Today we’d like to introduce you to Erin Whitson.
Erin, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
When I graduated MassArt in Boston in 2013, I was a little nervous pursuing the creative field as a newcomer. I wanted to be hired for my unique contributions to the art and film world but didn’t know how to break through the door. So instead of living in the United States and walking the path as most of my colleagues, I decided to move to Santiago De Chile and work on projects with friends who have reputable film production companies there. I got to work on films that were screening at Cannes, Sundance and San Sabastian, gaining me profound experience. I also worked briefly as a personal videographer during Chiles presidential campaign, following Ricard Lagos, Chile’s ex-president who was re-running for re-election around by jumping into cars with secret service, following him through packed market places, and touring with him around the country. When I came back, I had a new sense of purpose, and was able to freelance for Jay’s company Roc Nation, as well working on campaigns for Amnesty International, Mayc’s, AT&T and Survival Media Agency. I have a studio in Boston and New York City, and my focus is now film production completely.
We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
I work in all video realms, for example: documentary, narrative, animation, commercials, you name it. My focus however is in environmental impact documentary’s, I work for a company called Survival Media Agency, where I specialize in telling tales about people who struggle with the impacts of environmental disasters, and the people who rise up and protest against the decisions that impact the future. For me, this is a very important work, that I hope to continue for a long time. Currently I’m trying to find grant funding for a documentary that I want to shoot next year in Latin America.
Artists face many challenges, but what do you feel is the most pressing among them?
I think in the United States, what makes it hard to be an artist, is the rising costs of life. Now, students face debt, apartments are more expensive than ever, we’re eating food that’s not healthy for us, health care that is way too expensive. It’s hard to be an artist when you are faced with a high rate of living and life expenses. A lot of my friends still live at home with their families, still paying off their debt from university. It’s really sad. For me, I still have debt to pay off, I still struggle with my bills, but I try to have no fear in it. This is my life, and I want to live my life, and live the life the way that I imagined it as a kid growing up watching movies.
Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
My work has been screened in festivals and is also available on VOD online.
Contact Info:
- Website: erinwhitsonvideo.com
- Phone: 5088261846
- Email: macwhitson@gmail.com
- Instagram: erin_wajufos
Image Credit:
Amnesty International (organization), Ron Whitehead (Poet), Macy’s (business), Marcelo Diaz (Chilean Senator), Prueba De Actitud (Chilean Feature film), LA LAVA (Chilean Band)
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