BTL Radio Show - 07/14/2025 with R.T. THORNE talking 40 ACRES and JOHNNY MARTIN discussing OFF THE GRID

Took a little 4th of July break last Monday, but we’re back this week with two interesting interviews talking about some impactful and entertaining films: the character-driven post-apocalyptic thriller 40 ACRES with director R.T. THORNE, and the action thriller OFF THE GRID with director JOHNNY MARTIN.

First up, let’s take a look at R.T. Thorne’s narrative feature directorial debut, 40 ACRES. A bold, no-holds-barred action-thriller from debut filmmaker R.T. Thorne, 40 ACRES is set in a famine-decimated near future where a former soldier and her family struggle to safeguard their farm as they make one last stand against a vicious militia hell-bent on taking their land.

Co-written by Thorne together with Glenn Taylor and Lora Campbell, 40 ACRES stars, among others, Danielle Deadwyler, Kataem O’Connor, Michael Greyeyes, and Milcania Diaz-Rojas.

As you'll hear, R.T. emphasizes the film's character-driven narrative centered on a mother-son relationship and the broader family story. Exploring themes of survival, trust, and cultural preservation, set against a post-apocalyptic backdrop, he highlights the importance of historical knowledge and cultural practices for the family’s resilience. The film’s visual style, enhanced by cinematographer Jeremy Benning and production designer Peter Cosco, creates a rich, immersive world. The score, composed by Todor Kobakov, adds to the film’s tension and energy. Thorne also credits his editors, Sandy Pereira and Dev Singh, for their crucial role in the film’s success.

Shifting gears, we move on to a fun interview with director JOHNNY MARTIN talking about his new film OFF THE GRID, in which he takes Macgyvering to a new level.

OFF THE GRID is the story of Guy, a man who has gone “off the grid.” But why? After a morally bankrupt company tries to weaponize a brilliant scientist’s revolutionary technology, he goes off the grid to safeguard humanity. When the company sends a strike force to find him, they make their biggest mistake of all – they weaponize the man they are trying to catch. Armed with unrivaled brains and brawn, the wild genius turns Guerrilla warfare into a deadly science.

Directed by JOHNNY MARTIN with script by Jim Agnew, OFF THE GRID stars Josh Duhamel, Greg Kinnear, Peter Stormare, Maria Elsa Camargo, and a breakout performance by Michael Zapesotsky.

In this exclusive conversation, Johnny breaks down OFF THE GRID piece by piece, starting with his desire to create an action movie without guns, focusing instead on the lead character of Guy and his use of unconventional “MacGyvered” weapons, all of which were handmade by Johnny and Josh Duhamel to ensure they would work within the film construct. Approaching this with an observational nature and the importance of location as a character, Johnny details the casting process, particularly with Greg Kinnear and Michael Zapesotsky, and the challenges of filming in Mississippi’s dense forest from a character standpoint. Logistically, Johnny discusses his collaboration with cinematographer David Stragmeister in developing the film’s visual grammar and celebrating the small-town intimacy that Clinton, Mississippi, provided. He also highlights the editing process and working with editor Vincent Tabaillon, who is perhaps best known for action and building tension in films like "Taken 2", "Transporter 2", "Escape Plan 2: Hades", and "Clash of the Titans". Also important to OFF THE GRID is the work of composer Frederik Wiedmann.

By maintaining a commitment to authenticity and practical storytelling, Johnny and his team behind the lens and in front of it created a deeply immersive experience that makes the OFF THE GRID world feel tangible and real.