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Development, Production, Post-Production

Out of Time: The Material Issue Story covers the rise and fall of iconic Chicago band Material Issue. The feature-length documentary examines the tragic story of a rock band on the cusp of superstardom, an ascent cut short by front man Jim Ellison’s sudden suicide. Sandwiched between the post-punk era of the 1980s and the grunge movement of Seattle, Material Issue was a band creating its own identity within the gritty world of 1990s rock and roll. 


A prominent Midwestern power pop trio, Material Issue were most notable for their debut album International Pop Overthrow and singles “Valerie Loves Me”, “Diane”, “What Girls Want”, and “Kim the Waitress”. They were contemporaries of some of rock’s biggest bands, including the Smashing Pumpkins, Weezer, the Pretenders, Liz Phair, and INXS. Out of Time: The Material Issue Story is out now in select theaters.

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