It’s been said that 2% of the actors, directors, and producers who try their luck in Hollywood are ever able to earn a living from their careers. Needless to say, those are some tough odds and explain why Ben Stranahan’s success as a movie producer, actor, and musician is so impressive. He has managed to do what thousands have fallen short at doing: create a growing body of work that is gaining respect across the industry and winning awards. We sat down with Ben for an afternoon to learn more about this rising star and to understand more about how he has been able to carve out a respected career for himself in one of the most notoriously difficult industries.

“Like a lot of artists, I discovered my passion early, back in middle school,” Ben says. “My school put on a big play every year and held auditions, so I decided to try out for it. I was nervous just like anyone else, but when I stepped out onto the stage, my anxiety vanished. I felt confident up there, and I knew this was what I wanted to do with my life. I ended up getting the part I went for and having a phenomenal time.”

Ben is also a musician, and he used his time in high school to start a band and get good at the piano and drums. “Musicians have a passion for their instruments that come from their soul. That was me. I had to play, and I did – constantly. That may have driven my family a little crazy sometimes. I also continued acting in theatre and delved into making my first short films. While I’m not sure they were Academy Award worthy, I had an incredible time with them. Those were some good times.”

Once Ben graduated from high school, he decided to improve his musicianship by enrolling in Boston’s Berklee College of Music Summer Program. He says that it was challenging and took his abilities to a higher level. “I learned from some great teachers, who spotted my weaknesses and helped me to overcome them. Thanks to my instructors, I finished the program confident about what I could do as a pianist and drummer.”

Enrolling in the renowned American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Los Angeles was an important milestone in Ben’s life. “That’s where I was really able to learn about the craft of acting,” Ben states. “I had three years there, and I was surrounded by amazing talent that I learned from. I loved the physical side of acting, so the classes in stage combat were a ton of fun.”

After graduating, Ben began building his career as an actor, producer, and musician. Success came in 2016 when he produced the movie Mean Dreams, which starred Bill Paxton, Sophie Nélisse, Josh Wiggins, and Colm Feore. Ben says that one of his proudest moments was watching it premiere in 2016 at the Directors’ Fortnight at Cannes and as a Special Presentation at TIFF. “Then it went on to be sold in over fifty countries and to be released theatrically in over ten countries. That was beyond amazing and very satisfying.”

One of his favorite movies to produce was Population Zero. “That was a blast,” says Ben. “It was a psychological thriller and really took the genre in a different direction. Critics around the world liked it. I also enjoyed producing Calibre, another thriller, which was released on Netflix in 2018. That ended up being nominated for four BAFTAs, and it won for one: Best Actor for Jack Lowden. The night we won was incredible for all of us.”

Ben has also found success as a TV producer with The Midnight Anthology, starring Clancy Brown. Its pilot premiered at the New York Television Festival in 2015 and went on to win the Artistic Achievement and Best Director awards at the festival. Ben and The Midnight Anthology team are developing the remaining episodes of the series.

Today, Ben is the partner/producer at Tip-Top Productions. He is also in post-production of Monstrous, a film with Christina Ricci about a traumatized woman who flees her abusive ex-husband with her young son, only to find a bigger, more terrifying monster to deal with. 

Ben says that being able to perform and produce movies is all he ever truly wanted to do. “I cannot imagine doing anything else. Every day, I wake up and go off to do a job I love. I am at peace with where I am and blessed to be able to make movies that I care about.”