As a team with a Native logo prepares to play at the Super Bowl, a timely documentary asks for sports to again reconsider the use of stereotypes
The documentary film-maker Ben West hails from Washington DC, and thus grew up rooting for its football team. He wore the gear, watched the games, cheered on an organization named for a slur against Native Americans. Even as a kid, West, who is Cheyenne, felt the dissonance between the team he rooted for and the supposedly “honorific” idea it represented – that Native Americans were a symbol of war and violence, a costume to be donned in the name of gladiatorial sport. “Is that me on that helmet?” he recalled thinking. “Is that me on that jersey? And does that name have anything to do with me?”
West credits a community of Indigenous people for helping him navigate such confusion, including his father, W Richard West Jr,...
The documentary film-maker Ben West hails from Washington DC, and thus grew up rooting for its football team. He wore the gear, watched the games, cheered on an organization named for a slur against Native Americans. Even as a kid, West, who is Cheyenne, felt the dissonance between the team he rooted for and the supposedly “honorific” idea it represented – that Native Americans were a symbol of war and violence, a costume to be donned in the name of gladiatorial sport. “Is that me on that helmet?” he recalled thinking. “Is that me on that jersey? And does that name have anything to do with me?”
West credits a community of Indigenous people for helping him navigate such confusion, including his father, W Richard West Jr,...
- 2/6/2024
- by Adrian Horton
- The Guardian - Film News
Chicago – Award winning documentary filmmaker Aviva Kempner is making an appearance in Chicago on behalf of her latest film – co-directed with Ben West – on the continuing controversy regarding sports teams named after Native American tribes and images. “Imagining the Indian: The Fight Against Native American Mascoting” will screen at the Gene Siskel Film Center, with Aviva Kempner and Ben West in attendance on Friday, April 21st, 2023. Click Imagining for tickets and more information.
The film is an illuminating examination of the movement to end the misappropriation of Native culture. Documenting the origins of the words, images, and gestures that many Native people and their allies find harmful, Aviva Kempner and Ben West (Cheyenne) powerfully chronicle the impact that marginalization of history has had on those peoples, and the social movements to force sports teams at all levels – including locally the Chicago Blackhawks – to change their offensive names.
Directed by Aviva...
The film is an illuminating examination of the movement to end the misappropriation of Native culture. Documenting the origins of the words, images, and gestures that many Native people and their allies find harmful, Aviva Kempner and Ben West (Cheyenne) powerfully chronicle the impact that marginalization of history has had on those peoples, and the social movements to force sports teams at all levels – including locally the Chicago Blackhawks – to change their offensive names.
Directed by Aviva...
- 4/21/2023
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
As the new crop of 2023 festival favorites roll out, Focus Features presents A Thousand And One in over 900 carefully curated theaters, testing the appetite for specialty fare at a challenging moment.
Short film and video director A.V. Rockwell’s feature-length debut stars Teyana Taylor as free-spirited Inez, who kidnaps her six-year-old son Terry from the foster care system. Holding onto their secret and each other, mother and son set out to reclaim their sense of home, identity, and stability in a rapidly changing New York City. Reviews are stellar, see Deadline’s. The winner of the Sundance Grand Jury Prize is at 97% with critics on Rotten Tomatoes, 82% with auds. The fest called it “an elegant ode to the terribly beautiful power of family as an anchor in an ever-changing world, making us into who we are in ways we can only haltingly understand.”
This film, like Barry Jenkins’ Moonlight in...
Short film and video director A.V. Rockwell’s feature-length debut stars Teyana Taylor as free-spirited Inez, who kidnaps her six-year-old son Terry from the foster care system. Holding onto their secret and each other, mother and son set out to reclaim their sense of home, identity, and stability in a rapidly changing New York City. Reviews are stellar, see Deadline’s. The winner of the Sundance Grand Jury Prize is at 97% with critics on Rotten Tomatoes, 82% with auds. The fest called it “an elegant ode to the terribly beautiful power of family as an anchor in an ever-changing world, making us into who we are in ways we can only haltingly understand.”
This film, like Barry Jenkins’ Moonlight in...
