Ben Kruse Calla
Location
- Chicago , IL
Portfolio
Languages
English and SpanishContact Ben
Ben is available for
Sound Design, mixing work and musical composition. I'm also very excited to explore production, narration and conducting interviews!- Engineering
- Music
- Recording
- Voice
About Ben
I’m a sound engineer by trade and have an MFA in Sonic Arts from the City College of New York. Since 2016 I’ve been working as a freelance audio editor, sound designer, composer and mixer across various mediums (Film, T.V., Podcast and Music). I was born in NY., grew up in Bolivia and now I reside in Chicago.
Throughout 2020 and part of 2021 I freelanced for Vice News and worked on a number of podcast episodes from various shows. Most Notably, I sound designed a series called: “The Crisis” / “Contra Natura” (In Spanish) which was nominated for a premio Gabo” (Renowned yearly Latin American journalism award event). I was also able to do Sound Design and Mixes for three episodes of “The Distance”: “Flying to the U.S. to Vote”, “Schooling With BIPOC-Led Pandemic Pods & Micro Schools” and “Covid Outbreak at Waseca Federal Prison”. Additionally I recorded Narration and assisted production on “An Election of Consequence” which aired in November of 2020 (Vice News Reports).
Generally speaking I love working with and facilitating the creation of stories through audio, whether it be via editing, mixing or recording. I love creating soundscapes that encapsulate the emotional hues of particular characters and places and I love working on stories about the Americas. Additionally - I’d like to get into doing more VO recordings and the production process in general.
I’m fond of community and love talking to people. More than anything I want to collaborate and share moments with others. The more stories I can help bring to life the better!
Lastly - photography has become a big hobby of mine! The banner at the top of my profile is a picture I took at a beach in Lake Michigan, 20 minutes outside of Chicago.
Ben's Portfolio
An investigation into the deadly fight over the environment and who controls it. In Season 1 we delve into the murders of three Colombian coal miners who were working for an Alabama coal company, and unravel a decades-long saga of bribery, scandal, civil war, and death. From VICE News.
Una investigación sobre la batalla mortal por el medioambiente y quién controla su futuro. En la primera temporada exploramos el asesinato de tres mineros colombianos que trabajaban para una empresa de carbón norteamericana, y desentrañamos una prolongada saga de sobornos, escándalos, guerra civil y muerte. Producido por VICE News.
Hosted by two queer brown immigrants Rage Kidvai & Thanu Yakupitiyage - Bad Brown Aunties is a podcast about art, culture, politics, and legacy through the lens of the amazing and creative people of color in our community. In each episode, we pick an artist, activist, writer, or cultural worker to talk about their lives, work, and who inspired them to be who they are, with a special nod to the aunties and elders that have shaped them.
Comedian Mike Birbiglia welcomes a different comedian or creator each week and together they work out original, untested material. And, occasionally, uncomfortable topics. Join them as they work it out.
Michelle Rojas is not okay. In fact, she’s burnt out.
With a PsyD from Yale and a job at a renowned Connecticut therapy practice, Dominican psychologist Michelle Rojas is a Washington Heights success story. When she gets fired for lashing out at co-workers and giving patients questionable advice, Michelle returns home.
Ashamed yet bullish, she lies to her family and friends: Michelle—voiced by Dascha Polanco (Orange is the New Black, Samaritan)—opens a therapy practice in a local bodega under the false pretense of expanding the therapy practice from Connecticut to New York.
But where she’s from, people just don’t go to therapy. It’s a struggle to pierce the tough resistance from the community, even with support from her free-spirited cousin Dora (Darlene Demorizi) and her quick-witted childhood friend Niño (The Kid Mero).
Michelle Rojas Is Not Okay follows Michelle as she struggles to grapple with both her professional and personal identities. Throughout her journey, she faces setback after setback before it slowly becomes clear that she’s there not only to offer help to her community, but also to receive it.
Michelle Rojas is not okay, but will she be?
Experience
Skills
- Mixing
- Sound Design
- Scoring
- Field Recording
- Composition
- Audio Engineering
Equipment
- Programs: Pro Tools Ultimate (2023), Izotope RX 9, Logic Pro X
- Studio: Mac Mini (Late 2018), Glyph Drives (Many - SSD and 7200 RPM), Beyer DT 1990 Pro Openback Headphones, Apollo X8P interface, Avid S1
- Recording: Mix Pre III, Senheiser MKH 416, Focal Listen Pro Closed Back Headphones
Previous Work
- Narrator / Production Assistant on "An Election of Consequence" (Vice News Reports) at VIce News (November 2020)
- Sound Designer and Mixer for Three Episodes of "The Distance" at Vice News (November 2020)