Today we’d like to introduce you to Ben Root.
Hi Ben, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was raised in Austin, Texas, but being French-American, I was always instilled with the values of at least two cultures. In middle school, I struggled to find a niche that I fit into, not quite fitting in with the American or French kids (if there were any), so I found love in making music, art, and filmmaking. I started making films with my cousins and friends in middle school using our parent’s VHS recorder. As I continued, I decided to join the film program at my high school. At Austin high, we made the weekly TV show, and I had so much fun making mini-films that I decided to keep going. I encountered the story of a friend Archer Hadley who, despite being in a wheelchair with Cerebral Palsy, took it upon himself to raise over 80,000 dollars to install automatic doors at the school to better the lives of anyone who uses a wheelchair to get around. That film propelled me forward by winning multiple awards, including the White House Film Fest, where I met President Obama. After that, I worked hard to get into the RTF program at UT. I learned a ton in that program and started freelancing in the film as a Gaffer, AC, and DP out of school. Eventually, I transitioned to only DPing and producing, working on branded content for Magnolia network, Hulu, HBO, Waterloo sparkling, Disney, and many more. In 2020 I started 2perf productions and have assembled an amazing roster/team of filmmakers. As we speak, we’re working on making commercials, music videos, narratives, and documentaries.
Alright, let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
It has not been smooth, but it has been fun. Some of the struggles include being able to pay rent while working in a creative field, struggling to get hired to do jobs, and finding my own identity as w bi-cultural human in the US. It’s been rough doing everything myself; the first two years of my company were hard. Putting in 12-hour days every day, sometimes not getting paid, working all day and night, and sometimes dealing with clients who need help understanding the process and asking for much more than what they paid. The easy part was doing what I love, lighting, camera, and directing! Learning how to run the business from scratch has also been challenging, as well as learning contracts and client relations.
Thanks for sharing that. So, you could tell us a bit more about your work.
I specialize mostly in making music videos. I grew up in Austin playing in bands, so it was always a dream of mine to help other artists bring their visions to life. I’m most proud of the music videos I’ve created that combine ingenuity and creativity. For example, the music video we made, “Animals” for Swiss Banks, won the best production design at the LA music video festival. I loved that one because it was low-budget, and we didn’t make any money, but we figured out how to bring an incredibly ambitious idea to the screen. I’m also proud of the team that I’ve been able to bring together. They’re great people, and my network has become the structure I lean on when I need help. I love bringing people to work and having the right folks for the right job.
Who else deserves credit for your story?
My parents are the biggest help. They’ve supported me emotionally from day 1 and always told me I could do whatever I put my mind to. Also, huge thanks to the other filmmakers and production companies who have helped me grow It truly takes a village, and if it weren’t for the other creatives who pushed me to follow my passions, my high school film teacher who told me it was possible to make a living in this field and all of the countless mentors who have met with me over a coffee, I wouldn’t be where I am today.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.2perf.us
- Instagram: 2perfproductions
- Facebook: facebook.com/2perf
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/68680170/admin/
