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Receiving an Emmy Foundation’s College Television Award is an impressive addition to anyone’s resume, but putting superhero under your past work experience isn’t bad either.
Kaylon Hunt, originally from Port Arthur, can check both off the list. Attending the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Art led to the discovery of a previously untapped drive, according to Hunt.
“I was never really aware of my creative side, I was always the geek or nerd in middle school and high school,” Hunt said. “Once I moved away — from Port Arthur — I started to open up more.”
It is this creativity that allowed Hunt to write, direct and act in Hero Story. A short film about a man balancing his superhero career and personal life as he attempts to profess his love to his girlfriend only to be interupted by a new villain, finding himself in a tough situation with an improbable ally. Hero Story has been featured on several entertainment blogs such as FilmSchoolRejects and SlashFilm, Hunt was also interviewed about the film on the site ComicBookMovie.
Hunt attributes the Superman and Batman serials of the 1950s, along with the animated comic book series’ that would play on Saturday mornings and after school for greatly influencing the storyline.
“I would try to imitate that,” Hunt said, “Take on the persona of Nightcrawler and take on the Sentinels.”
Though growing up a very quiet kid, Hunt always knew he wanted to be an actor. It was while attending USC that he began to realize he was becoming more confident and seeing in himself what he had admired in others.
“I would have never thought I’d be the one making a movie,” Hunt said.
It is this metamorphisis that inspires Hunt’s character in Hero Story. It was important for Hunt to have the “villain,” Neuro, be an African American character and exhibit the quirkiness as he does, as there is not much opportunity for non-white actors in the superhero realm, Hunt said.
“There is definitely a reflection of self I try to incorporate into all my work,” Hunt said.
As for the future, Hunt seems to be taking life one day at a time, though he has an “ultimate goal” for his future.
“They (plans) are constantly morphing, but acting is at the heart of everything I do,” Hunt said.
“You can be your own version of what you idolize,” Hunt said referring to Neuro’s goal of being a superhero but facing differences that may seem daunting at first. “People are always looking for validation from certain groups but you can be what you want to be. Don’t let anyone stop you.”
Be sure to watch the film Hero Story here.
cedgerton@panews.com
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