Production Year: October 2013.
I love Superheroes.
Any time I can mix my passions with my career, I do it.
Outside of the United States people choose a career and they stay
with it. They find pride in whatever job they choose. A job is about filling a
need and providing for a family. In the United States we often see a most jobs
as a stepping-stone to "stardom". Being a in the service industry
many people see this field as a stepping-stone. I can’t really blame my peers
for this. Creating content on cleaning is cooler than actually cleaning.
How does one brand a janitor as an important job? The person who
cleans your office toilet is considered "less-than", "low-level
employee". Anyone can clean so why so we show any importance to a person who
cleans? The keyword to gaining more respect for a janitor is SERVICE. Cleaning
is service, much like a police officer or firefighter is a service job, so is a
janitor. Janitors don’t save lives on the same level as a public service.
However, they do prevent illness, they provide a clean and safe environment to
work in. Janitors provide a day to day service of mundane duties so you can focus
on your job.
Janitors are very important. A person who'll come and empty the
trash or clean a public restroom is valuable member of the workforce.
To express the importance of a Janitor is to turn this valuable
worker into a Superhero.
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| Simply Right's Superhero booth. |
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| Danny The Janitor (Danny Kilgore) |
In the video Danny is seen wearing the Scrub Master’s coveralls. Our
real Day Porters wear vine polos and khaki colored pants. The glasses are in reference
to Superman.
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| Dr. Suczz (Johnny Call) |
Johnny Call (the real actor among everyone on cast) played the
villain, Dr. Suczz.
[Pro Tip: When casting for an indie movie put your best actor as
the protagonist. This way the "straight man"/hero comes off better]
The rest of the cast was played by friends of the director (Jeoff
Howe), employees of Simply Right and Carmike Cinemas.
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| Jeoff Howe (Director, Editor, and Co-Writer) |
The script was co-written by Jeoff and I. Many of themes and jokes
are in parody of comic book movies. The scene of Danny crying in the Janitor’s
Closet is a blend of Man of Steel and Batman Begins. Jeoff also wore the hat of
editor.
Every superhero needs a power. I wanted Danny's power to be cleanliness.
In order to see Danny's power's in action I created two devices. First Dr.
Suczz brainwashes an audience into "Dirty Zombies". The Doc does this
by switch the film with a mind-altering video.
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| This is clip of brain-washing video. |
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| A horde of Dirty Zombies attacking Carmike Cinemas's staff. |
The "Dirty Zombies" wouldn't eat flesh but turn others
into mindless mess-makers. Danny must use his powers of clean to undo the
brainwashed victims. His fist deal a powerful cleansing punch. Basically, he
KOs all the Dirty Zombies to clean them.
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| Simply Right Man standing over the victims of Dr. Suczz. |
The second device used was the clean water mop bucket. Superman
gets his power from the sun. Simply Right Man gets his powers from cleaning
solutions. When Danny puts his hand into a clean mop bucket it restores his
powers.
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| Simply Right Man's powers are renewed with clean water mop bucket. |
After defeating Dr. Suczz, the metaphor of the janitor comes up
circle. Janitors literally take out the trash every day. A person who cleans a
facility is not a "low-level employee". They are vital employee who
helps maintain a clean and positive workplace. If we can remember a Janitor preforms
a service, it can help change our perspective on the importance of their job.
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| Volunteers of Simply Right Superhero at work. |
After Thoughts:
Sometimes I direct a project if the budget requires it of me.
However, I've learned I enjoy producing far more. The producer stays onset to
help control the budget and maintain a standard for the project. The stress of
getting the shot or making sure the actors perform is on the director's back.
Making indie films are fun, exciting and at times extremely
stressful. Simply Right Superhero was early in my career and the I missed the
opportunity to really thank the many volunteers who showed up for the late
hours of shooting. Hopefully on my next project I can take more time to show my
appreciation for those who help.
