We recently connected with Erik Marcos and have shared our conversation below.
Erik, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?
Honestly, that want to pursue an artistic/creative path came about back in my high school for me. I was in my junior year 2009 to 2010. My Theatre teachers Ms. Newman & Ms. Brown were needing extra help with the plays, the TV shows & the musicals we had ready to showcase for the Fall & Spring semester. I was with them for 3 separate classes: TV Production, Theatre & Musical Theatre, however, I never really thought about a leadership role at first with any of their productions, I kind of liked working where I was needed. I wasn’t forced into one either I just landed in it because Ms. Newman who was a fierce perfectionist with a fiery temper wanted someone who could get everything up and running and managing the other students with her. After helping her organize One Acts during Fall, she spoke with Ms. Brown who was more of a whimsical spirit. Which makes sense that the musical theatre department were her domain & decided for me that I would be Stage Manager, Assistant Director & Creative Director for all their projects until I graduated. Really diving deep into these roles gave me an understanding that it was something that could become a real job for me. Strangely when one of our actors couldn’t make it for the Fall musical I stepped in and played both his roles as well as being the Assistant Director & Stage Manager for the show. When everyone praised me for being such a good sport wearing so many hats and managing it all without quitting, it solidified my resolve for making a career out of this.
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 am a filmmaker, I’m a creative producer, I’m a storyteller. These are what make up what I love and continue to do with my career path. I am also, a driven human being who’s really driven by one thing: making people feel seen! Not just surface level seen, but in “that’s me” or “I’ve felt that before” kind of seen. The beginning of my journey starting in theatre; I was drawn to performance at first, acting, being adored by the people. However, I quickly realized I was just as, if not more, interested in what was happening behind the scenes. How a moment is framed, why a story hits, what makes something stick with you after it ends. That curiosity pulled me into film, and I’ve been building my voice in that space ever since.
I’ve worked on short films, small commercial projects, freelance videography/photography work, along with roles in feature production and film festival coordination. I like to say I’ve seen both the creative chaos and the structured side of filmmaking, which begs the question is it insane to say that I actually enjoy living in that balance. Staying as the creative who can get excited about an imaginative idea (either mine or others) and also make sure we keep a tight schedule & get it done.
Another big reason I do this is representation for all. first of all its free, second, everyone should be represented anyways; and lastly as a proud member of the Odd One Out Collective I understand what it’s like not to see yourself on screen. Being Puerto Rican, as an only child with a single parent who was in the military I’ve grown up being that person who wanted to be a member of the inside groups, but never finding my footing. Never knowing why I didn’t like it as much as others did and thinking there has to be something wrong with me for not wanting to fit in, stay in the lines, stay silent. As I got older staying in my own lane I began to notice the signs when stories of others tended to feel authentic and grounding in a sense of real personhood versus being manufactured into what someone thinks should be the norm in representing a particular person and what the hold dear within their stories. So I’m really intentional about creating work that feels honest, specific, and lived-in. I want to tell stories that reflect people as they are; the less polished version of a human being who is messy, funny, complicated, but also brave for just living each day moving forward one foot at a time.
In terms of what I offer, that can mean anything from building a concept from the ground up to directing, editing, or collaborating with someone to shape their vision into something tangible. I’m also developing my own projects (mostly narrative fiction screenplays), a collaboration with a fashion festival in Tampa, and a few other projects I am waiting to secure funding for to create that roundtable for accessibility to everyone.
What sets me apart is probably how much I care about the “why” behind everything. I’m not interested in making something just because it looks good or trends well. for me it has to mean something. With that, I bring a strong production mindset, so ideas don’t just stay ideas, they actually get made with me, and they get made well.
What I’m most proud of right now is the fact that I’ve stayed committed to figuring out my voice. I’ve worked in productions form the stage to the screen since 2014. Every set, every collaboration, every challenge has shaped how I show up as a creator, and I’m starting to feel more confident in what I bring to the table. A sense of belonging to all, with that as my core value it will keep my moral compass always looking to the horizon of how to have others around feel beautiful outside as well as in. A quote I have always loved from one of my favorite movies ‘Metropolis’ (1927) “The mediator between head and hands must be the heart”
At the end of the day, I’m building something with intention. Whether I’m working with a client or creating my own films, I want the work to feel real, inclusive, and timeless. I’m not here to just put content out into the world and make a quick buck. I’m here to make work that resonates, that represents, and that people can come back to and still feel something years after they have seen it the first time.
