "A decade after his award-winning film The Black Balloon, Jimmy Jack faces jail for abusing girlfriend". ABC News. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
  18. "Perth filmmaker 'Jimmy the Exploder' facing jail time over 'disgraceful' rampage". www.news.com.au. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
  19. Menagh, Joanna (29 March 2019). "Award-winning Australian filmmaker walks free after 'terrifying, deplorable' treatment of girlfriend". ABC News. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
  20. "Filmmaker Daniel Houghton receives 18-month suspended jail sentence for abusing girlfriend". www.abc.net.au. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
  21. Henry & Aaron's 7 Steps - Episode 1 - Adopt Foreign Orphans, archived from the original on 21 December 2021, retrieved 18 March 2020
  22. The Ballad of Danny Danielson - PART 1, archived from the original on 21 December 2021, retrieved 18 March 2020
  23. "WA comic duo Henry and Aaron celebrate Xmas Quickie". The West Australian. 9 December 2013. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
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