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Former Dedham man in Oscar-worthy film

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February 12, 2012|By Paul Kandarian

Dedhams Ben Kurland is happy with his scene alongside Berenice Bejo in The… (Weinstein Company )

ACTING BREAK: Talk about an actor’s ultimate resume builder: Former Dedham resident Ben Kurland has a supporting role as a casting director in “The Artist,’’ a movie nominated for 10 Oscars at the Academy Awards ceremony on Feb. 26.

Kurland, whose dad, James, runs the Baker Boys, a gourmet cookie-dough wholesaler in Dedham, has been acting since he was in first grade, learning a lot of lines over the years. For “The Artist,’’ he learned nary a one. It’s a silent film.

“The artistic expression is different, that’s for sure,’’ said Kurland, 27, by phone from Los Angeles, where he’s lived since 2003 and studied theater at the University of Southern California. “Because you don’t have words to express yourself, the body has to overcompensate a little. I think there’s a real honesty to performances like that, it really shows how little importance we should place on words in terms of telling an emotional story.

“That’s what’s special about ‘The Artist,’ ’’ he said. “You watch and fully understand what’s going on’’ without the actors telling the audience anything.

Kurland was born and raised in Newton, where he attended the Fessenden School, and moved with his family to Dedham in 2001. James Kurland said of his son that acting is “the only thing he’s ever wanted to do. Even in the first grade, he was most comfortable on stage.’’

The arts are in the Kurland blood: Ben’s grandmother Anita Kurland was executive director of youth activities at the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and cofounded youth concerts at Symphony Hall with Harry Ellis Dickson.

Ben has one scene in “The Artist,’’ appearing onscreen with the film’s female lead, Berenice Bejo. For that scene, he also worked with British actor Malcolm McDowell.

“The whole film is like that, like little vignettes, each scene has its own importance,’’ Kurland said. “That aspect makes the film special, those little moments.’’

The film is playing all over, including at the Dedham Community Theater on High Street, where it will continue through the Oscars, and where Kurland spoke after a recent showing of his movie.

Kurland said he counts among his favorite movies a Boston biggie, “Good Will Hunting,’’ created by and starring then-little-known locals Ben Affleck and Matt Damon.

Before “The Artist,’’ Kurland’s acting gigs had been “nothing of much note,’’ he said, including a pseudoreenactment show on TLC, “Untold Stories of the ER,’’ and an independent film, “Sinners.’’

Since landing in LA, he’s been a bartender, which, he said, “is a fun job and there’s a reason so many actors do it, it pays well and keeps your days free for auditions.’’