LOGAN VAUGHN (Writer/Director) is a New York-based artist and director of new work. As a director she has worked with The Public Theater, MCC Theater, Sundance, South Coast Repertory Theatre, Kansas City Repertory Theatre, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, The Apollo Theater, Geva Theatre, The Playwrights Realm, Mosaic Theatre and National Black Theatre. Logan received a 2019 Outer Critics Circle nomination for Best Direction of a Play for the New York premiere of Loy A. Webb’s The Light at MCC Theater and won Broadway World’s 2019 Outstanding Play Production for the world premiere of America V. 2.1: The Sad Demise and Eventual Extinction of the American Negro by Stacey Rose at Barrington Stage Company. She directed the first  North American production of Nicholas Wright's A Human Being Died That Night at Mosaic Theatre. And directed the world premieres of Mat Smart's The Agitators at Geva Theatre which became the highest grossing production of Geva Theatre's history as well as the world premiere of Legacy Land by Stacey Rose at Kansas City Rep Theatre. Vaughn was the Director in residence at Playwrights Horizon; a Sundance Institute Fellow; Joyce Arts Fellow; and Lincoln Center Director's Lab Fellow. In 2019 she was named Associate Artistic Director of Ojai Playwrights Conference, and is the Associate Director of the First National Broadway Tour of Ain’t Too Proud—The Life and Times of The Temptations. 

In television Logan has shadowed the FOX Network (APB) and the Paramount Network (WACO Mini-Series). She trained professionally as a dancer for fifteen years with various companies including Gus Giordano and Visceral Dance. And has a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Film from Columbia College Chicago. 

It has been a dream and gift to collaborate with long time friend and visionary artist, Robert Arnold. And Logan is forever grateful for the extraordinary leadership, love and artistry of her producers, Laurie Bernhard, Ria Pavia, Mayon Denton.

Logan is represented by Leah Hamos & Vern Co at Gersh and Louise Keshaviah & Chelsea Benson at Echo Lake Management.

ROBERT ARNOLD (Director of Photography/Producer) is an accomplished cinematographer who works with high art, drama and VFX productions.

From studio to independent productions, Arnold is admired for his skill with lighting diverse skin tones and his warm, collaborative approach to filmmaking.

Arnold recently completed DP duties on REASONABLE DOUBT, the first scripted drama from the Onyx Collective produced by ABC Signature / Disney Television Studios. As actor Kerry Washington says: "Rob is a visionary cinematographer and a stellar human. His awareness of tone and attention to detail is fundamental in elevating scripts to screen. It’s an honor and delight to work with him."

He has also been busy in the commercial world. His most recent ads include NISSAN, a Black History Month spot and a PSA for Stand Up to Cancer. 

Additionally, Arnold shot Netflix’s Astronomy Club, a half-hour variety series that integrates bombastic characters, á la Key & Peele, with absurd group play, like The State.

A member of the International Cinematographers Guild I.A.T.S.E. Local 600, Arnold’s past credits include serving as a camera operator on The Walking Dead and Chicago P.D., working alongside his mentor cinematographer Rohn Schmidt, whom he met on The Chicago Code. Arnold also worked on films and television series, such as: La La Land, Furious 7, Scandal, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend and Big Little Lies. On Big Little Lies, Arnold collaborated closely with director Jean-Marc Vallée, OC to compose the series’ beautiful frames, designing shots and occasionally lensing second unit.

Having been a professional filmmaker for more than 18 years, Arnold’s passion for cinematography began with his admiration for films photographed by Matthew Libatique, ASC; Ernest Dickerson, ASC; Wally Pfister, ASC; Darius Khondji, ASC, AFC, ACS.

This led him to cultivate his craft for cinematography at Columbia College Chicago where he received hisBachelors of Arts in Cinematography, as well as at the prestigious American Film Institute where he was awarded a Masters of Fine Arts degree in Cinematography. While balancing his undergraduate studies, Arnold’s ambition led to an electrician apprenticeship on Fox Searchlight's Roll Bounce with James Muro as the cinematographer. Two years later, Arnold joined Chicago's I.A.T.S.E. Studio Mechanics Local 476.

Arnold cites world renowned cinematographers John Simmons, ASC; Geary McLeod, ASC; Rohn Schmidt; Amir Mokri; Dave Perkal, ASC; and Yves Bélanger, CSC as his mentors.

He is thrilled to be collaborating with Logan Vaughn, Ria Pavia and the rest of the Benny & James family. 

Arnold is based in Los Angeles, with Chicago being his hometown.

LAURIE BERNHARD (Executive Producer) is passionate about developing and producing new work that provides a lens into the human condition, exposing the complexities of identity, justice and transformation.  Through art, individual power is unleashed creating empathy and inspiring action to foster change both internally and externally.

