Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ben Smlatic. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Ben, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?
In 1994, my parents were living in a refugee camp due to the ongoing genocide and war that was ongoing in Bosnia. A few years later, they immigrated to the United States with nothing but the clothes on their back. And then, they were tasked with raising two kids before they’d even really got a solid foot in the ground.
So, with all that being said, first and foremost, my parents tried their best, and I know they did. But it’s where they came from that is what made me who I am today.
Ever since I was young, my parents worked more than most people did. We didn’t have money, we didn’t have anyone really to help. The two of them moved to a more affordable state just so we could have a better life and even then, still had to work themselves into the ground. They didn’t care. It was what they had to do and they’ll tell you that themselves.
As I grew up, it was only then that I realized what kind of people they were and what strength they possessed. My parents, for all the hardship they faced, including seeing best friends dead in the street, their childhood homes bombed, and having their dreams stolen from them, never let anything phase them because truthfully, when you go through what they did, nothing else really can.
But the question was what did they do right. A lot. But, especially since moving out to Los Angeles alone, not knowing anyone, not having anything, one thing they did right that perhaps, if it was the only thing they did right would still make them the best parents in the world was giving me the same grit they had.
They always instilled in us the concept of hard work. To make your dreams happen, luck of course had to be involved but it was your work ethic that would secure the chance for that luck to appear. All their preaching on school, work, building opportunities for ourselves seemed like parents being parents but again, with age comes wisdom one could hope, and as I aged, I only understood more what they meant.
The real world is tough and the path I chose for myself I knew could break me. But as I’d told them my decision to leave home for my dream, I referenced how I was walking the same path they walked by moving to the US. It was what I’d had to do. They believed in me but didn’t shy away from telling me how hard things would be.
And it was only now, once I truly faced struggle like I’d never faced before did I fully learn that what is inside them, that grit, resides in me too.
I thank them for being the indominable fortresses of people that they were. It was only due to the fact that they instilled strength into my sister and I that I am able to still live where I do, continue to build the career I have, and frankly, even be alive I’d imagine.
Ben, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
As I touched on briefly in the question regarding my parents, I moved from my home to LA to pursue my dream of becoming a tenured filmmaker and pursue the never ending journey of my craft.
My story is not unique in that sense. Many have come here, many have failed, some have succeeded. It’s what I love about not on Los Angeles but the film business itself. No other time have I felt that so many path ways can be open for you to take and yet, you have no idea which one is the one you’ll need to take to get to where you must go. Here, in this business, you must work hard. You must. It will spit you out and send you back to wherever you came from if you don’t. I feel you must love this business truly, it must reside in your essence, in your soul to make. Now, that might sound scary, and it is. The pressure to continually make strides in positive directions is immense and yet, I’d have it no other way.
Anyway, enough on the tangent. I feel it’s important for people to know where I come from, and what kind of life I left behind to come here. As I said, I left my home in Iowa, a small farm state, a small town. Unspectacular but it was my home, it was peace. It was where my family lived and of course, it was where I grew up. I mentioned before my parents were immigrants who spent the majority of their lives working hard to even survive and only now, nearly 27 years later, can they start to slow down.
I didn’t come from a family of money, or much prestige. My father was a truck driver, my mother a nurse and yet, my father was always stoic, my mother was always humble and kind. We didn’t have much early on but, my parents, as I mentioned, were the best kind of people.
I won’t bore you with every detail and will try to stay to just the foundlings of my career. At age 10, like most boys at that time in 2008, I started a YouTube channel, not knowing that this was the gateway into the creative world. I stuck with it every since, so, 15 years later, I’m still making content. But through those 15 years, it was everything you could imagine. Vlogs, gaming content, and of course, my own “films” and “sketches”. I put quotations because, calling them films and sketches is doing them a service. I look back at them now and wonder to myself how anyone could make something so bad. But hey, we all start somewhere yes?
I always, even at 10, saw YouTube as my creative outlet. It was what I turned to a lot as, growing up, I was bullied a lot, and didn’t have many friends. Of course, as I got older, my content got better (objectively speaking haha). I upgrade from a 144p webcam to a small pocket camera. I upgraded from Windows Movie Maker to Sony Vegas. Through the years, my canvas was always there for me. Always.
In the winter of 2019, I dropped out of college after only 3 semesters. I was going to school for Journalism at the time because truthfully, I just wanted to make documentaries. I thought they were cool. There wasn’t a film program and to be honest, I think even if there was, I probably wouldn’t have taken it. At this time I was still adamant that “YouTube” would remain a hobby. My love for the creative couldn’t be a job I could have. I also didn’t want to disappoint my parents by telling them I’d be chasing something that wasn’t a college degree.
