Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Justin Best. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Justin , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

For me, the most meaningful project I’ve worked on so far was the creation of my first feature film, SHERYL, because we made a feature film our way, when so many other people said it was impossible.

As a screenwriter, I had been writing features for several years, and a previous script I had written had done very well in several major screenwriting contests. It was starting to get some traction, and I was taking some meetings, and people were talking about buying and making it. I started to think, “This is it! I’ve made it! I’ve broken through!” And then… nothing happened. Lots of talk, but no action.

I spoke with other friends in the film industry, and they had similar experiences. I knew that I had good stories to tell, and I knew that I had several friends who were also very talented and deserved to be seen, so I got tired of waiting for someone else to choose me. Instead, I chose myself.

Making SHERYL was one of the most challenging things I have ever done. We faced several obstacles from funding to scheduling to rattlesnakes, but we just kept going. Over and over, we were told we needed to change the story or the format or the cast, but we held firm to our vision. We were literally told this film was unmakeable for our budget and experience, but we made it.

I got a full education in the film industry and more in making SHERYL. I learned about fundraising, negotiation, insurance, contracts, cameras, lenses, acting, editing, color, sound, communication, and so much more. Everything that goes into making a film from conception to, now, the festival and distribution stages. I know the next film we make will be an even better and much smoother process.

SHERYL wasn’t just meaningful for the challenges we overcame though; it was also meaningful for the connections we made. I had people tell me that this is the best set they’d ever been on. They told me that they couldn’t wait to do the next. This felt good because this was my first feature film. There was so much I didn’t know, but I tried to communicate clearly what I wanted, and I tried to always treat people with respect, both for their craft and just as human beings.

A lot of people are waiting for a big studio to choose them, but the people on this team all chose themselves and believed in themselves, So, the fact that these people kept showing up for 14 days and they always did their best to make whatever crazy idea I had come to life, that made this project so meaningful to me.

Too often we’re told we have to wait or that it’s not possible. I know too many people who put their dreams on hold until it was too late. We all know how this life ends, and yet we act like we have all the time in the world. I don’t want to die with my stories –my dreams—still inside me. SHERYL means a lot to me because it has helped to give me the confidence to put them out in the world.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’m the president and co-founder of BxB Studios. We’re a multimedia production studio dedicated to bringing fun and excitement to people through imaginative and entertaining storytelling. Our mission is to craft vibrant and immersive worlds, inhabited by compelling characters, that transport you to a place where adventure, humor, wonder, and sometimes even scares, abound. We believe that the power of storytelling is in its ability to evoke laughter, awe, and pure enjoyment.

We started BxB because we didn’t feel like any other studio was making the type of content that we wanted to see. When you see something made by BxB, you know that it’s going to have great characters and dialogue, it’s going to be a fun thrill ride, and it’s going to be full of heart. No matter the setting – whether it’s the dark comedy/horror of SHERYL and her modern social media world or the fantasy comedy of DARRYN and his world of knights and dragons – you’re going to have a good time.

Another thing that sets us apart is our emphasis on people. We always work to find the right people for the job. This means not only finding people who are talented, but finding people who are passionate about what they do and who are passionate about the particular project we are working on. This helps us to create the best work possible.

As I mentioned, the work I’m most proud of right now is SHERYL, which you can learn more about at www.sherylthemovie.com or on your favorite social media platform @sherylthemove. I’m also very excited that we are expanding the SHERYL universe with a comic book series. We’ve already released a mini zine to preview the series, and the first comic book should be available around the beginning of April 2024.

We also have a podcast series in development. It’s an all-ages horror/comedy that focuses on some young teens investigating a mystery in a creepy town. Think Twin Peaks for kids.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

What drives me is that I want to tell more stories that entertain and inspire people. My goal is to build big, creative worlds that touch people and remind them that life can be fun. I want people to know that it’s possible for them to do whatever they set their mind to. I have known too many people who put their dreams off for later, only for later to never come. The only moment we really have is the present, and we can choose at any time how we want to spend that moment.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

To me, the most rewarding part of being a creative is seeing the worlds I have in my head come to life, and then seeing those worlds resonate with other people.

I love the connection that comes from collaborating with other talented people to create something entirely new, and putting that creation out into the world, only for that creation to then go on and inspire someone else in some way. When someone tells me that they saw or heard something I created and that that helped them through a tough time or encouraged them to start their own project, that makes it all worthwhile.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.bxbstudios.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bxbstudios
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bxbstudios
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmichaelbest/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/bxbstudios
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@bxbstudios
• Other: https://www.sherylthemovie.com/ https://www.instagram.com/sherylthemovie

Image Credits
Waleska Santiago. Vheto Gutierrez V.