Ben Conrad — Press & Awards
Selected press coverage and awards for Ben Conrad, a Los Angeles based director, creative, and founder. His work includes the Gymkhana film series (4 through 8), title sequences and creative for Zombieland, Venom, Gangster Squad, Iron Man 3, and Avengers, campaigns for Apple and creating Donut Media, the automotive YouTube studio he co-founded, acquired by Recurrent Ventures in 2021.
benconrad.coGymkhana2011–2016
Ben Conrad helmed five installments of Ken Block's Gymkhana series, capturing Block's signature rally and drift based driving style through urban locations such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Dubai. Gymkhana 5 has passed 120 million views on YouTube, and AdWeek called the series the most watched and most shared branded web franchise of all time.
- Fast CompanyGymkhana 8: Ken Block's toughest stunt in Dubai, done in one take
- Los Angeles TimesGymkhana 7 and Ken Block
- AdweekAd of the Day: Gymkhana 7 in Los Angeles
- Los Angeles MagazineGymkhana 7 street racing feature
- Car and DriverMasters of the Hooniverse
Awards
- Gymkhana 5 — Gold Pencil, Branded Content Online, One Show 2013
- Gymkhana 5 — Gold Pencil, Online Films and Video, One Show Interactive 2013
- Gymkhana 5 — Nominated, Best Production, AICP 2013
- Gymkhana 6 — Winner, Best Brand Campaign, YouTube Streamys 2014
- Gymkhana 7 — Gold Pencil, Editing Branded Content, One Show 2015
- Gymkhana 7 — Bronze Pencil, Directing, One Show 2015
- Gymkhana 7 — Bronze Cube, ADC
Donut Media2015–2022
Ben Conrad co-founded Donut Media in 2015 with Matthew Levin and Nick Moceri, building it into one of the largest automotive channels on YouTube with 9 million subscribers and over 3 billion views. Donut was acquired by Recurrent Ventures in 2021.
Title Design & Film2009–2018
Ben Conrad led title sequences and creative across multiple collaborations with director Ruben Fleischer. The Zombieland main titles won Best Title Sequence at SXSW and an ADC Silver.
- Art of the TitleZombieland
- Art of the TitleVenom
- PBS OffbookThe Art of Film & TV Title Design
A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night2014
Ben Conrad alongside Nick Moceri, executive produced Ana Lily Amirpour's debut feature, which premiered at Sundance in 2014 and has grown into a beloved cult film, continuing to appear in revival screenings.
Apple2003–2008
Ben Conrad directed spots in Apple's Silhouette Campaign era, notably the Bob Dylan Apple ad for the release of Dylan's 32nd album, Modern Times.
- AdweekApple silhouettes and the iPod shuffle
- AdweekApple's tropical medley
- AdweekApple unveils new silhouette ads
- BrandvertisingA history of iPod advertising
Castrol2014–2015
Ben Conrad directed Castrol's Blackout and Virtual Drift films, putting professional drivers behind blacked-out visors and VR headsets. Blackout won a D&AD Wood Pencil for cinematography.
- HighsnobietyTitanium Strong: Blackout with Ken Block
- Yahoo FinanceCastrol Virtual Drift in VR
- Tech TimesPro racer drifts a Mustang wearing an Oculus Rift
- Stash MediaPushing Castrol to the EDGE in "Virtual Drift"
Live & Campaigns2013–2015
Ben Conrad's creative work extends to experiential, including tour visuals for Miley Cyrus's Bangerz Tour and Beyoncé's Formation World Tour.