Today we’d like to introduce you to Wade “BENJI” Benjamin and his story:
Benji is the CEO and Founder of BENDOLL, an all-encompassing media and entertainment company with services ranging from film production to event management. His career and passions have afforded him opportunities to work on projects with Viacom, HBO, Sony Pictures, OWN, and BET. Through his philanthropic ties with the I AM WE Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to supporting individuals battling mental illness, he’s provided opportunities for other filmmakers to hone their skills and get started in the business.
Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, Benji has become highly sought after for his intrinsic motivation for storytelling, television, and film. Being in the entertainment business has always been his desire; from being a performing arts school kid, teen model, and recording artist to actor-he’s done it all. Remarkably, his love for the entertainment industry has manifested in filmmaking.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
My journey has taught me many lessons about navigating the entertainment industry and life; as a young black man. There was a time when I did not feel in control, working as a model, a full-time college student, and being offered substances to control the weight gained from football training. On top of that, I was receiving mediocre deals, not fully understanding contracts, incurring debt to keep up with the “Jones’s,” and not being compensated for a pilot project shoot. In all this, I will confess the road has not always been easy, but I found purpose. As a spiritual being and God-fearing man making finite choices has always seemed to be both a blessing and a curse in an industry so debauched. Finding opportunities to get me to my goals quickly was never an issue; having the strength to turn down gigs that did not honor my beliefs required more time and patience. It was hard. The road-less-traveled was not appealing at first, but I’m so grateful that the journey has warranted the honorable mention of my integral business practices and talents. Today, I PRODUCE & PITCH pilots, CREATE a positive SPIRITUAL ENVIRONMENT, and APPLAUD INTEGRITY and INNOVATIVE THINKING.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
BENDOLL is an award-winning media and entertainment company producing everything from TV and Film to event management. BENDOLL and Benji are experienced collaborators with several reputable networks.
We recently released our short film on Mental Health Awareness, “TRIGGERS,” written and directed by USC’s Alumni Menu’Ette Silver. It was in FOX SOUL’s Screening Room.
What sets us apart from other companies is our specialized consulting strategy helping budding filmmakers get their content into “the room” for consideration.
Brand-wise, we are proud that we have no limit on what we can or will produce creatively, from feature films to social media content. We do it all!
BENDOLL is an empire!!! Including its subsidiaries, BENDOLL Glam provides makeover services for celebrity artists, and BENDOLL Management offers brand management services for influencers and celebrities.
Alright, before we go, can you talk to us a bit about how people can work, collaborate, or support you?
We want to connect with filmmakers and individuals who are passionate and desire to produce and work on innovative projects. Our goal is to build a creative-inspirational haven for beginners to experts with love for storytelling to collaborate, learn, and share.
Contact Info:
- Website: bendoll.com
- Instagram: @bendoll.inc
- Facebook: bendoll.inc
- Twitter: bendoll_inc
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIBIK6p6sXrS4F8z1K6LA5A
Image Credits
Sean Thompson @omaephotography Kem. West @kemwestphoto Darius Carter @thecarterstouch
