Sometimes you go the wrong way.
Do you have a safety plan?
Do you have a circle of trust?
Watch Trailer
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Reviews
Deeply moved! It’s an engaging conversation starter for both students and adults alike!
Getting any film to be entertaining and educational is a challenge! It’s not every day you see an independent film… flawlessly done!
Fun to watch… Took me back to many of my favorite childhood stories!
My child got the well-made message. This is a must see!
About the Film
“Lil Red is Riding the Wrong Way in the Hood” is a Hip Hop twist on a classic cautionary tale. An adventurous little boy gets lost in an urban jungle and runs into a “wolf in sheep’s clothing,” and a battle of wits begins. Childhood labor and public safety may sound like heavy topics, but this short film manages to make the subject matter approachable.
This short is not just an entertaining animated film set to a hip-hop beat; it’s a conversation starter for all ages. It allows us a chance to reflect on who to trust, when, and how to stay safe in an increasingly complex and unpredictable world.
This is a family-friendly film about trust that also touches on many themes that are ripe for discussion including:
Economic Empowerment, Father Figures, Peer Pressure, Self-Esteem, Betrayal, Personal and Public Safety, Alliances, Mentorship, and Grooming Tactics that lead to Trafficking.
Stats
Growing Number of Children Employed Illegaly
Source: U.S. Dept of Labor
40% of Children Lack Secure Attachment to Parents
Source: The Sutton Trust
Cast and Crew
Writer | Director | Producer | Narrator
Venus Jones is saved by grace and a servant leader living on principle, as a multi-gifted talent with over 20 years of classroom and stage experience. She’s cultivating courageous conversations through her films, poetic keynotes, and counsel for compassionate leaders who are braving a new world. She’s a creative director for anyone ready to increase trust, empathy, and self-awareness through the arts. Visit venusjones.com for more information on how to support past, present, and future initiatives at the intersection of art and activism.
Animator | Illustrator
Mutai Emmanuel lives in Nairobi, Kenya and began his career in animation in 2016. Whether it’s sparking emotions through animation, elevating characters with seamless rigging, or reflecting a brand’s essence through design, his versatility and his passion for project management gives him a creative edge. He has experience as a Toon Boom Rigging Artist with major studios, and a history of collaboration with talented artists and business owners all over the world, who are interested in creating impactful and engaging projects. Learn more about the animator at mutzzcreative.com.
Additional Credited Animators include: Stanley Munyiri and Ian Ngaruiya Mburu
Music Producer
Malcolm Lee is a producer, engineer, DJ, MC, social activist and teaching artist in San Jose, California. He’s been a board operator and sound engineer for 90.5 KSJS, YG Studios and Silicon Valley Debug, where he worked as an audio journalist for documentaries and news shorts. malcolm-lee.tumblr.com/bio
Additional Credited Sound Engineering provided by Tim Abbott.
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Become a Patron
If you’re looking for a tangible way to deepen your support of Lil’ Red’s social impact campaign, you’re invited to become a patron on Patreon. Your financial pledge allows me to grow my team, reach a wider audience, and gives you access to exclusive content, an upcoming podcast, and discounts up to 50% off merch found at venusjones.com/store for a limited time.
This is also the primary means of funding a Lil’ Red safety series, where we’ll develop more family-friendly content to keep everyone safe.