https://benstamperpictures.com/work-1 daily 1.0 2025-10-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5be0d9a931d4dffbe7aa5e19/1546436134817-PB07RO3TLIC8MZ5MMG2A/Screen+Shot+2019-01-02+at+8.29.57+AM.png Work https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5be0d9a931d4dffbe7aa5e19/1546393940235-CQZ1K1HU4LJ1HAO5WB4T/Screen+Shot+2019-01-01+at+8.48.08+PM.png Work - The Weight Inspired by the seminal poem Song, by Allen Ginsberg, The Weight is a dance based short film about a two sisters separated by a freak act of nature. Directed by Ben Stamper and Andrew Michael Ellis Cinematography by Andrew Michael Ellis and Ben Stamper Editing by Andrew Michael Ellis, Ben Stamper, Jonathan Seale, Larkin Poynton and Christopher Martin Full film: https://vimeo.com/233570458 Choreographed by Larkin Poynton and Christopher Martin Music by Mason Jar Music "Song" by Allen Ginsberg Read by Tom O'Bedlam Starring: Arden Stamper Janelle Gleason Dancers: Chris Martin Fabian Tucker Krystine Nicole Aguas Larkin Poynton Mariel Madrid Mikey Ruiz Production Management Lea Fulton Jon Seale Camera Assistants: Jacob Blumberg Lander Andonegi Photographer: Timo Detimers BTS director: Ibon "Ambolo" Taboada https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5be0d9a931d4dffbe7aa5e19/1546438270028-29V1M1QSQ0GP640SON02/image-asset.jpeg Work - Pehelwani The story of a group of young men that practice the ancient art of "pehelwan," or mud wrestling, at the Bhuteshwar Akhara in the town of Mathura, India. We witness the strict yet ultimately joyous way these men live, the tight bond they have with each other, and the reverence for the soil they wrestle upon. 'Pehelwani' premiered worldwide at the American Documentary Film Festival in Palm Springs, CA in April, 2017 and has been screened at the Brooklyn Film Festival and New Orleans Film Festival, among others. Director: João Canziani Editor: Ben Stamper Cinematographer: João Canziani Interviewer & Fixer: Kunal Shah Sound Recordist: Subbu Subramanian Sound Mix: Jacob Blumberg Color: Kath Raich at Company 3 Music: "Hey Gobind Hey Gopal" by Jagjit Singh https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5be0d9a931d4dffbe7aa5e19/1546439738986-L141H79BD7GB4UXNK4WT/jonah+still.jpg Work - JONAH JONAH - an interview with a former African American slave accompanies a powerful dance vignette of an urban man in extremis. The juxtaposition of past and present raises questions about inherited trauma and the possibility of regeneration. Directed by Andrew Michael Ellis Performed by Ernest Felton Baker Cinematography by Andrew Michael Ellis and Ben Stamper Edited by Ben Stamper Additional Cinematography by Sasha Aryutunova Special Thanks to Jonathan Seale Leeds International Film Festival Dance on Camera Festival at Lincoln Center Telluride MountainFilm Festival Bucharest International Dance Film Festival Topanga Film Festival San Francisco Black Film Festival Pan African Film Festival Tiny Dance Film Festival Harlem International Film Festival San Francisco Short Dance Film Festival New Voices in Black Cinema at BAM Black International Film Festival Big Sky Documentary Film Festival Krakow Film Festival Tampere Film Festival Nashville Film Festival Dance Camera West LA Film Festival Savannah Film Festival San Francisco Dance Film Festival Port Townsend Film Festival https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5be0d9a931d4dffbe7aa5e19/1546440782224-QMCBS9S9O2BZ49XLGXFL/justin.jpg Work - DON'T FOIL MY PLANS DON'T FOIL MY PLANS is a deeply inspiring look at one young artist whose dreams are much bigger than his autism. Award-winning director Ben Stamper follows the life and work of Justin Canha, a New Jersey-based artist in his mid-twenties whose diagnosis places him in the middle of the autism spectrum. Justin's goals are simple: to move out of his parents' house and pursue an independent life. Justin has given himself one year to find an apartment and establish himself as an illustrator and animator. DON'T FOIL MY PLANS is a lyrical, penetrating documentary about the population boom of adults with autism and the incredible odds they must face to achieve even the smallest forms of independence. This film reveals how one young man is cleverly harnessing his condition as a key to the happy and fulfilled life we all yearn for. DON'T FOIL MY PLANS is a vérité film that is told from a relational, rather than analytical, point of view. This is not an issue-driven documentary full of statistics and talking heads, nor is this an exposé on the causes and controversy of autism. Rather, it is an impressionistic portrait of Justin which celebrates the idea that true strength often resides in perceived weakness, and that human worth abounds even in the midst of social rejection. Directed, filmed and edited by Ben Stamper Trailer music by DadRocks! All contents ©2018 Ben Stamper No portion of this trailer may be used without express permission of the director