Ben Sainsbury facts for kids

Ben Sainsbury (born December 17, 1972) is a Canadian and American entrepreneur, filmmaker, actor, and freelance journalist. He is known for his movies and for creating a company that helps train surgeons using virtual reality.

About Ben Sainsbury

Ben Sainsbury was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. When he was young, his family moved to Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, where he lived for eight years. After that, he returned to Canada and lived in Seguin, Ontario, attending high school in Rosseau.

After high school, Ben lived in California and Arizona for 16 years. He studied acting and earned a degree in filmmaking from College of Marin. In 2005, he completed a master's degree in writing at the University of Southern California film school. While studying, he worked as an actor in commercials to help pay for his film projects and education.

Ben's Military Service

Ben Sainsbury has dual citizenship, meaning he is a citizen of both Canada and the United States. He served for three years in the U.S. Army in a special unit called Psychological Operations. In this role, he learned how to create mock battlefield scenes and how to deal with challenging situations. This included using loud music, gathering information, and sharing messages with others.

His animated film Private Snuffy was inspired by an article he wrote for Now Magazine in Toronto. This article was about events he observed during his military service. Ben received a grant from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund to help finish the film. Today, he works in Toronto selling computer software.

Journalism and Virtual Reality

While studying for his PhD in media studies in Switzerland, Ben Sainsbury worked as a freelance reporter. He wrote articles about his military service for PeaceReporter, a newspaper in Milan, Italy. The article he wrote for Now Magazine, which inspired his film Private Snuffy, was even translated into Italian for PeaceReporter. Private Snuffy first showed on April 12, 2011, at the Tiburon International Film Festival in Tiburon, California.

Ben is also the co-founder and CEO of Marion Surgical. This company is a startup that creates virtual reality simulations to help train surgeons. It's a modern way to practice complex medical procedures safely.

Ben Sainsbury's Films

Ben Sainsbury has directed several films:

• ... (2004, short film)
• Pharma (2008)
• Into Darkness (2010)
• Private Snuffy (2011)

Awards and Achievements

• In 2011, Ben Sainsbury won the 'Best Animation Award' at Cinefest Sudbury for his film Private Snuffy.