is ben weird?

BEN TAMAN (He/Him) is a trans film director originally from Eau Claire, WI. At present he lives and works in Minneapolis, MN. As a trans man with schizophrenia, it’s easier for him to embrace the weirdness in life rather than fight against it. Strange, a bit warped, a little off–classic Ben. His projects tend to be autobiographical in some way, and he’s happy at the chance to share things with you.

BEN’S FAV BEN VIDEOS

Dive into a cinematic odyssey guided by the creative lens of BEN TAMAN…With a career spanning nearly a decade, Ben's cinematic voyage has been a continuous evolution. From his earliest projects to his latest endeavors, each frame carries the weight of experience and growth. Check out some of his favorite videos over the years…

WORK

WEDNESDAY - Netflix

CURRENT PERSONAL PROJECTS

Do You Think I’m Weird?

TAG LINE:

Explore schizophrenia through director Ben Taman's decade-long personal journey, framed by intimate interviews that lead to the pivotal question: Do you think I’m weird?

SYNOPSIS:

BEN was diagnosed with arguably the most feared mental

illness 10 years ago and is still trying to understand it.

In this film directed by him, he interviews family & friends, and even some researchers, therapists and his psychiatrist, Dr. Sophia Vinogradov to try to make sense of a disorder without any sense to begin with.

Status
In Production

Deck (Click Me)

Seeing Each Other, Seeing Things

TAG LINE:

I hope something happens.

SYNOPSIS:

BILLY, an anxious and dedicated late twenty-something, awakens to just another day with his not-so-trusty companion–a bird chained to his shoulder. Thrown for a loop by a diner server, he begins to wonder what’s real and what’s not. What does it even mean to have a crush? Using his own strange methods, he tries to see what’s really there. Maybe it’s love, maybe it's nothing.

Status
In Post Production

Deck (Click Me)

CV

PUBLICLY SCREENED DIRECTED/WRITTEN WORK

Fragments (7 part web series, total runtime 63min), 2017, 7 episode online show depicting schizophrenia and queerness. Sold out three premiere weekend screenings in Eau Claire, WI at the Downtown Theater and has screened in Minneapolis at the Trylon Cinema. Entire show is now streaming on Seeka.TV.

Speed Cinema (9:16-minute short film), 2019, an avante-garde short film about an obsessive man who does meth to watch movies 24/7. The film had its sold out premire in Eau Claire, WI at the Downtown Theater and in Minneapolis at the Trylon Cinema.

Asé Asé Asé: An Alter and Portal Piece (3:44-minute mini doc) 2021, a short documentary I filmed and edited for Bare Bones sharing the story of Baki Baki Baki Z Porter creating their piece for a Bare Bones halloween show. This showed on the Bare Bones website.

The Minnesota Transgender Health Coalition: As Told By Friends (9:56-minute mini doc) 2021, a short documentary I directed, shot, and edited for MTHC’s Give MN campaign. This played at The Trans Equity Summit in 2021, the SPNN Connect Media Festival, as well as the Eau Claire Film Fest.

Dessert Them (11:21 cooking segment) 2021, A cooking segment I filmed and edited (directed by Dom Laba) starring Puffy for Minneapolis Institute of Art’s Drag Queen Tutorials.

Creative City Making Minneapolis: Census 2020 *DIR., CINEMATOGRAPHER (a collection of promotional videos including a radio show, a video of Andrea Jenkins reading, interviews and the Community Connections Conference), 2020, all videos highlighting the trans community thanks to MTHC.

OTHER PROFESSIONAL FILM/VIDEO WORK

Homeless Newz Network *CONTENT PRODUCER, (a bi-weekly live web show put on by ZAmya Theater) 2021, News about homelessness in Minneapolis by people who are or have experienced homelessness. I work one on one with troupe members to create pre recorded content for the live shows.

Heat Death (Hold Me Here) *DIR. EDITOR, 2020, a music video premiered by Audiofemme.com and written about by The Current.

INSIDE VOICE *DIR. EDITOR, (5:30-minute mini documentary), 2020, a day in the studio with band INSIDE VOICE and two time grammy winning engineer Brian Joseph.

Midwest Feminist *PRODUCER, DIR. EDITOR, (7:43-min promotional documentary), 2018, a short video highlighting an activist group in Eau Claire, WI called the Midwest Feminists.

Ilhan Omar X Trans Healthcare *DIR., CINEMATOGRAPHER (documentary style political talk video), 2020, a discussion between Minnesota Transgender Health Coalition and Ilhan Omar currently in post-production. Made possible by MTHC and Rare Productions.

Queer Black Excellence *EDITOR, (live online show), 2020, I personally helped edit zoom panels and contributed a number of videos to showcase like a rap video and a PSA about The 2020.

C’Mon Baby Stroke It! The Tennis Musical (Where Love Is Everything) by A.P. Looze *DIR. OF PHOTOGRAPHY, EDITOR (30-minute film) This film is a collection of original songs and music videos inspired by pop punk celebrating love, queer sexuality, trans embodiment, and sobriety through the game of tennis.
The Walker Hillside Performances *DIR., CINEMATOGRAPHER, EDITOR (Live performance capture) I oversaw the video capture of a Honey dance performance, a fashion show, a live podcast taping, and three poetry readings with Mizna all outdoors on the Walker Hillside the summer of 2021.

2024 SAG Awards *EDITOR, TECH SUPPORT (live stream via Netflix) Live event post production support staff for the 2024 SAG Awards first live stream on Netflix.

CURRENT POSITION

BMP Creative *Jr. Account Executive, Lead Post-Production Coordinator - Multicultural, 2024 - Present, continue my post production coordination and also now handling client comms with Netflix and taking on more creative leadership.

BMP Creative *Lead Post-Production Coordinator, 2022 - Present, coordinate and edit social media content and promotional youtube videos for Netflix productions.

Past Positions

BMP Creative *Post-Production Support, 2020-2022

R.A.R.E. Productions *Film Director (2019-2022 contract staff) Planned, organized, and directed all video content produced by R.A.R.E. Productions for three years. From idea conception to editing the final product. Music videos, promos, documentaries, fundraising videos, live event captures.

Power 2 the People Stage at TC Pride *DIR., EDITOR (2020 - 2023) (live performance capture) Operated two cameras and managed supporting video staff for the Twin Cities Pride Festival for the Power 2 the People stage overseen by Roxanne Anderson. Edited recaps and hype videos for upcoming festivals.

Trylon Micro Cinema *VOLUNTEER STAFF (2021 - Present) Volunteer staff at the movie theater every other Tuesday.