Ben Caldwell (filmmaker)
Encyclopedia
Ben Caldwell is a Los Angeles-based arts educator and independent filmmaker.
A native of New Mexico
, Caldwell studied filmmaking at UCLA, at the same time as Charles Burnett
, Julie Dash
and Billy Woodberry
, as part of a group of young artists who were to change African American independent filmmaking — a cultural phenomenon sometimes called "The L.A. Rebellion
." Caldwell taught several years at CalArts and became a major force in CAP (Community Arts Partnership).
In 1984, he founded KAOS Network, a community arts center dedicated to providing training on digital arts, media arts and multi-media, at the heart of Leimert Park, historic center of the Los Angeles jazz
culture, now hosting a diverse multi-ethnic multimedia arts center. KAOS Network was designed to empower the youth of the community and is the only organization of its kind in South Central Los Angeles where inner-city youths can participate in hands-on courses in video production, animation, web-site development, video teleconferencing, CD ROM production, and use of the Internet. KAOS is also home to WORDshop, a weekly workshop for hip-hop artists, dancers, singers and visual artists. Each week over 150 youths participate in workshops and programs at the center. In addition to these workshops, KAOS Network has videotaped community events and produced documentaries for the state of California. KAOS Network is committed to creating a community of young people who are dedicated to learning new technologies, acquiring employable skills and participating in digital arts and new media training.
A native of New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
, Caldwell studied filmmaking at UCLA, at the same time as Charles Burnett
Charles Burnett
Charles Burnett may refer to:*Charles Burnett , American film director*Charles Burnett , Scottish Officer of Arms*Charles Burnett , Royal Air Force officer and Australian Chief of the Air Staff...
, Julie Dash
Julie Dash
Julie Dash is a United States filmmaker. She directed Daughters of the Dust, which in 1991 became the first full-length film with general theatrical release in the United States by an African American woman...
and Billy Woodberry
Billy Woodberry
Billy Woodberry is one of the leading directors of the L.A. Rebellion . He is best known for directing the 1984 feature film, Bless Their Little Hearts , which was honored at the Berlin International Film Festival.-Background:Woodberry was born in Dallas, Texas...
, as part of a group of young artists who were to change African American independent filmmaking — a cultural phenomenon sometimes called "The L.A. Rebellion
L.A. Rebellion
L.A. Rebellion film movement, sometimes referred to as the "Los Angeles School of Black Filmmakers", refers to the time from roughly the late-1960s to the late-1980s when a new generation of young African and African American filmmakers emerged from UCLA Film School to produce works that provided...
." Caldwell taught several years at CalArts and became a major force in CAP (Community Arts Partnership).
In 1984, he founded KAOS Network, a community arts center dedicated to providing training on digital arts, media arts and multi-media, at the heart of Leimert Park, historic center of the Los Angeles jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
culture, now hosting a diverse multi-ethnic multimedia arts center. KAOS Network was designed to empower the youth of the community and is the only organization of its kind in South Central Los Angeles where inner-city youths can participate in hands-on courses in video production, animation, web-site development, video teleconferencing, CD ROM production, and use of the Internet. KAOS is also home to WORDshop, a weekly workshop for hip-hop artists, dancers, singers and visual artists. Each week over 150 youths participate in workshops and programs at the center. In addition to these workshops, KAOS Network has videotaped community events and produced documentaries for the state of California. KAOS Network is committed to creating a community of young people who are dedicated to learning new technologies, acquiring employable skills and participating in digital arts and new media training.
Filmography
- Medea (1973)
- I and I (1978)
- Eyewitness: Reflections of Malcolm X & O.A.A.U. (2006)
- Leimert Park: Sankofa Project (2007)
- La Buena Vida (2008)
External links
- http://www.projectblowed.com
- http://sfbayview.com/2009/the-kaos-network-an-interview-with-owner-ben-caldwell/