Tony Bennis
Independent Filmmaker
Other Roles: Director, Producer, Editor
Areas of Focus: Documentaries, Feature Films, Shorts
Organization: Synergy Media Partners
Biography
Hello. Here is my bio.
Tony Bennis is a producer, director, sometimes editor – or more generally, a content creator. Bennis has produced and directed numerous documentary films, dramatic narrative features, original television programs, short films, music videos, and even commercials. He is also a marketing and public relations specialist, often serving as publicist on media projects.
Bennis media career began at WBZ-TV in Boston as a news room assistant and then Assistant Director. He then worked as a segment producer on the late night TV show, Five All Night Live hosted by Matt Siegel on WCVB-TV. Later he served as Program Director for Time Warner Cable and then Cablevision. Bennis also worked at a marketing agency, newspaper company, and internet venture – prior to launching Synergy Media Partners.
Synergy’s first original program was the nationally syndicated entertainment program, Sports Exchange with Jimmy Myers which was nominated for ACE awards and Emmy Awards. Bennis then served as director on the Hasty Pudding Awards special for Showtime produced by Dean Huh and starring Michelle Pfeiffer and Tom Hanks. Bennis then served as a producer on the mystical romance film, By The Sea, written & produced by Dean Huh and directed and produced by Dean Barnes.
Bennis earned a Best Documentary award from the Boston International Kids Film Festival for the film Jahmol’s Vision for Youth Peace which he produced and directed. Bennis served as cinematographer & editor for the Emmy nominated dramatic educational special Half Pint, directed by Duncan Putney and produced by Putney & André Stark.
Collaborating with Dean Huh, Bennis produced, directed and edited the entertainment special The Hola Awards, in both 2015 & 2016. The Hola Awards, filmed in New York, featured Benicio del Toro, Cierra Ramirez, Andy Garcia, Ana Ortiz, Héctor Elizondo, Andrea Navedo, and Pedro Pascal – and was hosted by Chris Rivaro.
Bennis then collaborated with Roger Lyons to co-produce and edit the stunningly powerful documentary feature, Etched in Glass: The Legacy of Steve Ross. Etched tells the incredible story of Steve Ross, a Holocaust Survivor who spent 5 years as a boy in 10 horrific concentration camps before being rescued by an American soldier. The film earned best documentary awards from the Rhode Island International Film Festival and Boston Jewish Film Festival – plus earned an Emmy nomination.
Bennis has directed and edited several music videos – including a collaboration with his sister, Valerie Bennis, on a moving song she wrote about surviving abuse called I Believe You, performed by Australian singer, Karen Jacobsen. More recently, Bennis served as a producer and editor on the intense dramatic narrative feature film, Senseless Smoke, written & directed by the team of Sheri Bridgeman & Robert Bridgeman which tells the story of a teen copying with the shooting of his older sister.
Benis also recently produced, wrote, and edited – in collaboration with Roger Lyons & Doreen Beinart – a mesmerizing documentary feature, Robert Brustein: A Celebration, which showcases the incredible impact that Robert Brustein has had in the world of theater, film, and entertainment. The film features, Tony Shalhoub, Cherry Jones, Mark Lin-Baker, Julie Taymor, and Brooke Adams.
Currently, Bennis is in pre-production for the dramatic narrative feature film, Bash Town, which he wrote and will produce with Dean Huh, André Stark, and Jimmy Myers. Bash Town is an intense fast paced, uplifting story about a teenage male who overcomes challenges and makes a plan to save his city. It’s on target to be completed in early 2025.
Originally from New York City, Bennis has also lived in Los Angeles and in Boston. He has won awards for commercials, documentaries, features, and television programs. Email is Tony@SynergyMediaPartners.com
Films
Senseless Smoke (2021)
Role: Producer
When teenage Trey loses his older sister to gun violence he struggles to cope. He doesn’t know who he can trust as he tries to move forward. Meanwhile tensions rise between different factions of youth.
This feature film was produced by Teen Empowerment on a script by Sheri Bridgeman. It was originally designed to be a live stage production in 2020 – but due to Covid 19 it was adapted for the screen and filmed in Boston. The film premiered at the Roxbury International Film Festival.
Robert Brustein: A Celebration (2021)
Role: Producer
Official movie trailer for the documentary arts program, ROBERT BRUSTEIN: A CELEBRATION. The film chronicles the on-going indelible impact that Robert Brustein has had on the world of theater, literature, dramatic criticism, and the arts – plus the film shares the devotion Brustein has to his family. Tony Shalhoub, Cherry Jones, Julie Taymor, Mark Lin-Baker are featured in the film. The trailer was produced and edited by Tony Bennis. The film was written and produced by Roger Lyons and Tony Bennis. Lyons is also the director. Bennis is also the editor. Doreen Beinart is the executive producer. Film premiered at the Boston Jewish Film Festival
I Believe You (2019)
Role: Director
“I Believe You” is an anthemic power ballad dedicated to women (and men) who have survived the trauma of abuse, assault and harassment which left them feeling alone, ashamed, isolated, vulnerable and disempowered. It is written as healing song with its comforting, soothing, uplifting words. Lyrics by Vali Bennis and Karen Jacobsen. Piano and Vocals by Karen Jacobsen. Music Video directed by Vali Bennis and Tony Bennis. It was filmed in New York City and Massachusetts.
Etched in Glass: The Legacy of Steve Ross (2017)
Role: Producer
Etched in Glass: The Legacy of Steve Ross is a stunningly powerful documentary that tells the incredible true story of Steve Ross – who spent 5 years of his childhood in 10 different Nazi concentration camps during World War II and the Holocaust. Ross survived and ended up in America where he become a psychologist working with at risk youth. He spent over 67 years searching for an American soldier who rescued young Steve when he was on the verge of death. The film was written and directed by Roger Lyons. It won Best Documentary at Boston Jewish Film Festival and Rhode Island International Film Festival
2015 Hola Awards (2015)
Role: Director
The 2015 Hola Awards is a special awards TV program honoring the top Hispanic actors which took place in New York City. The high energy TV show included backstage interviews with stars Ana Ortiz, Hector Elizondo, Cierra Ramirez, Pedro Pascal, Lupita Ferrer, Daniel Arenas, and Danny Brustein. The program was hosted by Chris Rivaro and Serena Ayala. It was produced by Dean Huh, André Stark, and Tony Bennis. Written by Dean Huh. Edited by Tony Bennis.
Jahmol's Vision for Youth Peace (2009)
Role: Director
While he was still in high school, Jahmol Norfleet, was arrested for illegal possession of a hand-gun. The charismatic leader of a group of teens in the H-Block neighborhood in Boston served his 12-month sentence but when he came out of prison he was a changed young man. He got baptized, sought out and received a full time job, and earned his high school diploma by passing the GED exam. And, most impressive, he began leading a city-wide effort for teens and young adults to stop shooting each other.
Jahmol came up with a 6-point peace plan, earning the praise from the Mayor of Boston. Teenagers in Jahmol’s neighborhood and beyond were joining in his peace effort, but then a tragedy occurred undermining the youth peace effort. JAHMOL’S VISION FOR YOUTH PEACE follows a group of teenagers as they struggle to live peacefully in a world filled with almost daily teen shootings. By pushing themselves to take measures they didn’t think they could succeed at, they begin to feel empowered to push their message of youth peace. Along the way some caring adults offer encouragement and advice.
Jahmol’s Vision for Youth Peace was produced and directed by Tony Bennis. Mike King was the director of photography and editor. Deric Quest was the music supervisor. Jimmy Myers was the radio news anchor.
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