Ben Rock
Encyclopedia
Ben Rock is an American film and theatre director, based in Los Angeles
. Rock's career was launched when he served as production designer on the independent sensation The Blair Witch Project
made by fellow University of Central Florida graduates Daniel Myrick
, Eduardo Sanchez
, Greggory R. Hale, Robin Cowie, and Michael Monello. Rock created the infamous "stick man" symbol that became synonymous with the hit film.
that many deemed better than the film itself. He frequently directs TV or viral internet projects that are considered "Branded Content" or are somehow a part of marketing, including The B.P.R.D. Declassified, a marketing project for the Hellboy
movie that aired on FX Networks
and a series of short action films for Audi
's online campaign The Art of the Heist
, a series of viral internet videos for "The 4400
" and "True Blood
".
Rock's first feature film as a director, Alien Raiders
, was released by Warner Home Video
and Raw Feed
in October 2008. The film stars Carlos Bernard
, Rockmond Dunbar
, and Mathew St. Patrick
and is produced by Daniel Myrick
, John Shiban
, and Tony Krantz.
He is also the director of the award-winning short films The Perfect Candidate by frequent collaborator Jenelle Riley, The Meeting, Hate of Date, and Conversations, starring Curtis Armstrong
.
Worked as a makeup artist (special effects and regular) before pursuing directing. During this time, he worked with Catherine Keener
, Brigitte Nielsen
, Sandahl Bergman, Charles Napier
, and Leo Rossi
.
He often participates in Instant Films, a 48 hour filmmaking challenge.
Worked as a projectionist for the Florida Film Festival
and the Enzian Theater
from 1996–1999, before relocating to Los Angeles
.
Rock was also an Associate Editor for the independent filmmaking magazine Action and a contributing writer at Back Stage
and Creative Screenwriting magazine. In 2010, he returned to theater to direct Baal, the very first play written by famed playwright Bertolt Brecht
.
1996 CFFVF Trailer - Golden Addy
, 1996
1997 CFFVF Trailer - Silver Addy
, 1997
Hate or Date - Audience Award at Instant Films for Best Film, Director, Cinematographer, Editor, Script and Cast
Conversations - Best short and Best Actor (Curtis Armstrong
) at Shockerfest, DIY Award at Hypefest, Finalist Award at GenArts Shorts in the Park, Cinematography award at Just Another Film Festival
New Orleans Chapter of The Art of the Heist
- Bronze award at The One Show
and Miami area Bozo the Clown
Alan Rock. Attended Winter Park High School
with comedian Billy Gardell
and screenwriter Darren Fischbach. Rock is married to HGTV
producer Alicia Conway, and they frequently collaborate on creative projects including Conversations and Hate or Date.
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. Rock's career was launched when he served as production designer on the independent sensation The Blair Witch Project
The Blair Witch Project
The Blair Witch Project is a 1999 American horror film pieced together from amateur footage. The film was produced by the Haxan Films production company. The film relates the story of three student filmmakers The Blair Witch Project is a 1999 American horror film pieced together from amateur...
made by fellow University of Central Florida graduates Daniel Myrick
Daniel Myrick
Daniel Myrick is an American director most famous for co-directing and writing the 1999 film The Blair Witch Project with Eduardo Sánchez, for which they won the Independent Spirit John Cassavetes Award.-Life and career:...
, Eduardo Sanchez
Eduardo Sánchez
Eduardo Miguel Sánchez-Quiros is a Cuban-born American director most famous for co-directing and writing the 1999 film The Blair Witch Project with Daniel Myrick....
, Greggory R. Hale, Robin Cowie, and Michael Monello. Rock created the infamous "stick man" symbol that became synonymous with the hit film.
Biography
Following the success of Blair Witch, Rock wrote three and directed two television specials in the mocumentary format, Curse of the Blair Witch (which Rock served as writer), and The Burkittsville 7 and Shadow of the Blair Witch, which Rock wrote, produced, and directed promoting the release of the sequel, Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2
Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2 is the 2000 American horror film and the sequel to the film The Blair Witch Project, directed by Joe Berlinger...
that many deemed better than the film itself. He frequently directs TV or viral internet projects that are considered "Branded Content" or are somehow a part of marketing, including The B.P.R.D. Declassified, a marketing project for the Hellboy
Hellboy
Hellboy is a comic book superhero created by writer-artist Mike Mignola. The character first appeared in San Diego Comic-Con Comics #2 , and has since appeared in various eponymous miniseries, one-shots and intercompany crossovers...
movie that aired on FX Networks
FX Networks
FX is the name of a number of related pay television channels owned by News Corporation's Fox Entertainment Group...
and a series of short action films for Audi
Audi
Audi AG is a German automobile manufacturer, from supermini to crossover SUVs in various body styles and price ranges that are marketed under the Audi brand , positioned as the premium brand within the Volkswagen Group....
