Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Erik Van Lenten. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Erik, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

How did you learn to do what you do?

-I started my career in high school after knowing I wanted to pursue cinematography, and shot weddings in Miami every weekend. I was able to learn some basic skills and get a feel for the camera and finding the right shots. I then decided to attend FullSail University and got a Bachelor of Science in film production. After a grueling 21 months of nearly constant classes, I graduated and started working any crew job I could find. The real introduction to my industry was after graduation when I began working on set. Working long 12-16 hour days in my field gave me the most valuable information and a place to learn from my mistakes. I was lucky enough to find mentors and crew members who were willing to show me the ropes along the way.

Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process?

-It’s hard to say what could have made my learning process go faster. I feel like I really learned things when I needed to learn them. I’ve also been working hard to have a beautiful life outside of my work and balance the two. Learning my craft is something I will do for the rest of my life and I am okay with that.

What skills do you think were most essential?

-Some of the most important skills I continue to learn have nothing to do with cameras or lighting, rather communication and people. At the end of the day film making is a team sport and learning to play well with all types of people and being open to feedback is key. I wouldn’t be able to accomplish anything without an amazing team which is how I can still manage to I love going to set at 3am… in the middle of the woods… in the rain.

What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

-Fear was and still is a big obstacle for me. Fear of failing, fear of asking questions, fear of not creating something perfect on the first try. The more I release my self from my own fear, the better off I think I will be.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am a freelance narrative and commercial director of photography.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being an artist or creative?

-The most rewarding part of being a DP is bringing stories to life, along side amazing crew all focused on one goal.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

When I was in elementary school I was diagnosed with dyslexia and a few other learning disabilities. This made reading and writing very difficult for me throughout my time in school. When it came time for me to be able to read 100+ page scripts, I had to find a solution that worked for me. I went on the hunt and found an app that can read uploaded scripts out loud for me to listen to. I have always been an audible learner and this app helped to turn something very difficult for me into something I really enjoyed.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://erikvanlenten.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erikvanlenten/
• Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4100035/