Vision becoming reality: ABQ-based filmmaker Justin R. Romine brings 'It Came Out of the Sky' to life

May 10—Justin R. Romine constantly has ideas running through his head.

As a writer/director in film, this is a good problem to have.

His latest film, "It Came Out of the Sky," began to take shape during the early days of the pandemic.

"I had an idea of a movie that I wanted to do about an Uber driver that was a serial killer," he says. "I also wanted to do a UFO or sci-fi movie."

Romine took a couple years for the two ideas to be woven together. By July 2023, he was writing the script.

In October 2023, filming began.

"It Came Out of the Sky" tells the story of Detective Jensen, who one night, receives a call, informing him that Barney, who had been missing for six weeks, has finally been found.

He drives to the man's house to investigate.

Jensen learns that Barney had been driving home from bowling when he woke up six weeks later in Dulce, two and a half hours away, wearing only his underwear.

When Jensen asks Barney about his last memory before waking up, Barney says he saw a bright light and that it came from out of the sky.

Meanwhile, Luna, a pretty young woman working as a ride-share driver, is apparently giving partygoers rides home, but these same people mysteriously go missing that same night. Jensen's inquiries lead him to Luna as a possible source of information on the case.

It is set out on an exciting tour through New Mexico's enigmatic landscape, where UFO sightings abound.

Romine says the film follows Detective Jensen as he explores the mysterious world of extraterrestrial encounters.

Romine also plans the film to be a trilogy.

Production took place in Albuquerque.

The detective scenes were filmed at Story Quest Studios, and a few scenes were shot in an apartment and a house.

"We shot one quick scene around Central and Carlisle, near Silver," Romine says. "The final scene was filmed at my house."

The film is in its last stage of post-production, Romine says.

He has also started a Kickstarter campaign to put the final pieces together.

"We did this film with a New Mexico crew and it's been an amazing journey," he says. "The film is left for people to want more and two more sequels are planned out."

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