Author Ben Lei

Ben Lei

Senior Contributor

Ben Lei is a senior entertainment journalist at Awards Focus, where he covers the artists and craftspeople shaping today’s film and television landscape. His reporting places a particular emphasis on multicultural representation, with a focus on elevating underrepresented voices both in front of and behind the camera. Over the course of his career, Ben has interviewed Academy Award and Emmy Award winners and nominees across all facets of production—from actors and directors to editors, composers, and production designers—offering readers a deeper understanding of the creative decisions behind some of the year’s most acclaimed projects. His coverage spans major premieres, film festivals, and awards ceremonies, where he has become known for thoughtful, craft-driven interviews that resonate with both industry insiders and general audiences. In addition to his work at Awards Focus, Ben is the founder and co-host of United By Rice, a media platform and podcast dedicated to celebrating AANHPI storytellers and exploring the cultural impact of Asian American voices in entertainment. Through his journalism and original programming, he remains committed to documenting the evolving creative landscape while helping ensure that more inclusive stories are seen, heard, and remembered.

Film Review: ‘The Invite’ Finds Big Emotional Truths Inside an Awkward Dinner Party

Olivia Wilde transforms a provocative dinner party premise into a funny, emotionally insightful examination of modern marriage. Anchored by standout performances from Seth Rogen and Penélope Cruz, "The Invite" proves to be less about sexual liberation than the difficult conversations couples avoid—and one of Wilde's strongest films to date.

Rufus Sewell on ‘The Diplomat’ Season 3, Keri Russell, and Why Chemistry Can’t Be Manufactured

Rufus Sewell reflects on “The Diplomat” Season 3, the remarkable chemistry he shares with Keri Russell, Debora Cahn’s razor-sharp writing, and why Hal Wyler remains one of television’s most compelling morally complex characters. He also explains why, after three decades, he’s having more fun than ever.

Luke Tennie on ‘Shrinking,’ ‘The Pitt,’ and Why Representation Starts With Great Characters

Luke Tennie is having a remarkable run across “Shrinking,” “The Pitt,” and “Abbott Elementary.” The actor discusses improvising with Jason Segel, learning from Noah Wyle, navigating two hit series at once, and why a conversation about the bamboo ceiling became one of the most meaningful moments of our interview.

Stephen Root on Balancing Comedy, Horror, and Heart in ‘Widow’s Bay’

Stephen Root discusses joining Apple TV+'s acclaimed "Widow's Bay," bringing Wyck's mythology-heavy role to life, and why the show's writing reminded him of "Barry." The veteran actor also reflects on working with Matthew Rhys, balancing horror and comedy, and the series' newly announced second season.

How Kate O’Flynn Turned Patricia Into ‘Widow’s Bay’s’ Most Beloved Character

Kate O'Flynn discusses finding Patricia through instinct, balancing horror and comedy, and why the character has resonated so deeply with audiences. The "Widow's Bay" star also reflects on the acclaimed Episodes 4 and 8, working with Matthew Rhys, and the show's recently announced Season 2 renewal.

Director and EP Stephanie Laing on Finding the Heart Beneath the Chaos in ‘Your Friends & Neighbors’

Director and executive producer Stephanie Laing discusses the emotional core of "Your Friends & Neighbors," from Jon Hamm's exploration of grief and identity to Amanda Peet's perimenopause storyline. She also breaks down the season's standout funeral episode and explains why audiences continue to connect with these flawed characters.

Barrie Gower on Vecna’s Evolution for the Final Season of ‘Stranger Things’

For nearly a decade, "Stranger Things" occupied a unique place in popular culture. Since debuting in 2016, the Netflix phenomenon grew from a nostalgic science fiction thriller into one of the defining televis... Read More...

‘Fallout’ VFX Supervisor Jay Worth on New Vegas, Deathclaws, and Earning Fans’ Trust

"Fallout" VFX Supervisor Jay Worth discusses building New Vegas for Season 2, collaborating with Bethesda, earning the trust of longtime fans, balancing practical and digital effects, and why some of the series' most impressive visual effects are the ones audiences never realize are there.

Isa Briones on Bringing Filipino Representation to ‘The Pitt’ and Revealing New Layers of Dr. Santos

Isa Briones discusses bringing the Filipino lullaby "Ili Ili Tulog Anay" to "The Pitt," Dr. Santos' evolving relationship with Langdon, the character's unexplored self-harm history, and why some of the season's most powerful moments came from the smallest scenes.

Head Writer Dan Amira on How ‘The Daily Show’ Finds the Funny out of 10,000 Headlines a Day

Dan Amira, head writer of "The Daily Show," discusses the show's daily writing process, crafting material for Jon Stewart and the rotating host lineup, avoiding political joke fatigue, developing correspondent pieces, and why the hardest part of the job isn't writing jokes—it's deciding what stories deserve attention.