- 3/31/2023
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
That Aviva Kempner and Ben West feel the need to preface their documentary with a short history of the violence committed against indigenous Americans by European settlers and their descendants speaks volumes about the climate in which this film is being released. Whilst the Black Lives Matter movement makes international news and that aspect of the country’s fraught racial history is taught in every federally funded school, indigenous issues are often ignored altogether, or addressed in crude and misleading terms. One contributor here remembers putting her hand up in class and explaining that she was Native only to have her teacher claim that she was wrong and that her people were all extinct. In the face of such ignorance, it’s difficult to know where to begin.
For the average US citizen, images of Native people come from two places: westerns, which are gradually improving but spent decades misrepresenting them and casting.
For the average US citizen, images of Native people come from two places: westerns, which are gradually improving but spent decades misrepresenting them and casting.
- 3/29/2023
- by Jennie Kermode
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
The latest trailer for “Imagining the Indian: The Fight Against Native American Mascoting” has arrived, days before the Kansas City Chiefs face off at the Super Bowl Lvii.
Premiering exclusively in theaters, the documentary chronicles the movement to end the racist practice of words, images and gestures exploiting Native Americans in the sports world and beyond. It tackles changes that still need to be made in the wake of Washington’s recently-renamed NFL team (Commanders), and Cleveland’s MLB team (Guardians).
Unfinished business remains with the racist names of Kansas City’s NFL team, Chicago’s NHL team, and Atlanta’s MLB team, including “traditions” like the Tomahawk chop and Arrowhead chop. The documentary will also address the nearly 2,000 secondary schools across the country that still employ Native-themed mascots.
Also Read:
14 Great Bipoc and Aapi-Led Shows From 2022 You Should Watch If You Haven’t Already
“Changing the names for the...
Premiering exclusively in theaters, the documentary chronicles the movement to end the racist practice of words, images and gestures exploiting Native Americans in the sports world and beyond. It tackles changes that still need to be made in the wake of Washington’s recently-renamed NFL team (Commanders), and Cleveland’s MLB team (Guardians).
Unfinished business remains with the racist names of Kansas City’s NFL team, Chicago’s NHL team, and Atlanta’s MLB team, including “traditions” like the Tomahawk chop and Arrowhead chop. The documentary will also address the nearly 2,000 secondary schools across the country that still employ Native-themed mascots.
Also Read:
14 Great Bipoc and Aapi-Led Shows From 2022 You Should Watch If You Haven’t Already
“Changing the names for the...
- 2/3/2023
- by Harper Lambert
- The Wrap
Exclusive: Six finalists were announced today for the richest prize in documentary film—the 4th Annual Library of Congress Lavine/Ken Burns Prize for Film.
A grant of 200,000 will go to the winning film to support final production, distribution and marketing of the documentary. In addition, a runner-up will receive 50,000, and up to four finalists will earn a 25,000 grant. The Better Angels Society, the Library of Congress, and the Crimson Lion/Lavine Family Foundation established the award in 2019 to recognize “one late-stage documentary that uses original research and compelling narrative to tell stories that bring American history to life using archival materials.”
Among the finalists are Bella, a film about the late New York Congresswoman Bella Abzug; Philly on Fire, a film about the infamous Move bombing in 1985, in which Philadelphia police dropped two explosive devices onto a row of buildings occupied by a controversial African American group, killing 11 people including six children,...
A grant of 200,000 will go to the winning film to support final production, distribution and marketing of the documentary. In addition, a runner-up will receive 50,000, and up to four finalists will earn a 25,000 grant. The Better Angels Society, the Library of Congress, and the Crimson Lion/Lavine Family Foundation established the award in 2019 to recognize “one late-stage documentary that uses original research and compelling narrative to tell stories that bring American history to life using archival materials.”
Among the finalists are Bella, a film about the late New York Congresswoman Bella Abzug; Philly on Fire, a film about the infamous Move bombing in 1985, in which Philadelphia police dropped two explosive devices onto a row of buildings occupied by a controversial African American group, killing 11 people including six children,...
- 7/26/2022
- by Matthew Carey
- Deadline Film + TV
Our lives would suck without Kelly Clarkson. The pop singer known for her powerful pipes was introduced to us in the first season of “American Idol” on Fox in 2002, launching a career that spans the 21st century. She won that competition, but what are the best songs she has recorded since then? Scroll down to see how we rank her greatest hits. Do you agree with our pick for her number-one song of all time?
