Jus Riddick Talks Hero Story At Wizard World New Orleans Comic Con 2014

Chronicles Film' Hero Story was screened at this year's Wizard World New Orleans Comic Con 2014 as part of their film festival on February 7th at 7:09PM in room 242. The film's producer, Jus Riddick, also ran an informative panel entitled "No Budget Filmmaking 101" this past Saturday at Wizard World New Orleans that explained how filmmakers could make a quality movie on a small budget. Hero Story is a fun, imaginative film that follows an unlikely hero trying to cope with his alter ego alongside his newfound responsibilities. We had the opportunity to talk with Jus Riddick about Hero Story and much more. Read on.

BGG After Dark: First off, tell us a little bit about yourself and how your career started in the film industry?

Jus Riddick: Acting. I always wanted to be a filmmaker and an actor, but I decided to begin as an actor as a way to get on set and observe. As an actor, you do a lot of standing around on set, it's a great way to people-watch and learn what to do AND what not to do.

BGG After Dark: Your new film Hero Story tells the story of a new hero and all the responsibilities he faces with his new role. Tell us a little about the movie and the inspirations behind it.

Jus Riddick: “Hero Story” is all about making the superhero and super villain as human as possible. In 2014, if you're not connecting with your audience, you are going to lose them. That's why our superhero has relationship problems, and the super villain deals with rejection and finding his role in the world. Look at The Spider-Man film franchise reboot – “The Amazing Spider-Man;” the chemistry between Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone is palpable. That being said, “Hero Story” still brings the action...we know it's a superhero movie.

BGG After Dark: How is "Hero Story" different from anything else you have worked on before and what did you enjoy most about the film?

Jus Riddick: “Hero Story” was a blast on set. Who gets to make a superhero film with costumes and SFX??? We do! I've come to enjoy the obstacles that each production brings and the problem solving. On “Hero Story,” we had rain on an outdoor shoot for two out of two shoot days...in LA where it rains, like, five days a year! We adjusted and made it work. It's always fun, and I can't wait to make the sequel or turn it into a feature--should we give Rose some super powers?



BGG After Dark: What is your favorite superhero of all time and why?

Jus Riddick: I dig the X-Men and, in particular, Gambit. He's a loner but in a laid-back, play it close to the vest kind of way as opposed to Wolverine who wears his emotions on his sleeve.

Gambit has the ability to take you by surprise. I guess that's how I am. The industry won't see me coming.

BGG After Dark: Thank you for your time. Is there anything else you would like to mention?

Jus Riddick: Thank you! Go check out the trailer for my first feature, “Only in L.A.,” which I produced and directed, at www.chroniclesfilm.com. We're about to start the festival circuit soon with that. Also, I'm meeting with investors to start pre-production on my second feature, a suspense thriller. Not sure what I can share about the script, but let's just say it honestly hasn't been done before. 

About Hero Story 
Everybody wants to be the hero, but do they have what it takes? Faced with his increasing popularity and demand to fulfill his responsibility as the new hero on the block, a young man wants to profess his love to his longtime girlfriend and reveal to her his super hero alter ego. Only, his plans are foiled when a new villain arrives and an unlikely ally intervenes.