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You’re Friendly Neighbourhood Assassin

You’re Friendly Neighbourhood Assassin

He was an extreme sports influencer with a passion for charity—so how did he end up behind the scope of a sniper rifle, crosshairs locked on one of Australia’s most feared underworld figures?

On a warm summer night at the Perth Motorplex, in front of hundreds of bystanders, one of the most powerful figures in the Australian underworld, Nick Martin, was shot dead by a sniper. Within days, an international manhunt began, becoming one of the biggest police operations in Australian history. A million-dollar reward was announced, and the Federal Police, Interpol, and the FBI all joined the search. Exactly 125 days after the killing, the police swooped in.

But the man they arrested wasn’t what anyone expected – Benjamin ‘BJ’ Johnston. He ran a small coffee van in his local community, freely gave his time to help others, and loved showcasing his base-jumping adventures on camera.

Documentarian Jake Blackburn had been filming BJ as a base jumper — now, he’s interviewing him inside a prison cell. As BJ prepares to give evidence against a leading bikie at an upcoming trial, Jake pieces together the story of Australia’s most unlikely sniper, with help from BJ’s family, friends, and ex-wife.

How does a big-hearted base jumper end up staring through the scope of a sniper rifle? And now that he’s agreed to testify, what does his future hold?

Project Team Member(s)

Jake Blackburn

Director

Project Info

Project Status

Development

Duration

90 Minutes

Country of Production

Est. Completion

2027

Production Company