We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Erik Harris. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Erik below.
Alright, Erik thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.
I’ve always known that one day I was gonna have the opportunity to creatively direct something big. I just didn’t know where to start or which way to go to get to that destination. The music industry helped me out alot by teaching me patience. It helped me to understand people better. And I learned that most of the time, things won’t go as planned. But you should never let that stop you or slow you down. So I kept going. Until one day I picked up a camera and started shooting. That hobby turned into something I would never have imagine me doing. Writing scripts and making short films. Which eventually led to me owning my own film production company. Putting me one step closer to creatively directing something big and meaningful.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers
I moved to Atlanta at a young age to become a working musician. After years of working with several independent record labels, I found a home with Fulton Yard Unlimited. Years later I joined a rap group and was given the opportunity to work with talented producers and artists such as Neal Harrington Pogue, DJ Buscemi of Belgium, Backbone of The Dungeon Family and the legendary funk band Cameo. After a brief adventure in music, I put all my focus on improving my mental and physical health. I developed a healthy obsession with fitness. And because of that obsession, my mental health improved drastically. Five years later, I started honing my filmmaking skills. That’s when I came up with the idea of starting my own film production company “House of 1000 Doors LLC.” I teamed up with a good friend, Elshannon Simmons, who assists me in creating distinctive visuals. We specialize in crafting entertaining and meaningful visual concepts for television and streaming distribution. I’m very proud of myself because I have come so close to giving up and chose to stay focused and keep striving to reach all of my goals.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
For me, the greatest part of the journey isn’t arriving at the destination. It’s all the fun and wild stuff that happens along the way. I see my path but I don’t quite know where it leads. Not knowing where I’m going is what inspires me. My goal is to learn as much as I can about filmmaking to become just as good as the directors I look up to. I wanna be good enough to sit at a table with Spike Lee, Quentin Tarantino, Jordan Peele, Donald Glover and Ryan Coogler.
Have you ever had to pivot?
There was a time in my life when I was drowning in self doubt, depression, confusion and anxiety. I had to change my way of thinking, my surroundings and my diet. I embraced silence and solitude. I spent days and days on my own without any human contact, not feeling lonely for even a moment. In quiet I found peace. I found the answers I needed. I remembered who I was. I was able to pull myself back together. Now I can see things clearly.
Contact Info:
- Website: staycozysaturdays.com
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/houseof1000doorsllc
- Facebook: http://facebook.com/staycozysaturdays
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erik-harris-6a965341
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/KoodaRangDang
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@staycozysaturdays
- Other: Visit us on tiktok @houseof1000doorsllc
Image Credits
Picture by Erik m.H