A Bala Cynwyd native is making global waves on Netflix with a deeply personal documentary, writes Dan DeLuca for The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Filmmaker Ben Feldman traces his connection to the Red Hot Chili Peppers back to a CD swap in his youth. He traded away a Led Zeppelin album and received Blood Sugar Sex Magik in return, a moment that helped shape his lifelong fandom.
Today, Feldman is behind The Rise of the Red Hot Chili Peppers: Our Brother Hillel. His film has climbed into Netflix’s top 10 in multiple countries, including the U.S., marking a major milestone for the Friends’ Central Alum and his growing production company.
Feldman’s path to filmmaking wasn’t conventional. After studying at New York University, he spent a decade working as an attorney before pivoting careers in his 30s in search of more meaningful work. His first major project came out of Philadelphia, documenting a bizarre theft at the Philadelphia Insectarium and Butterfly Pavilion, which evolved into the true-crime series Bug Out.
His latest project centers on the early friendship between Red Hot Chili Peppers members Anthony Kiedis, Flea, and late guitarist Hillel Slovak, highlighting an often-overlooked chapter of the band’s rise and the personal bonds that shaped its sound.
To learn more about Bala Cynwyd’s Ben Feldman, his career, and connection with the Red Hot Chili Peppers, visit The Philadelphia Inquirer.