Well, I guess that happened. When I dropped out, it was a dark time in general. I had never in my life felt so lost. I know that most people can remember the feeling of depression, of your lowest moment. You never forget it. And even when you have dug yourself out of it, you do find yourself reminiscing from time to time. The lowest moment for me was sobbing in a shower. I was a college dropout, didn’t know where I was going in life and I didn’t know what to do.
Looking back however, as I just mentioned, I think I know now that I was facing a deep inner struggle. I think I knew that my dreams were in the world of cinema, creating my work, working on set, chasing a different life, one dedicated to a craft. To a different lifestyle, one of 12 hour days and not knowing when your gig might be. Truly, I think all the sobbing came from a place of confusion and depression of course, but also, fear. I think, at 20 years old, that night in the shower, the idea of moving to LA, taking a chance of myself, truly had started brewing.
It would culminate nearly 2 years later, in the winter of 2021, where I would move to LA. I left my home, my friends. I did know anyone in LA. I didn’t have any true set experience either. I was as green as you could get both to the city, and to this business. But of course, I was determined to make it. I had no other choice.
Something that I still think to myself today, what I’d told my parents before I’d left to them, was this.
If I wish to become the man I want to be, and if I think I can become the man I see in the future, I have to move. I have to try. There is no failure. If I go there(LA), and it breaks me, and I fail, then that proves it. That I never was who I claimed to be, and I’ll never BE anything more than what I am now.
Verbatim. I stand by that today and forever will.
More than anything, the kind of person I am is someone who will never stop going forward. Especially for something I love like this business, like film. Never. I will do what it takes, and that is what I did.
My first house I lived in had 23 people in it, shared living. I shared a room with 3 guys and slept on a bunk bed. I lived in a bad part of North Hollywood. I didn’t care, I was here. I didn’t have a car so I took metro everywhere I could. I took every job, didn’t matter the pay, I needed the experience. I just had to believe that everything, all the hard work and struggle I was going through, WOULD pay off at some point.
A few months later, I moved to South Central LA, again, the very bad part and lived with 2 other guys. On the plus side, I had my own room. It was roughly 50 sq ft, just enough to fit a bed in there. I didn’t care. I hadn’t had my own room in nearly 3 months. I bought a bike too and so naturally, transpo got easier. I still took so many gigs on because, not only did I have bills to pay but of course, I was still learning.
Things were harder back then in that sense. Of course they were. Yes, I had nights, working 16 hours, waiting on the freaking curb at 3:00 am for a bus to come that I sat there and thought to myself…”Is any of this worth it?”. I had to believe some day, it would. I have a saying I like to repeat to myself occasionally. “Struggle makes a man.”
I of course don’t mean only men, but you get my point. It’s during these periods that you face yourself. It does help to answer the question of who you truly are.
For the 1st year of my career, it was almost always a PA gig. At first, every single set was interesting, was new, was fun. After that 1st year, I wanted to learn more because I knew I had too. I wanted to be a filmmaker and saw the value in working on set. I’d met a lovely Key Grip, Paul Giacalone, who thanks to again, my hard work, gave me a chance to start getting some union days, higher pay, and perhaps most importantly, an entry into a whole new world. Paul I always say, opened the door into Grip world for me. From that, my 2nd year was filled with Grip jobs, PA jobs and slowly, AC gigs, AD gigs.
I found the more I worked, the more people I knew. And it would continue to happen to me that I’d get called back. I often asked people why they brought me back because it was important to me that anywhere I went, I really tried to work as hard as I could and be the best version of myself too. I wanted to get jobs because of that, not because I was funny to a producer, or I was a good friend of this guy or that gal. I wanted people to want me because I was good at my job.
It’s what I’ve been trying to do my entire career. I just wanted to learn, and I just want to work. I want to make cool things and of course, I want to make a good life for myself, my girlfriend and my future kids.
I don’t know. I feel like I’ve dumped so much here and it felt kind of humbling, and therapeutic in a way.
I look at the life I have now and the career so far and what I’ve built alongside my girlfriend and my family and I’m proud.
My girlfriend and I met while I lived in South Central and she stuck by me when I was there, with no car, living where I lived. She has seriously been the best partner I could ask for. Thank you Sabrina, I love you with every ounce of my heart.
We have our own apartment now, away from the hustle and bustle of city life. I have my own camera now, and a tripod! I have my own business cards now! I’m being interviewed! I mean, seriously.
