Christopher Preksta was bored. A student at Woodlawn Middle School in Munhall, he daydreamed in class about someday, somehow doing something really exciting.

		'Captain Blasto' Where: Loews, The Waterfront. When: One screening only, 7 tonight. Tickets: $10. 412-462-6923 or www.captainblasto.com.

--> Ten years and a few film classes later and -- BAM, ZOOM, POW! -- mild-mannered Preksta was transmogrified into, well, Mr. Preksta, the 24-year-old producer, director, screenwriter and star of an ambitious independent action-adventure movie made in Pittsburgh.

Tonight at Loews, the son of a Munhall bartender gets the red carpet treatment at the world premiere of "Captain Blasto," a project that began with his middle-school daydreams.

"I guess, like a lot of kids, I was thinking that every day seems like the one before and just wishing for something exciting to happen," says Preksta, now of Squirrel Hill. "In high school it was the same -- alienated, bored, wondering what it would be like to be a superhero with important things to do."

After graduating from Steel Valley High School, Preksta spent a year working at day jobs while working on his movie idea. Two years at Pittsburgh Filmmakers, he said, taught him one thing.

"I learned I didn't want to use film," he says. "What I could accomplish with a camcorder and some discs was more than I could do with one year of film training."

Preksta dropped out of Filmmakers and continued working on his movie. At his day jobs as program director for youth ministries at Pleasant Hills Community Church and Northway Christian Community, he produced and directed short, comic films for kids. He used the opportunity to develop some of the "Captain Blasto" characters, build a young following and network with adults who helped to finance his feature-length film.

"People saw the shorts and wanted to get involved," he says. "I started getting small donations. I was able to raise over $2,000 in $5 and $10 increments."

Foundation money was scarce. Preksta got about $75 in development grants, but secured a couple thousand in large blocks from friends, family and supporters. He chipped in two grand from his own pocket to raise the $7,000 to finance "Captain Blasto."

Preksta admits there were times during two years of development and four months of filming that he considered abandoning the project.

"But as director, I felt very responsible to the people who donated money," he says. "All of those people investing in what they think you can accomplish, it kind of keeps you going."

He recruited Aaron Kleiber, a friend and partner in his comic shorts, to play a supporting role. He and co-producers Kleiber and Ashley Urbaniak held open auditions for a principal cast that totals nearly 20, including seasoned actors Sam Nicotero and Chris Hammel. Another 60 were cast in small roles or as extras. All of the actors donated their time.

Preksta says he didn't intend to star in "Captain Blasto," but "the main character, Colin, is in virtually every shot, and it's hard to get anyone to commit to that amount of time. I realized I'd have to do it myself."

Filming took place in the summer of 2003 in Munhall, Elizabeth and Pleasant Hills. Of all the hats that Preksta wore, the one that fit most snugly cast him as promotions director. A slick Web site, www.captainblasto.com, helps to pique audience interest, and a week before a peek screening earlier this month, Preksta spoke to high school assemblies about filmmaking and threw in plugs for his preview. The event was an overwhelming success.

"Through the youth ministries, a lot of kids had seen my shorts," he says. "And we did a half day at my old school, Steel Valley. The kids really get it. They know what it's like to be bored at school."

In "Captain Blasto," a bored, alienated high schooler fantasizes about superheroes. To break the daily doldrums, Colin and a few equally bored adults stage mock public robberies and attacks that are thwarted by the surprise appearance of a costumed do-gooder. Realizing that the fake capers could actually work, the gang begins to actually complete the crimes, forcing Colin into a crisis of conscience. Twists, turns and tongue-in-cheek action sequences ensue.

"Captain Blasto's" low budget shows, but it's easy to overlook in a locally produced labor of love. Preksta's low-tech solutions are generally easy to live with, although some of the nonprofessional acting grows distracting. The story, however, grows more interesting as the film progresses.

Tickets for tonight's show and the sale of DVDs will help to finance the next step in what Preksta calls an "educational experience." He's sending "Captain Blasto" on a tour of the world's indie film festivals.