As a ‘recovering attorney’ Laurie turned her efforts to supporting the work of non-profit organizations.  Bernhard Solutions worked with stakeholders to increase their efficiency in delivering services and programs more effectively through improved organizational management and approved strategies.

Throughout, her love and passion for all forms of art and its ability to “touch people’s souls” has kept her engaged.  “I am now in a position to help create, to support people producing remarkable work in theatre and film, to use the talents honed over many years to collaborate with artists to get powerful work before audiences.”

Laurie serves on the Boards of Ojai Playwrights Conference, NewYorkRep, and Thunder River Theatre Company. Currently, she has multiple projects in development and production.  Sparktheatrical.com

She is incredibly proud to be part of team Benny and James.  It has been a honor to learn from and work with high caliber artists under the skillful direction and vision Logan brought to every moment of this film. 

RIA PAVIA (Producer) is a director, producer, writer and acting/dialogue coach. Her film directorial debut, Second Team, nabbed 16 awards at various prestigious festivals, wrapping up at the American Pavilion’s Emerging Filmmaker Showcase at Cannes last year. Pavia was selected as one of 15 helmers for Sony’s Diverse Directing Program - Class of 2022/23. Her career in the entertainment industry launched with performing gymnastics in a tampon commercial in the ‘80s. This stint propelled her into acting in TV commercials, guest spots, and film roles. Back in the day, she recurred on Who’s the Boss, The Hughley’s, and the soap opera Santa Barbara. Her career then segued into casting associate on such movies as Twister, Dead Presidents and Flirting with Disaster. Next, she donned her scribe hat, working as a staff writer on Ask Harriet (starring Ed Asner) and Pauly (starring Pauly Shore) for FOX.

In the theatre world, Pavia has collaborated with Noah Wyle, Jennifer Aniston and Mark Ruffalo; directing over 45 plays and musicals. She just began her 6th season as acting coach on Freeform’s Grownish and directed her first music video starring Trevor Jackson in partnership with TikTok and Apple. The comedic sketches she directed for The Tam & Kevin Show are now viewable on Second City’s streaming platform. She was thrilled to direct Table Read My Screenplay for International Screenwriters Association at Sundance in January ‘23. 

Pavia attended Interlochen Arts Academy for high school as a Theatre Major, studied under the late great Sanford Meisner in the West Indies, and finished up at UCLA focusing on Theatre, TV & Film. Her most rigorous training revolves around the title of Mother to Adrianna (21 years old) and Dominic & Rocco (19 year old twins).

Pavia leapt at the opportunity to creatively collaborate with Logan Vaughn, as well as the rest of the stellar cast and crew on the magical Benny & James. 

MAYON DENTON (Producer) After graduating from UCLA, Mayon started his own Production Company. The company produces commercials, documentaries, TV pilots, and feature films. Mayon’s first feature film “Against the Grain,” a coming of age film is available on Amazon Prime and Netflix.

Mayon has produced several other feature films including, Fingerprints, Questions, Distortion, In Neon Lights, and Sensitivity Training. Sensitivity Training premiered at the LA Film Festival and is currently streaming on Amazon Prime.

In 2017 he executive produced a T.V. pilot entitled How to Succeed at Birth that played on Direct T.V. as well as a film titled “Lil Tokyo Reporter.” The latter is a 1935 period piece about a Japanese American activist streaming on Amazon Prime. Mayon is attached to produce three films, Wait a Minute Mr. Postman, Kingstown, and Visiting Oliva which is currently in production.

A recent noteworthy project titled Survivng was nominated for a Gotham award the Year Moonlight won. Mayon’s most recent pilot/short film Second Team, won the film Series at Cine Gear Expo 2020 and was an official selection at the Palm Springs International Film Festival as well as screening at the Festival De Cannes. So far in 2023 Mayon has two feature films First and One Night in LA screening at the Pan African Film Festival. Mayon’s directorial debut Distortion is also available on Apple TV and Amazon Prime, and he is currently directing a feature length documentary titled Wait a Minute Mr. Postman about the early writers on Motown Records. Mayon has also produced projects for Sony, Fox, FS1, Motown, Cadillac and Vibe.

JULIA ARMINE (Post Production Supervisor) is an Armenian American who migrated to the United States to pursue her passion of becoming a filmmaker, champion of human rights, and to secure a safer future for herself. In 2018, Julia received her Bachelor of Arts in Television, Film, & Media Studies from California State University, Los Angeles. Shortly after, she joined forces with the elite team at a post-production studio, Union Editorial, currently serving as an Assistant Editor. In addition, Julia is an independent director, and producer, working on documentaries, short films, and music videos. Her warm, humanitarian documentary, Piece by Piece, was honored with the 1st Place Jury Prize at the 2019 Audience Awards. Some of her producing work includes award winning short films Zarina, Second Team, She and Her etc.