We had the good fortune of connecting with Ben Holland and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ben, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
In my artistic career, risk sometimes means leading a crew up miles of steep switchbacks, crossing ice cold streams with an eighty-five thousand dollar camera, or casting an ex-girlfriend’s sister because although she’s never acted before, you know she’s the one for the role. I truly believe in the power of calculated risk and that most ideas are possible. When real thought and hard work are put into a plan, what initially seems risky often becomes much more achievable than it first appears. I’ve learned risks won’t always pay off but that’s part of the process. Failure happens, but if you’re prepared to take risks, you should make peace with that outcome, knowing it’s part of the journey toward something bigger.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
As someone still looking to establish myself, It’s difficult to define where I am professionally, but I’ve met a ton of great connections and collaborators working in L.A. As for my art, having grown up in the remote Eastern Sierra Nevada, open landscapes and wilderness have had a huge influence on me. I find it interesting how places, especially natural spaces, have a unique power to reflect emotion, and I’m drawn to bridging that connection in my work.

Recently, I wrote and directed a short film titled June, shot back home with an incredible fourteen-person crew. The film follows two old friends returning to their hometown in June Lake to spread the ashes of a lost loved one, confronting grief and their current relationship. As heavy as that may sound, the film is coated with the many intricate, beautiful aspects of healing and the connection that arises when we honor the people and places that form us.

Like many films shot on a small budget, there were plenty of challenges, especially when filming hours away from Los Angeles. Location scouts become road trips, you have to make sure you prep the equipment perfectly because there’s no rental houses nearby, and you find yourself in the back of your 4Runner playing Tetris with all of the grip and lighting equipment! But I also find that the appealing part of filmmaking is the unpredictable adventure, and that was definitely what I pitched to my crew. We all knew it would be a rough and tough shoot. It was, and it was worth it.

The most important lesson I learned is to try and give yourself more time than you think you’ll need. You spend months prepping a project and then only get three and a half days to shoot it. When you start to feel rushed, you lose time to explore creative options with your actors, cinematographer, and art departments. You also want to sink into the work and the environment, because when it’s all happening around you, it’s really special.

I’ve always been deeply inspired by filmmakers like Wim Wenders, Richard Linklater, and Jean-Luc Godard, where I feel like I’m just hanging out with the characters. In their work, much of the storytelling and character development dances in the unspoken, yet the inner worlds are just as rich and captivating. That was a huge inspiration for June, and a lot of other projects I’ve been writing and developing lately.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
LA really does have fantastic food and music. I’d say go get some noodles and look out for shows at the Teragram Ballroom, The Bellwether, and the Lodge Room. Those are amazing venues that have rad musicians and bands.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Much love to my friends, family, and the creative partners I get to work with. These DIY films rely on the selflessness of so many people, and I have so much gratitude for my crew of collaborators. Special thanks to Taylor Burke, Brandon Hoeg, Trevor Hilton, Casey Malanuk, and Sam Howells for the long nights spent working on our film June.

Instagram: june.filmofficial

Other: Trailer for June: https://vimeo.com/1032495539/943874d224

benholland829@gmail.com

Image Credits
Stills: Brandon Hoeg

BTS: Sofia Higgins

Film: Luke Todd

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