's online campaign The Art of the Heist
The Art of the Heist
The Art of the Heist was an advertising campaign and an alternate reality game created to promote the Audi A3.-The promotion:Audi developed a new car and wanted to promote it...
, a series of viral internet videos for "The 4400
The 4400
The 4400 is a science fiction TV series produced by CBS Paramount Network Television in association with Sky Television, Renegade 83, and American Zoetrope for USA Network. The show was created and written by Scott Peters and René Echevarria, and it stars Joel Gretsch and Jacqueline McKenzie...
" and "True Blood
True Blood
True Blood is an American television series created and produced by Alan Ball. It is based on The Southern Vampire Mysteries series of novels by Charlaine Harris, detailing the co-existence of vampires and humans in Bon Temps, a fictional, small town in the state of Louisiana...
".
Rock's first feature film as a director, Alien Raiders
Alien Raiders
Alien Raiders is a 2008 American science fiction horror film, starring Carlos Bernard, Rockmond Dunbar and Mathew St. Patrick. The film is Ben Rock's first feature film as a director...
, was released by Warner Home Video
Warner Home Video
Warner Home Video is the home video unit of Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., itself part of Time Warner. It was founded in 1978 as WCI Home Video . The company launched in the United States with twenty films on VHS and Betamax videocassettes in late 1979...
and Raw Feed
Raw Feed
Raw Feed is the label of Warner Premiere the direct-to-DVD division of Warner Home Video, that focuses on releasing films of the horror genre, many of them unrated.- History :...
in October 2008. The film stars Carlos Bernard
Carlos Bernard
Carlos Bernard is an American actor, best known for his role as Tony Almeida in 24.-Biography:Bernard received a Master of Fine Arts degree from American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco after attending Illinois State University.He performed in A.C.T...
, Rockmond Dunbar
Rockmond Dunbar
Rockmond Dunbar is an American actor. He is perhaps best known for his roles as Kenny Chadway on the Showtime television drama series Soul Food, and as Benjamin Miles "C-Note" Franklin on the FOX television drama series Prison Break...
, and Mathew St. Patrick
Mathew St. Patrick
Mathew St. Patrick is an American actor best known for his portrayal of Keith Charles on the HBO drama television series Six Feet Under.He was born and raised in Philadelphia and graduated from Olney High School....
and is produced by Daniel Myrick
Daniel Myrick
Daniel Myrick is an American director most famous for co-directing and writing the 1999 film The Blair Witch Project with Eduardo Sánchez, for which they won the Independent Spirit John Cassavetes Award.-Life and career:...
, John Shiban
John Shiban
John Shiban is an Emmy Award nominated American television writer and producer. He worked in both capacities on The X-Files and its spin-off The Lone Gunmen, Star Trek: Enterprise, Smallville, Supernatural, Legend of the Seeker, Breaking Bad and The Vampire Diaries...
, and Tony Krantz.
He is also the director of the award-winning short films The Perfect Candidate by frequent collaborator Jenelle Riley, The Meeting, Hate of Date, and Conversations, starring Curtis Armstrong
Curtis Armstrong
Curtis Armstrong is an American actor best known for his portrayal as Booger in the Revenge of the Nerds movies, as Herbert Viola on Moonlighting, and as famed record producer Ahmet Ertegün in the film Ray.-Early life:...
.
Worked as a makeup artist (special effects and regular) before pursuing directing. During this time, he worked with Catherine Keener
Catherine Keener
Catherine Ann Keener is an American actress. She has been nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for Being John Malkovich and Capote...
, Brigitte Nielsen
Brigitte Nielsen
Brigitte Nielsen is a Danish model, actress, musician and reality television personality who began her career modelling for Greg Gorman and Helmut Newton and several years later made appearances in the 1985 films Red Sonja and Rocky IV and is also known for her marriage to Sylvester Stallone...
, Sandahl Bergman, Charles Napier
Charles Napier (actor)
Charles L. Napier was an American actor, known for his portrayals of square-jawed tough guys and military types.-Early life:...
