Ben Stranahan – From Aspen to Award Winner

Based in Los Angeles, California, Ben Stranahan is an actor and musician who has produced and performed in films starring actors such as Neve Campbell, Bill Paxton, Imogen Potts, Alex Wolff, Clancy Brown, Jack Lowden, Sophie Nelisse and many others.

One of the emerging icons of the acting and entertainment world, Ben explains, “We can change the world for the better and teach people through the arts and the many facets of storytelling.”

In our world of confusion, discord, and a 24/7 news cycle that seems to perpetuate all that seems wrong about the world, stories and the people who tell them are often our most pivotal catalysts for hope. Ben Stranahan is helping to impact the world one story at a time, from both sides of the camera.

Ben, an Aspen, Colorado native who was raised by inspiring and creative parents, found himself at a young age gripped by a lifelong pursuit and passion for the arts. Ben finds solace in something he once heard Richard Linklater say in an interview “People who ask me why I make films don’t understand that it’s not a choice. Painters paint, filmmakers make films.” 

Ben considers the arts to be the most important thing he can engage in and explore – both for himself and his community.

From Ben’s website, 

Ben started his career early in Aspen, Colorado Colorado, doing theatre and playing music for his middle school “Aspen Community School” Having been fortunate to be a part of the performance arts at such an early age, he knew right away that this was something he wanted to do the rest of his life. He then continued to do theatre, short films, play drums and piano for his band until he graduated high school in 2004. It was right after high school that he knew what the next step would be: moving to Los Angeles to continue to follow his dreams of becoming an artist. 

Ben then began his professional career in the arts as a graduate of both the Berklee College of Music Summer Programs in Boston, and then 3 years at the prestigious American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Los Angeles. He has since had success as an Actor, Producer and Musician. 

Ben has produced many feature films including Mean Dreams starring Bill Paxton, Sophie Nélisse, Josh Wiggins and Colm Feore, which premiered in 2016 in the Directors Fortnight at Cannes and as a Special Presentation at TIFF. Mean Dreams went on to be sold into over 50 countries and have theatrical releases in over 10 territories. He’s also produced the genre-bending psychological thriller Population Zero that’s been critically lauded around the world and produced the thriller Calibre, which was released on Netflix in 2018 and was nominated for 4 BAFTA’s winning one for Best Actor – Jack Lowden. 

His most recent production work was Castle in the Ground, starring Imogen Potts, Neve Campbell and Alex Wolff, Which premiered at TIFF and SXSW.

In the TV landscape, Ben has produced the smart anthology series The Midnight Anthology starring Clancy Brown. The pilot premiered at the New York Television Festival in 2015 and won both the Artistic Achievement and Best Director awards at the festival. Ben and the The Midnight Anthology team are in development on the remaining episodes of the series.

Learn more about Ben at www.benstranahan.com