In the years since Clarkson’s “Idol” coronation, the show has been inconsistent in delivering artists with lasting music careers, though standouts like Carrie Underwood and Jennifer Hudson have also stood the test of time. Clarkson was actually the first “Idol” alum to win a Grammy, claiming Best Female Pop Vocal Performance (“Since U Been Gone”) and Best Pop Album (“Breakaway”) in 2006. She also claimed Best Pop Album for “Stronger” in 2013. And that album’s...
In the years since Clarkson’s “Idol” coronation, the show has been inconsistent in delivering artists with lasting music careers, though standouts like Carrie Underwood and Jennifer Hudson have also stood the test of time. Clarkson was actually the first “Idol” alum to win a Grammy, claiming Best Female Pop Vocal Performance (“Since U Been Gone”) and Best Pop Album (“Breakaway”) in 2006. She also claimed Best Pop Album for “Stronger” in 2013. And that album’s...
- 12/14/2020
- by Kevin Jacobsen and Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
Washington’s NFL team announced it was dropping Redskins as its team name earlier this week, but has yet to announce a replacement. If the team wants to get the new name right, the filmmakers behind the new documentary “Imagine the Indian” say the replacement should avoid any Native American references or callbacks to the racist slur. Directors Aviva Kempner and Ben West, whose film focuses on the fight to change the team name, told TheWrap that team owner Dan Snyder’s decision retire the name is a huge step in the right direction, but they hope the team will start from scratch in picking a new name and logo and avoid anything equally offensive. “I hope that it’s done responsibly. I think some of the names being kicked around right now are problematic, and anything including ‘Red’ in it, we need to start with a clean slate here,...
- 7/15/2020
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
If the 2020 NFL season kicks off on schedule, the Washington Redskins and the league will be met with some added pressure from a new documentary called “Imagining the Indian” that aims to change the team name that’s long been considered a “racial, derogatory, disparaging slur.”
“Imagining the Indian” is currently in production from director Aviva Kempner and The Ciesla Foundation, which has worked to erase the history of Native American names, logos and mascots from sports teams and beyond, though as it’s named in the first trailer for the film, the “R-word” has still persisted.
“When you think of a brave or a warrior, do you think of somebody who is the director of a museum? Do you think of somebody who runs a tribe, who runs multi-million dollar industries? Of course you don’t,” a subject in the documentary says in the trailer. “It dehumanizes human beings.
“Imagining the Indian” is currently in production from director Aviva Kempner and The Ciesla Foundation, which has worked to erase the history of Native American names, logos and mascots from sports teams and beyond, though as it’s named in the first trailer for the film, the “R-word” has still persisted.
“When you think of a brave or a warrior, do you think of somebody who is the director of a museum? Do you think of somebody who runs a tribe, who runs multi-million dollar industries? Of course you don’t,” a subject in the documentary says in the trailer. “It dehumanizes human beings.
- 6/9/2020
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
Kelly Clarkson dares you to choose resilience in her new song, “I Dare You.” The single was released in multiple versions, including five multi-language duet renditions featuring vocalists from around the globe.
In the building, midtempo song, Clarkson sings of choosing love in the midst of adversity. “You may not have the stage/But you still have a voice/You may not have the strength,” she sings. “But if you have a choice/I dare you to love, oh, I dare you to love/Even if you hurt and you...
In the building, midtempo song, Clarkson sings of choosing love in the midst of adversity. “You may not have the stage/But you still have a voice/You may not have the strength,” she sings. “But if you have a choice/I dare you to love, oh, I dare you to love/Even if you hurt and you...
- 4/16/2020
- by Althea Legaspi
- Rollingstone.com
Maddie & Tae have announced plans for their second album The Way It Feels, which is set for release on April 10th. It will mark the “Girl in a Country Song” duo’s first full-length release since their 2015 debut Start Here.
Several of the 15 tracks on The Way It Feels have previously been released as part of a pair of EPs — One Heart to Another and Everywhere I’m Goin’ — that Maddie & Tae issued in 2019. But The Way It Feels also reorders those existing songs and includes five previously unreleased songs...
Several of the 15 tracks on The Way It Feels have previously been released as part of a pair of EPs — One Heart to Another and Everywhere I’m Goin’ — that Maddie & Tae issued in 2019. But The Way It Feels also reorders those existing songs and includes five previously unreleased songs...
