Making a Hero: Simply Right Superhero

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.

Simply Right's Superhero booth.

Simply Right Superhero is a simple story. It follows a standard Saturday morning serial theme. No back story, just right into the heart of the plot. In the fictional world of Simply Right Superhero, movie theaters have Day Porters. The Day Porter Danny turns into a superhero when the world gets too dirty. The General Manager who called Mr. Manager is Danny’s trusted advisor/parental figure. The two keep the theater running smooth.

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.

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.

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.

This is clip of brain-washing video.

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.

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.

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.

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.