In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?
Just show up! I know to some it may seem like too simplistic an idea, however it works. There are a lot of creative people just trying to make a living on their imagination, with so many wondrous outlets an artist can use as their “canvas,” however shape or form it comes in.
Showing up can mean a lot of things. It can mean attending events, watching someone’s film, sharing their work, engaging with their content, or even just telling that one best friend who will hype up your work even if they are the first ones to know (or even be the only ones to know at times). That kind of support goes a long way, especially for artists who are still building their audience and trying to find their own lane.
I also think it’s important for society to recognize that creative work is equal to all other work. There’s time, skill, emotional energy, & a lot of experience that goes into what artists create. Supporting artists isn’t just about appreciation; it’s also about valuing their work enough to invest in it! Whether that’s buying a ticket, or hiring them, or funding creative spaces and giving opportunities to those that deserve it, which you know in my opinion means everyone.
Another way I believe could help is creating more access. Not everyone has the same resources, or connections to break into creative industries. I know for a fact it took me a while to build mine. So building a thriving creative ecosystem means opening those gates. If we were to focus again on funding those education systems, or community programs that work on developing those imaginative skills. Even mentorships helped me when I needed it. As long as the focus point is making people feel encouraged to explore their creativity without judgment.
And honestly, now talking about community; I think it also comes down to growing that too. When creatives support each other, collaborate, and share knowledge, it creates an environment where everyone can grow. That kind of ecosystem doesn’t just happen. It’s built intentionally over time.
Supporting artists isn’t complicated, but it does require consistency. Show up, stay curious, invest when you can, and recognize the value of creative work. When people do that, it creates a ripple effect that allows artists not just to survive, but to actually thrive.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
To be able to create a space for those voices who deserve to be heard. Especially the ones that are often overlooked, or pushed to the margins just because their thinking process may be different than the other person.
I’ve always been someone who could take care of myself, even from a young age. But a lot of my chosen family didn’t have that same stability. I grew up witnessing that difference, as it shaped me I found myself constantly stepping in, speaking up, and defending those whom I loved and even those who were strangers to me not because I had to, but because I could not stand by and let them receive such ignorance from those around them.
That instinct never really left. It just evolved into my creative work.
My storytelling is a form of advocacy. It’s a way to challenge narratives that feel incomplete or inauthentic, and to replace them with something more human and grounding in that lived in experience. As I always say I am not interested in surface-level representation. I want more! I want to tell stories that actually reflect the complexity of people’s lives, especially within communities that are my own or not who don’t get to be as accessibly seen.
There’s also a level of responsibility that comes with that. As a great man said with great power comes great responsibility. If I’m going to create work that represents people, I want to do it with the utmost care. Not to speak over anyone or for anyone, but to create spaces where those voices can exist unapologetically full.
At the end of the day, my work is driven by a mix of empathy and defiance. Empathy for the people and communities I care about, Defiance against systems and narratives that try to limit them. If I can use my work to create even a little more space, a little more understanding, or a little more visibility for someone else, that’s what makes it worth it!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ehmarcos92.wixsite.com/marcosproductions
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marcos.productions/?next=%2Fmarcos.productions%2F
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1E6uPW3EkR/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erik-marcos/
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4vqO-GcS_XRfo11IEy_G1TPuzv_U2mSj&si=cZNczTIug5whexib
- Yelp: https://yelp.to/4xBITZ8RCm
- Other: Personal IG: https://www.instagram.com/erik_h_marcos/
Image Credits
David Garza
Saulo Zayas
Trevohnn Garner
Thomas Brown
Dominique Seward
Ja’maal Hassan Eveillard
Erik Marcos
Fwea Studios
Seward Studios
Marcos Productions