- 2/4/2020
- by Jon Freeman
- Rollingstone.com
News of Michael Busbee’s death at 43 on Sunday resonated throughout Nashville and the music community at large. A respected songwriter and producer, he was a creative partner to Nashville artists like Maren Morris, Keith Urban, and Lady Antebellum, deftly bringing a pop sensibility to country music. And for good reason: he got his start writing and producing pop acts like Shakira and Christina Aguilera. Here are 10 songs, either written or produced (or both), by Busbee that highlight his strong yet unshowy approach in the studio and the writing room.
- 9/30/2019
- by Jonathan Bernstein, Jon Freeman and Joseph Hudak
- Rollingstone.com
The passage of time was a heavy presence in singer-songwriter Hailey Whitters’ breakout single “Ten Year Town,” in which she reflected on the sweat equity and lack of guarantees when chasing a musical career. In another Whitters’ song, “The Days,” time is still a central figure, but in this case it’s something to be savored as long as possible.
Written by Whitters, Hillary Lindsey and Ben West, “The Days” stitches together memories of spiked lemonade, high school graduation and hiding out in Cvs to avoid the town gossip, with...
Written by Whitters, Hillary Lindsey and Ben West, “The Days” stitches together memories of spiked lemonade, high school graduation and hiding out in Cvs to avoid the town gossip, with...
- 6/17/2019
- by Jon Freeman
- Rollingstone.com
Lady Antebellum made a return visit to Late Night With Seth Meyers on Wednesday, performing the sorrowful “Hurt” from their 2017 album Heart Break.
Like the album’s title track, singer Hillary Scott takes the lead on “Hurt,” supported as usual by her bandmates Charles Kelly and Dave Haywood. She emphasizes vulnerability with her performance on Late Night, conveying the anguish of a woman who feels trapped under someone else’s powerful spell. “If you pull me close just to disappear / The chances are I’d wait for you a thousand years,...
Like the album’s title track, singer Hillary Scott takes the lead on “Hurt,” supported as usual by her bandmates Charles Kelly and Dave Haywood. She emphasizes vulnerability with her performance on Late Night, conveying the anguish of a woman who feels trapped under someone else’s powerful spell. “If you pull me close just to disappear / The chances are I’d wait for you a thousand years,...
- 9/20/2018
- by Jon Freeman
- Rollingstone.com
I've got a great comedy short for you to watch today called Otherhalf. The story centers on a man who breaks up with himself. It's such a ridiculous concept in which a man's body literally breaks up into two halves because they have different interests. It's an incredibly funny film with a very unique and original concept. It comes from writer and director Ben West and he did a fantastic job developing this story into a film. I seriously doubt you've ever seen anything like this before, so enjoy!
- 10/15/2016
- by Joey Paur
- GeekTyrant
"I don't know, I guess we've been drifting apart for a while... I'm more of a homebody, and my other half's more outdoorsy..." Framestore Pictures has released an amusing short film called Otherhalf, from writer & director Ben West, who usually does commercials work for Framestore. Starring Eric Normington and Jayme Lynn Evans, the short is about a man who breaks up with the "other half" of his body, but through his experience finds out more about what makes him whole. Aside from being funny, this is actually kind of a charming short with an honest side. And it's completely original - I've never seen anything like this. Enjoy. Original description from Vimeo: "A comedy about a man breaking up with himself." Otherhalf is written and directed by UK filmmaker Ben West, a commercials director working on making narrative films. You can find more of his work here. This was produced and made by Framestore,...
- 10/9/2016
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Aussie native Ben West started his career as an architect, studying at Sydney's Uts before launching a career as a designer with Cox Architects..
While at Cox, West developed advanced techniques for filmmaking and architectural design on various international projects, including the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
West is now creative director and architect of VFX shop Framestore's La office, best known for its work on Alfonso Cuaron's Gravity.
His most recent project was directing a film visualization of architect Greg Lynn's speculative redesign for Detroit's abandoned automobile factory, the Packard Plant.
The film, Center for Fulfillment, Knowledge, and Innovation, will exhibit at the Us Pavilion of the Venice Architecture Biennale.
The project reimagines the plant - a 1.7 mile-long, 3.2 million square foot abandoned automobile factory - as a "factory and fulfillment center for both things and ideas."
