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Overview

"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.

Episode 1 Specs

Project Type: Animation

Runtime: 7 minutes 31 seconds

Completion Date: June 30, 2023

Country of Origin: United States

Country of Filming: Kenya, United States

Language: English

Aspect Ratio: 16:9

Film Color: Color

Director Statement

Every child will eventually meet a trickster. My work is about helping them recognize one before it's too late.

I'm Venus Jones, the filmmaker and founder of Lil Red Alerts. I believe curiosity, conversation, and discernment are among the most powerful tools we can give young people.

My first animated film, Lil Red is Riding the Wrong Way in the Hood, took ten months of relentless determination to create. What began as a short film about trust and dangerous wrong turns quickly became something bigger. It inspired this educational movement using storytelling, dialogue, and practical resources to help children identify red flags, build discernment, and navigate tricksters both offline and online.

Living with ADHD and anxiety, I've made my own share of wrong turns. That experience fuels my commitment to meeting young people at life's crossroads before someone with harmful intentions does.

Brief Bio

Venus Jones is an award-winning producer and multi-gifted actress, spoken word artist, and educator with over 20 years of classroom and stage experience. She utilizes her experience in entertainment, academia, and the media to empower and engage emerging and existing change makers to find their voice and use it to promote inner peace and social progress. Her poetry has been featured in esteemed journals, anthologies, and she's self-published four albums and three books. She's earned praise from hip-hop legend Chuck D., shared the stage with Nikki Giovanni twice and was called “Langston Hughes in the form of a Black girl” by Marjol Rush-Collette, the curator of the Langston Hughes Family Museum. Learn more about Venus at her official site, www.venusjones.com.