Every writer’s journey begins with a blank page, but for Dan Benamor, it also began with an internship that grew into a career in film development. Starting at a small production company, he worked his way up from intern to head of development, gaining hands-on experience that taught him how vital confidence, responsibility, and strong opinions are in the industry. He saw firsthand how scripts live or die not just by their story, but by the conviction with which they’re written and pitched. “If you project confidence on the page, people will come with you,” Dan explained, underscoring the importance of writing with authority and clarity.
While Dan has directed, he realized his true passion lies in screenwriting. He thrives on crafting stories, breaking down structure, and refining characters until the narrative feels inevitable. His development background gave him “muscle memory” for story, allowing him to navigate theme, character, dialog, and pacing with ease. For him, the planning stage is where the heavy lifting happens — once the blueprint is clear, the writing itself becomes the fun part. This approach served him well on Initiation, a film he co-wrote with his cousin Oren, who also directed. The movie, distributed by Gravitas Ventures, follows strangers forced into a deadly cult ritual, blending action, horror, and a deeper message about inner strength.
What makes Dan’s story compelling is not just the film’s success, but the lesson it carries: you don’t need a massive budget or studio machine to create meaningful, marketable work. Initiation was made independently, yet earned legitimate distribution and strong reviews, proving that ingenuity and story can outshine resources. For aspiring filmmakers, Dan’s career is a reminder that discipline, persistence, and a fearless approach to writing can turn a simple idea into a film that audiences around the world can watch.