Framestore animators, producers, and designers created the five-minute film to showcase the design and functionality of Lynn's plant,...
While at Cox, West developed advanced techniques for filmmaking and architectural design on various international projects, including the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
West is now creative director and architect of VFX shop Framestore's La office, best known for its work on Alfonso Cuaron's Gravity.
His most recent project was directing a film visualization of architect Greg Lynn's speculative redesign for Detroit's abandoned automobile factory, the Packard Plant.
The film, Center for Fulfillment, Knowledge, and Innovation, will exhibit at the Us Pavilion of the Venice Architecture Biennale.
The project reimagines the plant - a 1.7 mile-long, 3.2 million square foot abandoned automobile factory - as a "factory and fulfillment center for both things and ideas."
Framestore animators, producers, and designers created the five-minute film to showcase the design and functionality of Lynn's plant,...
- 6/8/2016
- by Staff Writer
- IF.com.au
UnsungMusicalsCo. Umc will continue its 2014 Unsung concert series at 54 Below with Unsung Bob Merrill and Unsung Carolyn Leigh, Vol. 2, following its recent sold-out, critically acclaimed Unsung Carolyn Leigh concert for Lincoln Center's American Songbook. The two all-new evenings are created and directed by Ben West Unsung Carolyn Leigh, The Fig Leaves Are Falling, At Home Abroad with musical direction and arrangements by Fran Minarik Unsung Carolyn Leigh, At Home Abroad.
- 11/20/2014
- by BWW News Desk
- BroadwayWorld.com
UnsungMusicalsCo. Umc continues its 2014 developmental reading series at The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center with a special presentation of I Had a Ball, the 1964 Coney Island musical comedy with a book by Tony Award winner Jerome Chodorov Wonderful Town and a score by Stan Freeman amp Jack Lawrence. The reading, directed by Ben West Unsung Carolyn Leigh, The Fig Leaves Are Falling, Make Mine Manhattan, will be held today, July 24 at 230 Pm in the Bruno Walter Auditorium.
- 7/24/2014
- by BWW News Desk
- BroadwayWorld.com
UnsungMusicalsCo. Umc continues its 2014 developmental reading series at The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center with a special presentation of I Had a Ball, the 1964 Coney Island musical comedy with a book by Tony Award winner Jerome Chodorov Wonderful Town and a score by Stan Freeman amp Jack Lawrence. The reading, directed by Ben West Unsung Carolyn Leigh, The Fig Leaves Are Falling, Make Mine Manhattan, was held earlier this week in the Bruno Walter Auditorium. BroadwayWorld brings you photos from inside the reading below...
- 7/22/2014
- by Kevin Thomas Garcia
- BroadwayWorld.com
UnsungMusicalsCo. Umc continues its 2014 developmental reading series at The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center with a special presentation of I Had a Ball, the 1964 Coney Island musical comedy with a book by Tony Award winner Jerome Chodorov Wonderful Town and a score by Stan Freeman amp Jack Lawrence. The reading, directed by Ben West Unsung Carolyn Leigh, The Fig Leaves Are Falling, Make Mine Manhattan, will be held Thursday, July 24 at 230 Pm in the Bruno Walter Auditorium.
- 7/17/2014
- by BWW News Desk
- BroadwayWorld.com
UnsungMusicalsCo. Umc continues its 2014 developmental reading series at The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center with a special presentation of I Had a Ball, the 1964 Coney Island musical comedy with a book by Tony Award winner Jerome Chodorov Wonderful Town and a score by Stan Freeman amp Jack Lawrence. The reading, directed by Ben West Unsung Carolyn Leigh, The Fig Leaves Are Falling, Make Mine Manhattan, will be held Thursday, July 24 at 230 Pm in the Bruno Walter Auditorium.
- 7/7/2014
- by BWW News Desk
- BroadwayWorld.com
UnsungMusicalsCo. Umc will continue its 2014 Unsung concert series at 54 Below with Unsung Bob Merrill and Unsung Carolyn Leigh, Vol. 2, following its recent sold-out, critically acclaimed Unsung Carolyn Leigh concert for Lincoln Center's American Songbook. The two all-new evenings are created and directed by Ben West Unsung Carolyn Leigh, The Fig Leaves Are Falling, At Home Abroad with musical direction and arrangements by Fran Minarik Unsung Carolyn Leigh, At Home Abroad.
