BEN & ARA- an independent film.
Ben, a passionately agnostic PhD student, falls behind in his dissertation and is surprised to find his muse and love in Ara, a devout member of the Nation of Islam.
Even though they have vastly different beliefs they find a way to connect in a world that doesn't accept their relationship. Through their journey they discover that when two cultures touch each other the consequences can be magical and tragic.
Our Goal
In our video we talk about why this type of story is important, particularly in today's society. We believe that something amazing happens when two people, from drastically different points of view, are able to sit down and connect with each other. As Constance says in her interview, once all the beliefs are stripped away you're just left with two people. And two people connecting despite cultural barriers is something everyone should experience, if only vicariously through our story. That is our goal with BEN & ARA, to open us up to one another just a little more.
Our Budget
About Us!
Constance Ejuma
Born in Cameroon and raised in the US, Constance Ejuma became interested in acting as a teenager and went on to study theater at the University of Toronto in Canada. She later attended Leicester University in the UK where she received a master’s degree in Mass Communications. After completing her studies, she spent a brief time pursuing acting in the Washington, DC area before making the move to Los Angeles to further her training and advance her career. Constance has credits in theatre, film and television and her work has given her the opportunity to collaborate with prolific artists like Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka and Academy Award Nominee Shohreh Aghdashloo. In addition to "BEN & ARA" she is currently working on a documentary film she directed and produced called "Don't Forget Me."
Joseph Baird
Joseph began acting as a young child in the theater in Oklahoma. He studied archaeology at the University of Oklahoma and then went on to graduate school in Miami FL. There the acting bug caught up with him again and he began working on stage and screen. He came to LA and studied acting at the Larry Moss Studio with Michelle Danner, the Underground Theater with Mark Tilman, the Upright Citizen's Brigade, and the Beverly Hills Playhouse. His career advanced through the years and he was recently pleased to be cast in two pilots and a short film called 'The Percipient' that premiered at the Cannes Festival in 2012. His latest credits include a co-star in the CBS show "Criminal Minds" and a leading role in a UK film entitled "Capsule".
Risks and challenges
A film, or any creative endeavor, is by its nature a 'risky enterprise' and "BEN & ARA" is no different. We are shooting in Oklahoma where many of our sets will be provided for us but still there will be a need for iron-clad budgeting and surrounding the project with a team of people who are committed to the film's vision. We have an accountant on board who is set to help us with budgeting and other producers who will come in on the business side of things once we have funding to make sure the film is on track!
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Funding period
- (32 days)