Design-driven production company Sarofsky has added Ben Strang to its directorial roster for commercials and branded content representation throughout North America.
Based in Santa Monica, Calif., Strang is an award-winning writer-director and photographer, as well as being the creator of the ambitious original episodic series, Beast. Upon its debut at the 2018 SXSW Film Festival, the series’ pilot drew critical acclaim and won the fest’s Grand Jury Award for Independent Episodics. He has also made his mark in commercials and branded content spanning such clients as D’Addario, Lenovo, Starsky Robotics, Milken Community Schools and The Storm King School (the Storm King project earned the 2019 Bronze Telly Award for Branded Content in Education). Strang has also helmed music videos for Piper Hays and Jason Webber, among others. Strang’s growing portfolio of projects explores history, community identity and the resilience of the human spirit. Born in Maryland, he earned his B.A. in Film Production from USC’s School of Cinematic Arts. While studying at USC, Strang directed an American Express spec spot that was shortlisted in the Student category of the 2014 AICP Show.
Prior to joining Sarofsky, Strang established his production company Blueprint Motion Pictures in Santa Monica, where he turned out client-direct ads for a wide gamut of brands, as well as writing, directing and producing Beast. In addition to the SXSW honor, the pilot earned three Telly Awards this year, including a Silver Telly for Directing in Digital Episodic. Strang has pivoted the direction for Beast after its debut and is currently developing the property as a feature film. The pilot is now slated for direct release on Vimeo this summer.
“We were immediately drawn to Ben’s work, not only because of his amazing craftsmanship, but also due to its wide range, spanning advertising and entertainment,” said Sarofsky principal and executive creative director Erin Sarofsky, adding, “Ben’s live action work is cinematic. He connects with people in a visceral way. Being able to offer that caliber of live action on our roster is something we have been seeking and hoping for.”
“I have already come to feel that what makes Sarofsky so incredibly special is that it feels like a family, and the shared passion, candor and creative energy is absolutely infectious,” said Strang.
First-Time Feature Directors Make Major Splash At AFI Fest, Generate Oscar Buzz
Two first-time feature directors who are generating Oscar buzz this awards season were front and center this past weekend at AFI Fest in Hollywood. Rachel Morrison, who made history as the first woman nominated for a Best Cinematography Oscar---on the strength of Mudbound in 2018--brought her feature directorial debut, The Fire Inside (Amazon MGM Studios), to the festival on Sunday (10/27), and shared insights into the film during a conversation session immediately following the screening. This came a day after William Goldenberg, an Oscar-winning editor for Argo in 2013, had his initial foray into feature directing, Unstoppable (Amazon MGM Studios), showcased at the AFI proceedings. He too spoke after the screening during a panel discussion. The Fire Inside--which made its world premiere at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival--tells the story of Claressa “T-Rex” Shields (portrayed by Ryan Destiny), a Black boxer from Flint, Mich., who trained to become the first woman in U.S. history to win an Olympic Gold Medal in the sport. She achieved this feat--with the help of coach Jason Crutchfield (Brian Tyree Henry)--only to find that her victory at the Summer Games came with relatively little fanfare and no endorsement deals. So much for the hope that the historic accomplishment would be a ticket out of socioeconomic purgatory for Shields and her family. It seemed like yet another setback in a cycle of adversity throughout Shields’ life but she persevered, going on to win her second Gold Medal at the next Olympics and becoming a champion for gender equality and equitable pay for women in sports. Shields has served as a source of inspiration for woman athletes worldwide--as well as to the community of... Read More