- 6/10/2014
- by BWW News Desk
- BroadwayWorld.com
UnsungMusicalsCo. Umc will launch its 2014 developmental reading series at The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts with a special presentation of Peggy-Ann, the hit 1926 musical comedy with a book by Tony Award winner Herbert Fields Annie Get Your Gun and a score by the legendary songwriting team of Richard Rodgers amp Lorenz Hart Pal Joey, On Your Toes. The reading, directed by Ben West Unsung Carolyn Leigh, The Fig Leaves Are Falling, At Home Abroad, will be held Thursday, May 22 at 230 Pm in the Bruno Walter Auditorium.
- 5/19/2014
- by BWW News Desk
- BroadwayWorld.com
UnsungMusicalsCo. Umc is proud to present Unsung Carolyn Leigh, a special concert produced for Lincoln Center's American Songbook at the Stanley H. Kaplan Penthouse tonight, April 5 at 8 Pm. The evening, showcasing songs by the Tony- and Grammy-nominated lyricist of Peter Pan, Little Me and How Now Dow Jones, is created and directed by Ben West The Fig Leaves Are Falling, At Home Abroad, Make Mine Manhattan.
- 4/5/2014
- by BWW News Desk
- BroadwayWorld.com
UnsungMusicalsCo. Umc is proud to present Unsung Carolyn Leigh, a special concert produced for Lincoln Center's American Songbook at the Stanley H. Kaplan Penthouse on Saturday, April 5 at 8 Pm. The evening, showcasing songs by the Tony- and Grammy-nominated lyricist of Peter Pan, Little Me and How Now Dow Jones, is created and directed by Ben West The Fig Leaves Are Falling, At Home Abroad, Make Mine Manhattan.
- 3/31/2014
- by BWW News Desk
- BroadwayWorld.com
UnsungMusicalsCo. Umc has announced complete casting for Unsung Carolyn Leigh, a special concert produced for Lincoln Center's American Songbook at the Stanley H. Kaplan Penthouse on Saturday, April 5 at 8 Pm. The evening, showcasing songs by the Tony- and Grammy-nominated lyricist of Peter Pan, Little Me and How Now Dow Jones, is created and directed by Ben West The Fig Leaves Are Falling, At Home Abroad, Make Mine Manhattan.
- 3/4/2014
- by BWW News Desk
- BroadwayWorld.com
UnsungMusicalsCo. Umc just announced its 2014 season, which will launch on April 5 at 8pm with Unsung Carolyn Leigh, a special evening produced forLincoln Center's American Songbook at the Stanley H. Kaplan Penthouse. Starring Obie Award winner Donna Bullock Ragtime, A Class Act, Rachel de BenedetCatch Me if You Can, Drew Gehling Jersey Boys, On a Clear Day, Autumn Hurlbert Legally Blonde, Drama Desk nominee Jenny Powers Donnybrook,Happiness, Megan Sikora Curtains and Max von Essen Evita, the concert, showcasing songs by the Tony- and Grammy-nominated lyricist of Peter Pan and Little Me, is created and directed by Ben West The Fig Leaves Are Falling, At Home Abroad, Make Mine Manhattan. Tickets, priced 30-50, are now on sale.
- 1/17/2014
- by BWW News Desk
- BroadwayWorld.com
UnsungMusicalsCo. Umc will present a developmental reading of Sounds Like Love, a new comedy by Arnold B. Horwitt Make Mine Manhattan, Plain and Fancy featuring three original songs by Horwitt, Tony Award winner Albert Hague Plain and Fancy, The Fig Leaves Are Falling and Grammy Award winner Allan Sherman The Fig Leaves Are Falling. Originally written circa 1955, the previously unproduced play is adapted and directed by Ben West At Home Abroad, Make Mine Manhattan, Gatsby.
- 11/19/2012
- by BWW News Desk
- BroadwayWorld.com
Pink has debuted the lyric video for her new single. The star will release 'Try' as the second single to be lifted from her upcoming album The Truth About Love. The track follows 'Blow Me (One Last Kiss)', which reached number three on the UK chart and has peaked at number nine on the Us Hot 100 so far. 'Try' was co-written by Ben West and busbee, who have previously (more)...
