As 2023 approaches, one of its most exciting indies is on the horizon: Better Than Yourself, the new mystery/thriller by Ben Stranahan, an actor, and producer for Tip-Top Productions. As is true for any good film, the background of Better Than Yourself makes its production all the more interesting – the film’s origin lies in the COVID shutdown when set after set in Hollywood was shut down due to restrictions caused by the pandemic.
“It was definitely a hard time to be in the film industry,” Ben recalls. “No one was quite sure how the restrictions would impact sets or how long it would be before things returned to normal – or what ‘normal’ would even mean. At Tip-Top Productions, we were just as concerned as anyone else, but we decided to be proactive and keep doing what we were good at, making great films.”
One of the first challenges the team had was their mindsets: they had to remember that bells and whistles were not necessary for a great film to be made. As long as they had a talented cast and crew and a really good story, they could make an excellent movie.
“We likened it to our days back in school, when in class we had to make films without all the gadgets that we have today,” Ben says. “In a way, it was actually refreshing to work without resources and to just concentrate on acting and telling the story.”
Next, instead of fighting the restrictions imposed by COVID, Ben and his team chose to work within them. One of the advantages of making Better Than Yourself was its filming location: in the mountains of Southern California.
“Remote was ideal, of course,” says Ben, “and few places are more remote than a mountain cabin. By being so secluded, we could create a more controlled setting. We also put in place rules so that everyone would feel safe and be protected from the coronavirus.”
He reveals that many cast and crew members arrived at the set feeling stressed from the ongoing turmoil of COVID. With so much uncertainty around the globe and no one quite sure when or if the pandemic would end, it was a morale booster to be able to make Better Than Yourself.
“I think people felt like the rug was pulled out from under them when the coronavirus hit, so using their skills and talents to bring this story alive steadied them in a way,” Ben reflects. “It reminded them that they still had some control over their lives even though everything was so uncertain.”
The cast, which included Ben, Noah Baron, Anita Kalathara, Rob McGillivray, and Krystal M. Harris, enjoyed delving into the emotions and actions of their characters, who are shocked when their dreams mysteriously come true.
“In our own ways, we related to our characters, who were all struggling with their careers and on the edge of a midlife crisis,” says Ben. “We were able to really bring out the frustrations of being overlooked at work time and time again, or being underpaid and afraid to ask for more, or feeling locked in a dead-end career. Most audience members will easily find someone they can relate to, which will make it even more impactful when the characters start getting everything they ever wanted. But is that actually a good thing?”
Ben believes that just like the characters in Better Than Yourself, filmgoers will be left to grapple with that question and come to their own conclusions.
Ben Stranahan is an actor, musician, and producer for Tip-Top Productions. His award-winning films and TV series include Mean Dreams, which starred Bill Paxton, Sophie Nélisse, Josh Wiggins, and Colm Feore and premiered at the Directors’ Fortnight at Cannes and as a Special Presentation at TIFF.
Ben is the producer of the psychological thriller Population Zero and of Calibre, which was nominated for four BAFTAs and won Best Actor for Jack Lowden. Ben also produced The Midnight Anthology, which starred Clancy Brown and premiered at the New York Television Festival in 2015, winning the Artistic Achievement and Best Director awards. His most recent works include Better Than Yourself, Castle in the Ground, and Jim Capobianco’s The Inventor, an animated feature about Leonardo da Vinci.
