# Ben Rock > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Ben_Rock > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Ben_Rock.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Rock > Source revision: 1347714857 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|American film director}} {{Multiple issues| {{advertising|date=August 2025}} {{Unreliable sources|date=November 2025}} }} '''Ben Rock''' is an American film and theatre director, based in [Los Angeles](/source/Los_Angeles). Rock's career was launched when he served as production designer on ''[The Blair Witch Project](/source/The_Blair_Witch_Project)'' made by fellow University of Central Florida graduates [Daniel Myrick](/source/Daniel_Myrick), [Eduardo Sanchez](/source/Eduardo_S%C3%A1nchez_(director)), [Gregg Hale](/source/Gregg_Hale_(producer)), [Robin Cowie](/source/Robin_Cowie) and [Michael Monello](/source/Michael_Monello).[http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/35304/ben-rock-breaths-life-baal Ben Rock Breaths Life into Baal] Rock created the infamous "stick man" symbol that became synonymous with the hit film. == Biography == Following the success of ''Blair Witch'', Rock wrote three and directed two television specials in the [mocumentary](/source/mocumentary) format, ''Curse of the Blair Witch''[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0202493/?fr=c2l0ZT1kZnx0dD0xfGZiPXV8a3c9MXxwbj0xfHE9Y3Vyc2Ugb2YgdGhlIGJsYWlyIHdpdGNofGZ0PTF8bXg9MjB8bG09NTAwfGNvPTF8cnM9Y3xodG1sPTF8bm09MQ__;fc=1;ft=20 "Curse of the Blair Witch"] (for which Rock served as writer), and [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0252966 ''The Burkittsville 7''] and [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0265736 ''Shadow of the Blair Witch''], which Rock wrote, produced, and directed promoting the release of the sequel, ''[Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2](/source/Book_of_Shadows%3A_Blair_Witch_2)'' that many deemed better than the film itself. For over a year, Rock served as consultant on all the tie-in books and games for the Blair Witch franchise, which included The Blair Witch Files series of books.{{cite web|last=Rock|first=Ben|title=The Blair Witch Files Books|url=https://blairwitch.proboards.com/thread/1652/blair-witch-files-books|website=Blairwitch.net|access-date=February 27, 2021|date=February 27, 2021}} He frequently directs TV or viral internet projects that are considered "Branded Content" or are somehow a part of marketing, including The B.P.R.D. Declassified,[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0401237 ''The B.P.R.D. Declassified''] a marketing project for the ''[Hellboy](/source/Hellboy_(2004_film))'' movie that aired on [FX Networks](/source/FX_Networks) and a series of short action films for [Audi](/source/Audi)'s online campaign [The Art of the Heist](/source/The_Art_of_the_Heist), a series of viral internet videos for ''[The 4400](/source/The_4400)'' and ''[True Blood](/source/True_Blood)''. Rock's first feature film as a director, ''[Alien Raiders](/source/Alien_Raiders)'', was released by [Warner Home Video](/source/Warner_Home_Video) and [Raw Feed](/source/Raw_Feed) in February 2009. The film stars [Carlos Bernard](/source/Carlos_Bernard), [Rockmond Dunbar](/source/Rockmond_Dunbar), and [Mathew St. Patrick](/source/Mathew_St._Patrick) and is produced by [Daniel Myrick](/source/Daniel_Myrick), [John Shiban](/source/John_Shiban) and [Tony Krantz](/source/Tony_Krantz).[http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/18668 'Alien Raiders' Director Heads to the Stage with 'Baal'] He is also the director of the award-winning short films ''The Perfect Candidate''[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0426546 ''The Perfect Candidate''] by frequent collaborator [Jenelle Riley](/source/Jenelle_Riley), ''The Meeting'',[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0204478 ''The Meeting''] ''Hate of Date'',[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0431111 ''Hate or Date''] and ''Conversations'',[http://www.conversationsmovie.com ''Conversations''] starring [Curtis