- 9/12/2012
- by By Lewis Corner
- Digital Spy
An alleged demo of Pink's next single 'Try' has appeared on the web. The track was originally recorded in 2010 by singer-songwriters Ben West and busbee, who were once known as GoNorthToGoSouth. Both are credited with writing Pink's version of the song, which will serve as her new single. Pink is expected to unveil the track at the MTV Vma Awards tomorrow evening (September 6). (more)...
- 9/5/2012
- by By Robert Copsey
- Digital Spy
A short film about a man who turns into a puffer fish is looking for a sponsor with a view to the film becoming a series.
Directed by Ben West, who comes from a visual effects background, the film follows the fortunes of a Japanese salaryman who turns into a puffer fish after eating a live one in a restaurant.
West’s production company @Radicalmedia, is shopping around for a distributor and considering looking for a sponsorship tie-up.
West told Mumbrella: “It’s a film with edge, and is probably not for mainstream audiences. But there’s potential for the film to become a branded entertainment series if we get a sponsor.”
West used to work at post house Animal Logic on visual effects before moving into directing. Commercials he has directed include work for 5 Seeds and Australian Directors’ Guild.
Directed by Ben West, who comes from a visual effects background, the film follows the fortunes of a Japanese salaryman who turns into a puffer fish after eating a live one in a restaurant.
West’s production company @Radicalmedia, is shopping around for a distributor and considering looking for a sponsorship tie-up.
West told Mumbrella: “It’s a film with edge, and is probably not for mainstream audiences. But there’s potential for the film to become a branded entertainment series if we get a sponsor.”
West used to work at post house Animal Logic on visual effects before moving into directing. Commercials he has directed include work for 5 Seeds and Australian Directors’ Guild.
- 5/16/2012
- by Robin Hicks
- Encore Magazine
The latest film from director Ben West and Australian special effects guru, Robot, comes Fugu & Tako, the story of two Japanese salarymen who get more than they bargain for when one of them demands ultra fresh "fugu" (pufferfish) at a sushi bar. I'm getting a strong Hitoshi Matsumoto vibe from the mock-documentary style of this, reminiscent of his classic Big Man Japan, together with something like Minoru Kawasaki's Executive Koala. The effects work looks absolutely sensational - the expressiveness of the "puffer face" is incredibly emotive - and quite frankly I cannot wait to see the full film.Check out the trailer below and there's also a link to Robot's website so you can check out their back catalogue of excellent videos....
- 5/16/2012
- Screen Anarchy
The Australian Directors Guild has published its list of nominees for this year’s awards, with Jeremy Sims, Rachel Perkins, David Michod, Claire McCarthy and Robert Connolly competing in the feature film category.
Television nominees include Tony Tilse for Underbelly: The Golden Mile, Peter Andrikidis for East West 101 and Amanda Brotchie for Lowdown; there are also nominations for environmental efforts and online projects.The wiinners will be announced on September 23 at Star City, Sydney.
This is the full list of nominees:
Feature Film
Beneath Hill 60 Jeremy Sims Bran Nue Dae Rachel Perkins Animal Kingdom David Michôd The Waiting City Claire McCarthy Balibo Robert Connolly
Television Mini series
East West 101: Atonement Peter Andrikidis The Circuit II: Sorry Business Steve Jodrell The Circuit II: Of Mice and Men James Bogle
Documentary Feature
Indonesia Calling: Joris Ivens in Australia John Hughes Three Boys Dreaming Michael Cordell The Burning Season...
Television nominees include Tony Tilse for Underbelly: The Golden Mile, Peter Andrikidis for East West 101 and Amanda Brotchie for Lowdown; there are also nominations for environmental efforts and online projects.The wiinners will be announced on September 23 at Star City, Sydney.
This is the full list of nominees:
Feature Film
Beneath Hill 60 Jeremy Sims Bran Nue Dae Rachel Perkins Animal Kingdom David Michôd The Waiting City Claire McCarthy Balibo Robert Connolly
Television Mini series
East West 101: Atonement Peter Andrikidis The Circuit II: Sorry Business Steve Jodrell The Circuit II: Of Mice and Men James Bogle
Documentary Feature
Indonesia Calling: Joris Ivens in Australia John Hughes Three Boys Dreaming Michael Cordell The Burning Season...
- 8/30/2010
- by Miguel Gonzalez
- Encore Magazine
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