When I look back at what I hadn’t had before, the life I have now is…kind of like a dream I guess. I look back to long nights walking home, sitting on the bus, working for free, and at the time asking, would it all be worth it?
Well, so far, I’d say it’s all been pretty damn worth it.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
Ah yes of course I can! Here is a story of the night I met Jamie Foxx and then nearly had to sleep on the streets afterwards!
The date was July 21st, 2022. I was getting paid $125 bucks to come onto a music video for the one and only Jamie Foxx. I’d only been in LA for a year by this point and I was ecstatic as this to me felt like the biggest gig of my life. They could have paid me $25 bucks and I’d still probably have showed up. When I arrived it was around 2 in the afternoon. I’d taken two trains and a bus with my bike to get there as I didn’t have a car. I’d never had a problem with public transport and getting home and I didn’t see a reason why tonight would be any different. July 21st was surely memorable but not for Jamie Foxx, but for what happened at tail lights at 12:30.
We’d just wrapped on set. We cleaned up the studio and those who stayed behind were packing up to head on out. Jamie Foxx had left long ago in his lavish car along with many others. I left the building at 12:30 AM on Friday and as I looked at my google maps, it showed that the following route was what I’d have to take. Wait for the 162 bus and take it to the train station. From there, take the red line to its last stop then link up with the expo line back to my stop. From there, it’d be just a small 10 minute walk and I would be back home. Simple. Easy. 20 miles away from homes, 1 hour away from home.
And so I sat there, at the curb, waiting for the 162 bus. At first, the map said in 10 minutes it’d arrive and so, I waited. My phone was low on battery, around 12% but I figured, once the bus gets here, I’d be okay. I’d know the way home and everything would be fine. 10 minutes passed and there was no bus. I checked again and it’d now read, next bus arriving in 20 minutes. Sure, it sucked but delayed buses were no strange thing in LA. I waited the next 20 minutes and by 1 AM, on that curb, when no bus arrived, I started getting worried.
My phone was at 10 percent when I checked the bus status and it read that I’d have to wait 30 minutes for the next bus. I said screw it, I’d bike the distance to the train station and by the time I got there, I’d have to just take two trains. So, with my achy legs and having already worked a 10 hour gig, I departed for NoHo station.
The station was about 8 blocks away and I still had all the faith in the world I’d make it home normally. Sure, my legs were a little beat and the bike was a used piece of shit but, I kept reassuring myself, I’d make it home just fine. Well, given the nature of this video, it wasn’t fine.
When I arrived, the station was closed down. Since I was still new to LA by this point, I’d had no idea that the trains didn’t run past 12:30! It was crawling with random homeless people and crackheads. I immediately started to wonder, what the hell was I going to do? My phone, now at around an 8% charge, was my last lifeline to home. I googled what buses we’re still running and how the heck I’d get back. Now I believe since then, the routes and buses have changed but even by today’s routes, I’d have to take the 162 to the 224 to the 4 to the 204 and my total bus time + waiting out in the middle of the night would be 3 and a half hours meaning I would have gotten home right at 5 AM.
From here on, the exact bus routes will be from memory but almost everything else will be as exact as I can be.
My bus route from the NoHo station showed that roughly 30 minutes away by bike, was a bus stop that would pick you up off the 134 Ventura Freeway. The route it gave me led me through neighborhoods at first. Tired and worn down from this impromptu biking session, I had no other choice. I remember trying to memorize my route so I could save my phone battery.
At first, things were still so calm. I was biking alone at 2 AM on a cool night, it was peaceful. But that’s when my bike seat broke and fell to the lowest setting and wouldn’t go back forcing me, a 6 foot 3 guy with long legs to crunch on this bike as my knees ached from having to pedal.
What was worse, google maps pinned me to some sketchy dark bridge that supposedly led out onto a dark bike path that ran concurrent with the interstate. I absolutely did not go across the black hole and found an alternate route through some more neighborhoods and past Providence High School. 4% now. I rode right up to the base of the Griffith Park mountain and took the bike trail detour.
I remember it being so dark and so sketchy. As I biked next to the LA river, it just got darker and darker before finally, I was biking entirely in darkness. 3%. I was panicking. When I turned a small loop, there was a long straight part of the path and my heart sank when I looked down it. Maybe about a quarter of a mile, I saw multiple shadowy figures and tents. It was at this moment I said, “I’m fucked man.”
