Ben Caldwell (filmmaker) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ben Caldwell
Caldwell in 2019.
Born	1945 (age 79–80)
Nationality	American
Alma mater	UCLA
Occupation	Filmmaker, Educator
Years active	1973 - present
Style	Experimental, Documentary

Ben Caldwell (born in 1945) is an American filmmaker and teacher based in Los Angeles. He is known for his unique experimental films and for helping young people learn about digital arts.

Early Life and Film Education

Ben Caldwell grew up in New Mexico. He first learned about movies by helping his grandfather project films at a local theater. This early experience made him love filmmaking.

Later, Caldwell's interest in movies grew while he was in the military. He bought a camera in Japan and used it to take pictures of soldiers during the Vietnam War. This helped him get comfortable using a camera.

After serving, Caldwell studied photography in Arizona. His teachers saw that he was trying to tell stories with his pictures. They encouraged him to study film. He then went to UCLA for his Master of Fine Arts degree in film, which he finished in 1976.

The L.A. Rebellion Movement

At UCLA, Caldwell joined a special group of young Black filmmakers. This group included Charles Burnett, Julie Dash, and Billy Woodberry. They became known as "The L.A. Rebellion."

These filmmakers wanted to change how Black people were shown in movies. They felt that many films at the time did not show Black culture accurately. The L.A. Rebellion artists used their films to share stories about Black culture in Los Angeles. They also explored social issues and pushed for people to come together. Ben Caldwell said their goal was to "emancipate the image" of Black people.

While at UCLA, Caldwell made his film “Medea.” This experimental film explores how a child's mind develops before birth. He also created other experimental shorts like "I & I: An African Allegory" and "Water Ritual #1: An Urban Rite of Purification." These films are called "experimental documentaries" because they try new ways of telling real stories. Caldwell and his friends wanted to tell different kinds of stories than the popular "Blaxploitation" films of that time.

Ben Caldwell's Career and KAOS Network

After college, Ben Caldwell taught at CalArts for several years. In 1984, he started something very important: the KAOS Network. This is a community arts center in Leimert Park, Los Angeles.

KAOS Network helps young people learn about digital arts, media, and multimedia. It's the only place like it in South Central Los Angeles. Kids can take hands-on classes in video production, animation, and website design. They also learn about using the internet.

KAOS Network also hosts WORDshop, a weekly meeting for hip-hop artists, dancers, singers, and visual artists. Each week, over 150 young people take part in programs at the center. KAOS Network also records community events and makes documentaries. It helps young people learn new skills and get ready for jobs in digital arts.

Filmmaking and Future Projects

Caldwell has made many films. One film, “For Whose Entertainment,” looks at Black comedians and who they try to entertain. Caldwell believes his films are not just political, but cultural. He wants to make films that people watch many times and always find something new. He hopes his art can bring people closer and help preserve the unique culture of the African diaspora.

Ben Caldwell has exciting plans for the future. He is working on self-driving cars that will also show movies to passengers. He also wants to turn old phone booths in Los Angeles into stations where people can video chat. Caldwell hopes to use the new Metro line in South Los Angeles to create platforms for young artists to show their work.

Filmography

• Medea (1973)
• I & I: An African Allegory (1979)
• Water Ritual 1: An Urban Rite of Purification (1979)
• Gidget Meets Hondo (1980)
• Festival Of Mask (1982)
• The Snake In My Bed (1995)
• Eyewitness: Reflections of Malcolm X & O.A.A.U. (2006)
• I Build The Tower (2006)
• Leimert Park: Sankofa Project (2007)
• La Buena Vida (2008)