Jimmy Jack, born, also credited as Jimmy the Exploder, is the nom de plume of controversial West Australian filmmaker and writer Daniel Houghton, known for his work as co-producer and writer of the 2008 filmThe Black Balloon.
The Black Balloon
Jack co-produced and wrote the screenplay for the Australian feature filmThe Black Balloon with director Elissa Down. The pair recruited Strictly Ballroom producer Tristram Miall to produce the film. The narrative is semi-autobiographical, mostly drawn from Down's childhood experiences, but she asked Jack to join her in writing the screenplay. Jack won Best Original Screenplay and Best Film at the 2008 Australian Film Institute Awards. Jack caused a minor controversy when accepting his award he read out a negative review of the film and declared "Fuck You" to the critic, for which he received a standing ovation. Jack also won the 2007 Western Australian Premier's Book Award and the 2008 Australian Writer's Guild AWGIE Award for the screenplay.
Other Film Work
In 2009 it was reported that international model Gemma Ward would be starring in Jack's next feature film Sex, Brains & Rock 'n' Roll. Jack described it as a 'zombie rockumentary' and told reporters that he was looking at Macaulay Culkin to play the other lead role. In 2010 Jack uploaded material onto a YouTube channel 'EXPLODERVISION'. The channel featured obscure videos starring himself performing mundane tasks.
Writing
Jack has contributed to publications including The Guardian. His more notable publications have been social commentary on his hometown of Perth, and an obituary for his friend artist Matt Doust.
Exhibition and Distribution
In 2010 Jack curated the John Hughes Retrospective at the Northbridge Piazza, funded by the City of Perth. 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. Jack was one of the founders of the Perth Underground Film Festival which was part of the Perth Fringe Festival in 2015.
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.
Babooshka
Jack owned Babooshka cafe in Northbridge, Western Australia. In 2015 the cafe launched a series of 'freakshakes' that went viral and received international press.
Criminal convictions
In December 2018 Jack appeared in Perth Magistrates Court on five charges including two counts of breaching protective bail conditions, disorderly behaviour in public, obstructing public officers and common assault. Jack plead guilty and received fines. From the same incident, Jack was also convicted in a District Court trial of one count of deprivation of liberty. In March 2019, Judge Ronald Birmingham sentenced him to an 18 month suspended sentence for which he may face jail time if he offends again during that period.
Jack was spoofed by Australian filmmakers Henry and Aaron in Henry & Aaron's 7 Steps to Superstardom, The Ballad of Danny Danielson 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. References