https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5be0d9a931d4dffbe7aa5e19/1546442207434-63HWG5HFYFW3QS0JU9XZ/benphoto+edit+%2817+of+27%29.jpg Work - Horse & Rider: A Journey Towards Freedom The official trailer for Horse & Rider: A Journey Towards Freedom Directed by Ben Stamper in association with Freedom Firm Assistant Director Rodney Green Original soundtrack by Peter Hicks and Aradhna Original film score by Joshua Stamper Filmed on location in India 2011 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5be0d9a931d4dffbe7aa5e19/1546442548909-XX4E9PF5QL38I7TWT4AJ/kite.jpg Work - Sau Guna A collection of 6 music videos shot on location in Varanasi, India September 3-15 2010. Written, Directed, Filmed and Edited by Ben Stamper Music by Aradhna https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5be0d9a931d4dffbe7aa5e19/1546444966562-ZV8NR2EN7T3JWKJXT9LZ/presence+still.jpg Work - Presence: 5 Haikus for 5 Boros Film by Ben Stamper commissioned by the Center for Faith & Work Music by John Mosloskie Artist Statement: For many of us, abstraction as an overall approach to cinema is a problematic affair, and can sometimes leave us as audience members in a state of alienation from those who seem to be tracking right along with the program. When this happens, a profound sense of isolation and self-doubt is the only take-home of an honest attempt to engage with the avant-garde in film. But there are types of abstraction that can have quite the opposite effect – to connect us with the world, to orient us the right way round and at its best, to heal our vision. When such constructive abstraction is achieved all things become new, especially things that remain rooted in normality. Meaningful discovery is possible when the ordinary everyday scene shocks us into dismay or euphoria. It can be a means towards reality, where all things shimmer in their newness. There is a story that tells of a man named Jesus who went about giving a blind man his sight. To do this, Jesus spit on the man’s eyes and laid his hands on them. The blind man then exclaimed “I see men; for I behold them as trees walking.” It can’t be assumed here that the man saw imperfectly. The contrary might just as well have been the case: he saw too clearly all of the forms and shapes that comprise a human figure. Pure sight without interpretation is the double-edged sword of seeing something as it truly appears in a state of total disorientation. Free of association and experiential definition, the “half-seeing person” is the essence and aim of constructive abstraction. It is in this state can we perceive the number of fingers God is holding up to us at any given time. Author R.H. Blyth famously described the Japanese discipline of haiku as “ an open door that looks shut.” In other words, the experience of haiku is to inhabit one’s natural space in real time, and then to concentrate that moment into a fertile seed that can be planted in the consciousness of the reader. Haiku as a poetic form has long been regarded in the West as “light verse” or “no verse.” (And with good reason; since the 1950’s there has been a bumper crop of poorly written haiku in english). But the essence of haiku is simplicity and suggestion of the commonplace as a means of framing the universe in relationship to human nature and vice-versa. It is written that Jesus placed his hands on the man’s eyes a second time, “and he saw everything clearly.” This describes the properly functioning mechanical vision that many of us are blessed to have. It is the operational sight that we take to lens crafters and adjust with corrective lenses. This second vision allows us to connect what we know with what we see. This film considers the idea that both sights are necessary for the responsibilities of regular life; for the caring of the poor and dying, for the pursuit of beauty. What you are about to participate in is a series of visual and auditory meditations in the spirit of haiku poetry, referring to the ancient form’s brevity and unadorned train of thought. These video-haikus are the result of a six-week artist residency that focused on the theme “fully human.” This is not a film with a common story-arc or 3-point structure. Rather, it is meant to be primarily a sensory experience that considers the subconscious an equal partner in discerning the work. There is one 3 to 4 minute haiku composed for every borough of New York. You are encouraged to not get overly concerned about locating each scene. There will be plenty of time for that later. For the moment, let us an attempt to edge closer to the barred door of the everyday, and open it together. -Ben Stamper https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5be0d9a931d4dffbe7aa5e19/1546445498208-903AXUHWBL3U5ZHL2ABW/eventide+still.jpg Work - Paul Taylor: Eventide Filmed for Grace Farms Foundation and Paul Taylor American Modern Dance Filmed by Sasha Arutyunova and Ben Stamper Directed by Jon Seale Produced by Kenyon