, and Leo Rossi
Leo Rossi
Leo Rossi is an American actor and writer. He is known for his role as Budd in the 1981 horror film Halloween II and as Turkell from the 1990 horror sequel Maniac Cop 2. His other films include Heart Like a Wheel , River's Edge , The Accused , Relentless and Analyze This...
.
He often participates in Instant Films, a 48 hour filmmaking challenge.
Worked as a projectionist for the Florida Film Festival
Florida Film Festival
The Florida Film Festival, produced by Enzian Theater in Maitland, Florida, is an annual international film festival. Showcasing the best American independent and foreign films, the festival has become one of the most respected regional film events in the United States.-Overview:The Festival...
and the Enzian Theater
Enzian Theater
The Enzian Theater is a non-profit arthouse movie theater located in Maitland, Florida. The theater hosts the Florida Film Festival and several other local film festivals....
from 1996–1999, before relocating to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
.
Rock was also an Associate Editor for the independent filmmaking magazine Action and a contributing writer at Back Stage
Back Stage
Back Stage is an entertainment-industry brand aimed at people working in film and the performing arts, with a special focus on casting, job opportunities, and career advice.Back Stage publishes a weekly tabloid-sized trade magazine in the U.S...
and Creative Screenwriting magazine. In 2010, he returned to theater to direct Baal, the very first play written by famed playwright Bertolt Brecht
Bertolt Brecht
Bertolt Brecht was a German poet, playwright, and theatre director.An influential theatre practitioner of the 20th century, Brecht made equally significant contributions to dramaturgy and theatrical production, the latter particularly through the seismic impact of the tours undertaken by the...
.
Awards
Meeting Mr. Subian- Audience Award, Central Florida Film and Video Festival, 19951996 CFFVF Trailer - Golden Addy
Addy
Addy may refer to:in people:*Bob Addy , American baseball player*David Addy , Ghanaian footballer*Gifty Addy , Ghanaian sprinter*Lee Addy , Ghanaian footballer*Mark Addy , British actor...
, 1996
1997 CFFVF Trailer - Silver Addy
Addy
Addy may refer to:in people:*Bob Addy , American baseball player*David Addy , Ghanaian footballer*Gifty Addy , Ghanaian sprinter*Lee Addy , Ghanaian footballer*Mark Addy , British actor...
, 1997
Hate or Date - Audience Award at Instant Films for Best Film, Director, Cinematographer, Editor, Script and Cast
Conversations - Best short and Best Actor (Curtis Armstrong
Curtis Armstrong
Curtis Armstrong is an American actor best known for his portrayal as Booger in the Revenge of the Nerds movies, as Herbert Viola on Moonlighting, and as famed record producer Ahmet Ertegün in the film Ray.-Early life:...
) at Shockerfest, DIY Award at Hypefest, Finalist Award at GenArts Shorts in the Park, Cinematography award at Just Another Film Festival
New Orleans Chapter of The Art of the Heist
The Art of the Heist
The Art of the Heist was an advertising campaign and an alternate reality game created to promote the Audi A3.-The promotion:Audi developed a new car and wanted to promote it...
- Bronze award at The One Show
The One Show
The One Show is a topical magazine-style daily television programme broadcast live on BBC One and BBC One HD, hosted by Alex Jones and Matt Baker. Chris Evans joins Jones to present the programme on Friday...
Personal life
He is the son of former OrlandoOrlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
and Miami area Bozo the Clown
Bozo the Clown
Bozo the Clown is a clown character very popular in the United States, peaking in the 1960s as a result of widespread franchising in early television.Originally created by Alan W...
Alan Rock. Attended Winter Park High School
Winter Park High School
Winter Park High School located in Winter Park, Florida is one of seventeen public high schools in Orange County. Winter Park High School is a magnet school for the International Baccalaureate program.-History:...
with comedian Billy Gardell
Billy Gardell
Billy Gardell is an American actor and comedian. Gardell has been visible within the comedy world industry since 1989. He currently portrays Mike Biggs on the CBS television series Mike and Molly.-Early life:...
and screenwriter Darren Fischbach. Rock is married to HGTV
HGTV
HGTV , is a cable-television network operating in the United States and Canada, broadcasting a variety of home and garden improvement, maintenance, renovation, craft and remodeling shows...
producer Alicia Conway, and they frequently collaborate on creative projects including Conversations and Hate or Date.