Armstrong](/source/Curtis_Armstrong). Rock worked as a makeup artist (special effects and regular) before pursuing directing. During this time, he worked with [Catherine Keener](/source/Catherine_Keener), [Brigitte Nielsen](/source/Brigitte_Nielsen), [Sandahl Bergman](/source/Sandahl_Bergman), [Charles Napier](/source/Charles_Napier_(actor)), and [Leo Rossi](/source/Leo_Rossi). He often participates in [Instant Films](/source/Instant_Films), a 48-hour filmmaking challenge. He worked as a projectionist for the [Florida Film Festival](/source/Florida_Film_Festival) and the [Enzian Theater](/source/Enzian_Theater) from 1996 to 1999, before relocating to [Los Angeles](/source/Los_Angeles). Rock was also an associate editor for the independent filmmaking magazine ''Action'' and a contributing writer at ''[Backstage](/source/Backstage_(magazine))'' and ''[Creative Screenwriting](/source/Creative_Screenwriting)'' magazines. In 2010, he returned to theater to direct ''Baal'', the very first play written by famed playwright [Bertolt Brecht](/source/Bertolt_Brecht),[http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/35684/exclusive-ben-rock-and-gregory-sims-talk-bringing-baal-life Exclusive: Ben Rock and Gregory Sims Talk Bringing Baal to Life] and again in 2012 to direct [William Shakespeare](/source/William_Shakespeare)'s ''Richard III''.[http://www.sacredfools.org/mainstage/12/richardiii Richard III at Sacred Fools Theater Company] Both plays were produced at Los Angeles' [Sacred Fools Theater Company](/source/Sacred_Fools_Theater_Company), where Rock is a member.[http://www.sacredfools.org/members.htm Members of Sacred Fools Theater Company] == Awards == Meeting Mr. Subian- Audience Award, [Central Florida Film and Video Festival](/source/Central_Florida_Film_and_Video_Festival), 1995[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0192302/ "Meeting Mr. Subian] 1996 CFFVF Trailer - Golden [Addy](/source/Addy_Awards), 1996 1997 CFFVF Trailer - Silver [Addy](/source/Addy_Awards), 1997 Hate or Date - Audience Award at [Instant Films](/source/Instant_Films) for Best Film, Director, Cinematographer, Editor, Script and Cast[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0431111 ''Hate or Date''] Conversations - Best short and Best Actor ([Curtis Armstrong](/source/Curtis_Armstrong)) at Shockerfest, DIY Award at [Hypefest](/source/Hypefest), Finalist Award at [GenArts](/source/GenArts) Shorts in the Park, Cinematography award at [Just Another Film Festival](/source/Just_Another_Film_Festival)[http://www.conversationsmovie.com ''Conversations''] New Orleans Chapter of [The Art of the Heist](/source/The_Art_of_the_Heist) - Bronze award at [The One Show](/source/The_One_Show) == Personal life == He is the son of former [Orlando](/source/Orlando%2C_Florida) and [Miami](/source/Miami) area [Bozo the Clown](/source/Bozo_the_Clown) [Alan Rock](/source/Alan_Rock). Attended [Winter Park High School](/source/Winter_Park_High_School) with comedian [Billy Gardell](/source/Billy_Gardell) and screenwriter [Darren Fischbach](/source/Darren_Fischbach). Rock is married to [HGTV](/source/HGTV) producer [Alicia Conway](/source/Alicia_Conway), and they frequently collaborate on creative projects including Conversations[http://www.conversationsmovie.com ''Conversations''] and Hate or Date.[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0431111 ''Hate or Date''] == References == {{reflist}} ==External links== *{{IMDb name|id=0734146|name=Ben Rock}} *[https://benrock.com/ Official website] *[http://www.graveplotpodcast.com/2015/09/episode-45-lost-after-dark-the-curse-of-downers-grove-ben-rock.html Ben Rock] on [The Grave Plot Podcast](/source/The_Grave_Plot_Podcast) {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Rock, Ben}} Category:Living people Category:Film directors from Los Angeles Category:Year of birth missing (living people) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Ben Rock](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Rock) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Rock?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.