Today we’d like to introduce you to John Riddlebaugh
Hi John, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My story is long and complicated to briefly describe. I grew up with an interest in telling stories. As a kid, I was in a few school plays. In high school, I was in the chorus for a production of “Bye Bye Birdie”. I went to Cuyahoga Community College and later Bowling Green State University, and got two arts degrees. I went back to Tri-C, and took classes in digital video and, later, several acting classes. In the 2000s, I’ve worked on a couple of local productions–usually behind the camera but sometimes in front (but on a much smaller capacity). The first feature I worked on was MURDER MACHINE, a low budget slasher flick by a group of people known for their late night cable show “The Midnight Movie”. I’ve shown my talents as a screenwriter, having won awards at The Indie Gathering International Film Festival. In the 2010s, I wanted to focus more on acting and getting bigger roles. I’m often in horror (DYING 2 MEET U and DEATH OF THE DEAD) and sometimes in arthouse fare such as PAPER SHADOWS. I have a habit of being that guy wearing the mask. Since 2022, I got into haunted house acting (the location is Nightmare Cleveland) and for three years I’ve played a six foot bug. I’m in an upcoming superhero movie called SHADOWDOME: WARRIOR OF THE NIGHT, directed by Michael Stafford. My outfit involves makeup, this time.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Nope, this road has been full of potholes. When I got into acting, I was offered extra roles with an occasional small speaking role. Keep in mind, Cleveland’s local film community is just film students–and a few people who make a living in the broadcasting field–who make cinematic productions on a shoestring budget. There are some very talented people among them, but the people who seem to make it are better at marketing themselves than having actual artistic talent.
I’ve worked with a couple of “directors” who have talked big, and made themselves out to be the next Alfred Hitchcock or Oscar Wilde. I wish I had the sense to have left them earlier when others have jumped ship. I also have met a number of aspiring actors who liked to talk about becoming a “movie star”, but they go rogue and don’t show up when half the production was shot.
Many of the people in my area seem more interested in making 48 Hour Films than making something worthy of submitting to a film festival, like say Sundance. A competition where you develop, shoot, and edit a short film within forty-eight hours may seem like a lot of fun–and I have been in a couple (one of which, “Uncivilized Servant” won seven awards)–but the novelty wears off. Many of the competitors are film students who cast their friends, who have little film acting experience.
I pretty much avoid many of the local events or media mixers, because half the people there are the type who would treat me like the unwanted stepchild. I am thankful to have people like Robert Banks, who directed PAPER SHADOWS, and Joel Anger, the frontman of postpunk band Key to the Mint (I was in two of the band’s music videos, and I wear an interesting mask in both), who believe in me.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a professional model-actor with aspirations to become a published writer.
I currently work as an art model at Tri-C and several drawing groups. Filmmaker-photographer-art model Robert Banks helped get me started with that type of work. Robert is pretty well-known in Cleveland’s art and film community. One reason being he has had films screened at Sundance and Rotterdam. His feature debut, PAPER SHADOWS, won the “Audience Award” at the Chicago Underground Film Festival in 2020. In that film, I play an aspiring artist who becomes an art model.
For the past three years, I’ve done seasonal work as a haunt actor at Nightmare Cleveland–the place has quickly become one of the highest rated haunted houses in Northeast Ohio. The place was featured on daytime news program “New Day Cleveland” and a documentary crew from VICE came by (the result is “How Haunted Houses Really Make Money” and can be viewed on the Youtube channel Modern MBA). Each night, I’ve worn twenty pounds of silicon for as long as six straight hours. One night, I scared one of the customers (a teenager) to the point of peeing herself.
I am working on my writing. I’ve sent Joel my story idea for Key to the Mint’s next music video, and, from what I know so far he is on board. I submitted to another writing contest, this time in the prose category.
I have a small collection of interesting masks I use for when I’m modeling or when I’m involved with people’s cinematic productions. You can watch the Key to the Mint music videos “Fraud” and “Vodka in July” on Youtube. I wear a faceless chrome mask in “Fraud” and a pug mask in “Vodka in July”.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
I hope to get a speaking role in a SAG production. If any filmmakers out there are casting for a SAG film in Northeast Ohio, I am interested.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnriddle79
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/john.riddlebaugh