The thought that, if someone wanted to kill me, chase me, whatever, they most certainly could have. My phone was going to die, my body was starting to shut down on me, one wrong step and then I’M going to die. I remember channeling all that I had in me, every last drop of energy and I think some adrenaline and started pounding on those pedals. I freaking sped by those figures as I could have sworn I’d heard one of them say, “Hey!” but I didn’t stop for anything!
After I’d passed the camp, it was just more biking in the pitch black darkness. I hadn’t stopped pedaling until the soreness set in. I was done man, I had nothing left to give and I got off the bike and started walking it all the way to that bus stop. It was off the freeway, no kidding, in a bit of a sketchy part of town. There were a few tents down the street and some people walking around, no doubt, on some arrangement of drugs but I didn’t care. I’d reached the bus stop. I sat down on the curb, and with my phone at 1%, I checked how long left I’d have to wait.
And that’s when I’d seen it all. The next bus wouldn’t arrive until 5:00 AM, nearly 3 hours more. In a split second, three things went through my mind. The first was that I’d wait here, not daring to sleep. I’d stay up and rest until salvation arrived. Then, immediately after I thought that idea was stupid and decided, maybe I’d just order an Uber and ditch my bike. It would have been $25 bucks and the bike was a piece of junk now with the broken seat. But as soon as THAT thought left my mind, I said to myself, “You dumbass, you’ll still have to buy a new bike so that’s like another $200 bucks.” So no, that idea wasn’t going to work.
The last idea was when I sprang into action. I said **** I’d pay that $97 for the UberXL and hope that my bike would fit. I’d selected every option and finally, I saw the beautiful text pop up, “Searching For Driver”. I felt like I could take a breath finally, the journey was over. But then, of course, in a fashion similar to a story book plotline, my phone died. That was it. Out of options. I was going to wait here for 3 hours with no phone.
To be honest with you, never in my life did I feel so hopeless and out of luck. It was unreal to me that just 3 hours prior I’d come off a high of working with Jamie Foxx to now, fatigued to the point of aches, with a phone that was dead and me sitting at a bus stop on the side of the highway. As I said, never been at rock bottom like that before.
As I sat there, slouched against a concrete wall, my eyes already drifting, I saw a black SUV pull up next to me very slowly. Its lights were so bright and as the car came parallel to me, the passenger window slid down slowly. A man looked me up and down. Then, he simply said, “For Ben?”. Somehow, someway, be it god, be it a miracle, be it whatever, my order for that uber went through before my phone died. Vardan, my driver, was my hero that night. He shoved my bike into his car and by literally, hairs, it fit.
He dropped me off 19 minutes later and I tipped him graciously. Overall, I paid him $104 dollars that night. My rate for the Jamie Foxx shoot? $125 bucks. Hey, at least I made profit AND managed to get home that night safely into my own bed. No shower, no food, just straight to sleep as I felt like the luckiest guy in the world because not only did I manage to work with Jamie Foxx, but I had a pretty kick ass story too.
Any advice for managing a team?
I think I’ll use the times I’ve directed my own work for this example.
I’ve directed 3 short films since living out here in LA and each time, proves more stressful than the last. When you talk about a team in this case, we of course are speaking about both the crew and the cast.
To me, when actors and crew decide to lend their gifts and talents towards your vision, despite the poor pay, despite that it might be a Saturday or Sunday, it means the world to me. It’s not possible without them.
What I found, especially directing my first short “SHOOTER” is that you must be the man to guide the ship. Those people are here for you and as such, look to you for that direction. Confidence isn’t what I’d have it, maybe closer to a stoic but vibrant energy. You have to swing with the punches that will come your way during shooting. The time clock is ticking too and of course, directing talent and crew on what to do…it’s all stressful.
Maintaining composure is the key to it all. If you’re calm, you can find the answers to the problems that come up. Kindness too. I continually thank everyone not because I have to but because I want to. Let your team know how much they mean too you and if you can’t afford a great rate for them, make sure you feed them well and make SURE you don’t waste their time.
All of the shoots I’ve had never go over and I always try to wrap as many of my talent as I can, as quickly as possible. Be mindful of them as at the end of the day, they’re humans with lives too.
And lastly, lead by example. I hate telling people what to do especially if it’s something I can do myself. Sometimes, of course, it’s fine. They’re your team, it’s why their there. But the small gestures, you know? Get yourself a water, get the team some waters too. Fill the drink cooler up if its low, eat last and let everyone else go first. Small stuff but it goes a long way in building a good trust and good relationship between those folks who are here to make your project come to life.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.youtube.com/bensmlatic
- Instagram: itsxxproductions
- Linkedin: bensmlatic
- Youtube: youtube.com/bensmlatic