Today we’d like to introduce you to Ben Grant.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Ben. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I feel like when most filmmakers talk about their beginnings, they always talk about how they were given a camera as a kid and were immediately hooked. That wasn’t me. For a long time I never really had any sort of direction that I was heading down. One thing was for sure, I loved movies and I loved television. It never occurred to me that filmmaking was something I could make a career out of. In high school I was thrown into a TV production class because it worked with my schedule. While it mostly focused on broadcast, I got my hands on some gear and learned the basics of editing and how to use a camera.
At the time, I didn’t even know what a cinematographer was. I always figured that the director was the one making all of the visual decisions, and I was no director. I started getting really into post production, and began taking classes and working on projects outside of school. I quickly figured out that this was something I wanted to pursue long after high school, so I attended MassArt for Film Production.
It wasn’t until going into my junior year that I figured out I wanted to be a cinematographer. I loved the collaboration and contributing to the image, but didn’t like writing or working with actors like a director would. I started focusing more on operating the camera and working with light and color. I figured out how satisfying it was to have your own sort of visual stamp on a project. When I started to get a hang of things, my work quickly went from a passion, to an obsession. Since then I’ve had the pleasure to work on some amazing projects as a cinematographer. More importantly, I’ve collaborated with inspiring, talented directors and crew members along the way.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It’s a tough field. Egos, self-doubt, and competition always rear their head. You sometimes have a very inconsistent schedule, and shoots can have long hours, especially in the independent scene. Rejection becomes a close friend, but you can’t take it personally. There are so many talented people and sometimes your style isn’t right for the job, or you and the director just don’t click. All of these factors make you work harder and always strive to be better. It’s a field where you can always experiment and grow, so your work never gets stale. I’m just getting started too. The key is to find talented people you get along with and work your way up together.
Please tell us about Ben Grant- Cinematographer.
I’m a freelance cinematographer. A cinematographer in its simplest term, is the head of the lighting and camera departments, and helps a director visually interpret the script. It’s a very technical job at times, but you’re making a lot of creative decisions related to the image as well. I work on sets of projects ranging from independent films, music videos, fashion, and commercials. I tend to be drawn to more serious stories where I can play with shadow and emotional lighting. Every story and project has different needs, but I like to create darker images and find myself experimenting a lot with vibrant colors. Along with my style, I think people like to work with me because of my ability to stay on schedule, and be able to keep a relaxed attitude in a high stress environment. I still have so much to learn, but I’m so grateful for the projects I’ve been on, and people I’ve been able to work with!
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
I remember when I was around 9 I really hated going to the dentist. When I was in class I got called down to the office saying that I was being dismissed early form school. My dad walked in and told me I had a dentist appointment that day. I was so bummed out. When we got in the car my dad said the dentist had some paperwork I needed to check out(why would a 9 year old be looking at paperwork), and he handed me what turned out to be tickets to the new Star Wars movie premiering that day. I’m a diehard fan and even loved those terrible prequels back then. I just remember how insanely excited I was. It’s such a simple memory but it’s always stuck with me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.bengrantdop.com
- Phone: 781-248-4304
- Email: ben@bengrantdop.com
- Instagram: @benjgrant
Image Credit:
Kyle Cardoza- the one of me operating camera, and the table lighting setup photo
Jason Walsh- My portrait and the first set photo
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