November • 2021
He was pleasant to work with, even with all of the challenges that came with our production schedule!
Phoenix, AZ, USA
3 reviews$750 - $2500 / Day
Request QuoteAfter working as a student journalist in 2004, Andrew fell in love with storytelling for impact. Between 2005-08 he cut his teeth as a coordinator on The Amazing Race; 3rd AD on the BAFTA-nominated docudrama Eagle Falls; as PM for Discovery and Animal Planet shows; and as the writer/producer/director of marketing videos for impact organizations. This while also story producing The Joe Show documentary, with his mentor turned partner, Director Randy Murray. In 2008, Andrew and Murray began another documentary, Mitchell 20. Andrew produced, wrote, and the two co-directed. Andrew helped raise $550k for this film to cover its 3 year-long production. It was released in 2012 via a theatrical run with AMC Independent and won a regional Emmy for Best Documentary. The same year, Benson sold his original concept Edge of War to Discovery Military. The shows host, General Wesley Clark said it “could reduce enthusiasm for war”, which was exactly its intent. This led to Discovery’s licensing of The Joe Show and a development deal. In 2013, Benson moved to San Francisco to pursue this film and set up a creative agency, A Happy Project, where he served as a creative writer, producer, and director on digital products and content projects for startups and NGOs. Chasing his film, Democracy: An Inquiry he spent 2017/18 living in Paris, Monrovia, and Johannesburg before settling down in New York. Today, he works with clients like the BMW Foundation, Patreon, University of Phoenix, b8ta, Tomorrow Lab, Accountability Lab, and Humanity United. Outside of Phoenix, he's lived in San Francisco, Paris, Quito, Monrovia (Liberia), and Johannesburg. He's traveled and worked in 30 US states and 30 countries, and is currently based in New York City.
November • 2021
He was pleasant to work with, even with all of the challenges that came with our production schedule!
Projects I produced and directed.
From a personal project. I produced, shot, directed, edited.
This was a nationwide campaign to launch Accountability Lab's Integrity Idol project in South Africa funded by the BMW Foundation in partnership with SABC, Democracy Works and Indigo Trust. I served as a Creative Producer, Director, Mentor, DP, and Editor. After doing research and fact finding on the ground in I created a loose content and media strategy, then refined it under the guidance of local media leaders. With the support of the lab, I pitched a lab of our own where I could use my production budget to create a learning experience for a group of diverse young South African filmmakers. The lab was able to quickly raise funds so we could support 9 filmmakers with stipends and gear to assist in every aspect of production. Together we built the campaign from the ground up and executed it, tapping into the strengths of everyone in the team from producing to art direction, editing to sound design. The project launched on the largest morning show in South Africa, played on every major television station and radio show, and got significant traction through a WhatsApp strategy I developed. By the end of the production, all the partners had signed on to produce the series again and committed even more money to execute it.
Ten-year long feature documentary acquired by Discovery which I story produced and shot. The film secured Best Doc at the Phoenix Film Festival.
A commercial I wrote, produced, and directed. This was part of a rebranding campaign I led as a creative producer and director which included four spots, two print pieces and a website redesign, with UX I created. The campaign and UX both won Gold Addys.
3 year long documentary project which I produced, wrote and co-directed about teachers in America. The project won a regional Emmy for best doc and had extended theatrical runs in LA, NY, Phoenix, and Denver through AMC Independent.
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