Private Project

Awaiting the Lightning Bolt

In Awaiting the Lightning Bolt, Renato, an eccentric Renaissance inventor, dares the impossible: capturing a lightning bolt in a jar!
Fuelled by ambition and defying the skepticism of his peers, he races against time in a thrilling journey, where each storm offers an extraordinary glimpse into the mysteries of nature and the power of love.

  • Marco Russo
    Director
  • Marco Russo
    Writer
  • Matt Loveridge
    Music
    Lloyd Of The Flies, Rendezvous With The Future, Jagged Honeycomb, Ready Eddie Go
  • Lupo Misrachi
    Key Cast
    "Renato, Mother"
    Morte a Brocéliande, Against the Wind, Vikings
  • Lorenzo Ferrero
    Key Cast
    "Priest"
  • Project Type:
    Animation, Short, Student
  • Genres:
    Comedy, Drama, animation, fantasy
  • Runtime:
    4 minutes 14 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    June 20, 2024
  • Country of Origin:
    Italy
  • Country of Filming:
    United Kingdom
  • Language:
    English
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes - Aardman Academy
Director Biography - Marco Russo

Marco Russo is a writer, director and animator.
He started his career as a comic book writer, working with publishers such as Les Éditions Dupuis and Panini Comics, in Italy, France and Belgium.
He studied film-making at Stockholms Filmskola and directed some live-action short films.
In 2024, he attended the Aardman Academy, where he crafted and directed “Awaiting the Lightning Bolt”, a short film in stop-motion animation.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

I made this film because I have tried to catch a lightning bolt myself, and perhaps I’m still trying.
The true motivations behind this story revealed themselves over time. It all started with a phrase uttered by a friend: 'to be struck by lightning' means to fall in love but also to find what you are looking for—something that gives you a reason to live. The idea of battling the elements to capture your reason for living fascinated me.
Gradually, the concept shifted towards personal experiences: the loss of my father and the realization that I would do anything to save him. The lightning bolt then transformed into a representation of life itself.
Thus, Renato was born: an eccentric inventor willing to do anything to save the people he loves. He must overcome not only the forces of nature but also the ignorance of his time, a theme that became an important part of the story, partly inspired by stereotypes from my own country, Italy.
'Awaiting the Lightning Bolt' is a deeply personal part of my life, but I hope it can resonate with people everywhere.