We recently connected with Erika E. Wade and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Erika , so excited to talk about all sorts of important topics with you today. The first one we want to jump into is about being the only one in the room – for some that’s being the only person of color or the only non-native English speaker or the only non-MBA, etc Can you talk to us about how you have managed to be successful even when you were the only one in the room that looked like you?
I often feel like people describe me as the person at the center of the room. That’s not untrue. However, the people who know me best know I observe all situations before diving in. I think people call it reading the room now. Well, by reading a room, I’m never shocked by the ways people will receive me. Subtle body language, casual conversation, and mannerisms tell you a lot about people. If I know how people generally think and react, nothing should surprise me. When we get over the surprise of being the only one in a room, we move onto the possibilities of being the most unique perspectives in that room. I’m where I am for a reason. I go into rooms and don’t even let on that I’ve summed up tokenism if it’s at play. I can play just as good of a hand with bad cards and I can with strong ones.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I am a writer, producer, actor, and lead a company of fantastic humans dedicated to eradicating inequity in the entertainment industry. I began my career as a creative in search of a pipeline through the movie business, one similar to other career paths that logically led to the end goal of consistent work and suitable pay for my experience. Needless to say, that just doesn’t exist in Hollywood. Groups are currently on strike for unfair wages, practices, and exclusion from executive decisions that greatly impact our ability to tell stories on screen. I created Glenda’s Baby to educate groups that have less resources and access to the knowledge and experience needed to successfully work on film sets or in creative rooms. Although owning a business as a working creative is not an easy task, I wouldn’t trade the experiences I’ve had helping other creatives grow for anything in the world.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
First and foremost, I highly recommend anyone interested in creative content, filmmaking, or anything otherwise related to writing and producing content to learn as much as possible in the field before asking for help. That’s controversial, I know. However, I have a strong reason. There are so many gates kept by people very willing to keep current power structures in check. Do not approach a threat without knowing how to properly disarm it. You may still face obstacles, but knowing why you want to be in the movie business and why things work the way they currently do can help you determine how to enter it and dismantle practices you feel antiquated and exclusionary. My next lesson would be to learn as much about the current trends in the industry. That helped me a great deal when I was new to writing and filmmaking. When people consider collaborating with you, they might ask what you’re watching or what content excites you. Having an answer is much more than fitting into a club. Knowing what is trending with audiences, what sold with high promise, or even what creatives are making now can help you to get a feel of the production aspect of making content. Audiences matter. If we were only creating for ourselves, we would never go through the effort of showing our work to others. Lastly, finding and defending my voice helped me a great deal, not only as a creative, but as a brand. People hire me based off work experience, content that can easily be found online, or referrals. All of these things are consistent sources of new clients or connections for me because the brand messaging and voice I’ve crafted is very strong and accurate. Crafting your brand before someone else does is a great way to maintain and drive your own narrative.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
I’m always looking for collaborators. Making movies is near impossible without help. Although I love working with people who have track records in the industry, I also love helping people who do not traditionally see themselves in Hollywood find their footing. I look for people that are willing to grow and learn, no matter how much experience they might already have. I also look for people with keen eyes for changing trends and the boldness to advocate for them.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.glendasbaby.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glendasbaby/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GBProductionCo/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eewade/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@glendasbaby
- Other: For all inquiries about Glenda’s Baby, please send an email to [email protected]. Please, no unsolicited submissions. If requested, send all creative materials (after adequately proving Guild registration) to [email protected].
