10 THINGS with Zephyr Benson

You’ve only been acting for a few short years. What made you decide to get into the business?

It’s in my blood. It’s the only thing that makes sense to me. Gene in “Straight Outta Tompkins” is my first starring role.

What’s nice about you, is that you’re able to see a project from both sides of the coin. What do you enjoy most about directing behind the lens?

I love it all…being able to build performances, to telling the story, every step of the way. Especially in post production. It’s when you take incredible moments and turn them into a memorable performance and hopefully, an unforgettable story. 

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You attended NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts in Filmmaking. Apparently, you used your tuition money to fund your career. Genius! How did you manage to pull that off?

To be honest, by saying “screw it.” I audited my dad’s top level NYU filmmaking courses at 16 and 17. But, in my first year of college, I was bored. My freshman writing teacher, whose claim to fame was being a script supervisor on one episode of a sitcom that didn’t even make it out of its first season, told me I could not write. No. Sorry, lady. Watch me. I dropped out, knocked out a first draft of “Straight Outta Tompkins”, and it was born. 

Directors have their own way of getting the job done, ranging from the ones that focus on their shot list to the ones that get very creative. What’s your approach to the filmmaking process?

Since I’m also the writer, each step in the process is important to me, because every step changes the way the story is told. I’m meticulous and I focus on everything. There are a lot of lessons learned on a micro budget, as you are always on the run. I can’t wait to take everything I learned in pre-production, on the set, and in post and shoot my next movie!

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Working in this capacity, there is tendency to want to control the entire process. Do you typically wear many hats in respects to your responsibilities on set?

Yeah, I can be controlling on set. That’s part of the job description. But, if you give me a good reason to change an idea, if you can help me make it a better movie, then there is never any ego. 

Which directors/ actors have had the most influence on your career thus far and which ones would you like to work with?

Scorsese, obviously. And Tarantino, of course. Kubrick and Sidney Lumet, their work lives on forever

New York City is known as the big city of dreams. Besides your immediate surroundings, where do you draw your inspiration from for acting and directing?

People. Their dreams, their circumstances, their lives. I know how lucky I am. I draw inspiration from old friends and new people that I meet everyday. 

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Let’s talk a little more about your latest film, Straight Outta Tompkins. What is the film about and what do you hope the audience and viewers walk away with?

On a simplistic level, I’d love it if they walk away saying it was an awesome film with a substantial plot and point topic. But mainly, I hope something about it resonates with them, stays with them. Days later, maybe even a month later. That’s the power of this medium. That elusive possibility is why I am a storyteller.

If you were not an actor or director, what career path would you take?

I would probably be a farmer, in the middle of Colorado. 

We look forward to seeing Straight Outta Tompkins. What other projects do you have coming up in the future?

I’m acting in an indie film starring Chris Cooper as JD Salinger called “Coming Through the Rye.” And, my next script: “The Red Zone.” Get ready to experience the east side of Detroit!

 

Twitter: @BensonZephyr

Facebook: Zephyr Benson

Images courtesy of: Indican Pictures, Dan Hallman, Kyle O’Tain, Dana Patrick

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