Adams Dancers: Michael Trusnovec, Parisa Khobdeh https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5be0d9a931d4dffbe7aa5e19/1546448630263-Z79CA3KLBASJA5BNK3IV/begotten+light.jpg Work - Begotten A Creation Story Film and score by Ben Stamper Cinematography and editing by Ben Stamper Additional cinematography by Andrew Michael Ellis. Cave and Eclipse sound recorded by Jonathan Seale and Jacob Blumberg. Produced by Beth Foley https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5be0d9a931d4dffbe7aa5e19/1546449090138-NG22F5I95KP24R7SL6HL/HAND+OVER+SEA+STILL.jpg Work - Hand Over Sea A meditation on the splitting of the Red Sea. Text consolidated from the book of Exodus Images and sounds by Ben Stamper Music by Fog Lake "Transcanada" off of the album "Virgo indigo" (Used under Creative Common’s Attribution 4.0 license) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5be0d9a931d4dffbe7aa5e19/1546441073624-MJ3JGX060OTTZA058DTW/deep+place+cover.jpg Work - The Deep Place One small boy. One huge lake. Foli was a slave. Immerse yourself in his story. Thousands of children between the ages of 6 and 18 live in slavery on Lake Volta, working up to 18 hours a day in the fishing industry. For these young children, the only way out of slavery is to drown or be rescued. Children just like Foli.* Visit ijm.org/foli to send rescue today. Trailer: vimeo.com/248319522 Director's Cut: vimeo.com/ijm/thedeepplacedc --- This story is a reenactment of the real life events of one young boy. All the names and locations have been changed to protect his real identity. Directed by Lindsay Branham and Andrew Michael Ellis Edited by Ben Stamper Cinematography by Andrew Ellis and Ben Stamper Original Music by Aled Roberts Casting by Mawuko Kuadzi Field Producer Greg Justice, Amy Justice Script Supervisor Bethany Williams Production Sound: Greg Justice Stunt supervision by Hayford Agbedor Visual Effects by Perry Kroll Color Correction by Alter Ego Cast Foli: Louis Baah Yeboah Fofo: Godwin Duse Uncle: Brian Angels Boys on the Lake: Antony Antiga Richmond Ameoyi Grandfather: Isaac Afako Grandmother: Veronika Dogolo Produced by Novo Executive Produced by International Justice Mission https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5be0d9a931d4dffbe7aa5e19/1598717195419-406VM1M646I4VQSJWET3/image-asset.jpeg Work - NOTES ON GATHERING Commissioned by Works & Process at the Guggenheim. Directed by Ben Stamper & Andrea Miller Choreography by Andrea Miller Performance by Misa Lucyshyn & Arden Stamper Music by Jordan T. Chiolis Camerawork by Ben Stamper & Misa Lucyshyn Editing by Ben Stamper Production Design by Ben Stamper Commissioned by Works & Process at the Guggenheim 2020 Presented by First Republic. Co-presented by Grace Farms, Northrop, PEAK Performances, and Pennsylvania Ballet. Works & Process Artist (WPA) Virtual Commissions To financially support artists and nurture their creative process during these challenging times, Works & Process at the Guggenheim will grant over $150,000 for artists to create new works while observing social distancing guidelines. New works posted every Sunday and Monday at 7:30pm. Please consider a donation. Every dollar you give will go directly to the artists. DONATE - https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr... Works & Process YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQoPSG7Yye8&list=PLJ08rQmWB63RFC3avQF-nDsneUXLrUd4X&index=2&t=0s https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5be0d9a931d4dffbe7aa5e19/1546444321511-OAQL109PAO63BQGTA5QR/wtns+still.jpg Work - What the Night Sings book trailer Book Trailer for What the Night Sings, a fully illustrated young adult novel that delves into the seldom told story of life after the concentration camps. Ben Stamper, Director, editor, production design Vesper Stamper, Writer Andrew Ellis, Director of Photography Jacob Blumberg, 1st AC Jon Seale, Sound Lea Fulton, Costume Ben Stamper, Production Design Adriana Andaluz, Hair, Makeup Blake Goldberg, Production assistant Colin Hinckley, as Lev Katrina Sorrentino, as Gerta Aura Lewis, as Rosa https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5be0d9a931d4dffbe7aa5e19/1598719060361-4ZXWHAK7LM7FL83OHN4H/image-asset.jpeg Work - Hollow by Courtney Hartman Hollow is a tale of a woman’s greatest love lost to illness, and the void that is left when her former way of life fades into the past. The things that once brought comfort only remind her that the world is not as it should be. In the end, the only chance of her survival is through surrender, and to fully cast herself upon the grief that threatens to her ruin. Follow Courtney Hartman on Spotify. Directed by Benjamin Stamper Cinematography by Andrew Michael Ellis Featuring Anders Lindwall Editing by Benjamin Stamper and Andrew Michael Ellis Camera Assistance and Art Direction: Jacob Blumberg and Jon Seale Filmed in Telluride, CO and Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness, NM