We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful E. A. Dodson. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with E. A. below.
Hi E. A. , 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?
The beautiful thing about life, the world we live in, and all of the people that we may or may not come in contact with while living, is that we’re all wonderfully and uniquely made different. Every room, every situation, every opportunity, every success, and even every failure, requires that mindset. Don’t be afraid of the moments; frankly, the time when the room is the most quiet, all eyes are drifting towards you, they’re waiting, for a leader to be born. It’s in these moments when you, and everyone else, maybe even just for a beat or two, forgets about they look like and is schooled on who they are. These are the moments when all of your time, patience, and most importantly, your effort is showcased. Remember, every heave, every eye-roll, and every adjustment of a seat, it matters. It’s not your job to read the room, but to win it. You and I have always been more than the color of our skin or our eyes. Never stop learning about what God made you to be, the bliss he wants you to see, and that certain change he wants you to bring.
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?
Four letters, decided by my parents, Greg and Mary, back in 93, spells the name, Eric. Male, multi-racial, a father, husband, friend, enemy I’m sure, but most importantly, he’s a believer. I know, it sounds cliche, but His scars and mine prove a long journey that I’m blessed to currently still walk. And despite those difficult days when your faith is tested and you’re mentally and physically pushed to your brink, I still believe in the good of the world and the people I share it with. It’s in those times when I learn the most about you and you the same with me. If we’ve had the pleasure of meeting each other, working together, or just conversing in fellowship, then you know what to expect from me. Professionalism at all times, relentless effort on and off the set, a true passion for the craft of filmmaking…1000% percent is all I ever ask. My production company, Ollie & Panda Films, was built seven years ago on the aforementioned and continues to mature daily because of it. Throughout my life, especially early on playing sports, I’ve always been thrust in situations, both advantageous and unfavorable, where I was delegated as, “Leader.” Constantly motivating, shaping my body language, pushing harder here and holding back there, being a leader is hard; but, nothing makes me more excited. My team is filled with professionals. They’re excellent in their field, more knowledgable than me in it, and they’re leaders themselves whether they know it or not. OPFilms specializes in features, higher-end commercial work, television series, documentaries, and wedding videography. Having a team of creatives that are of high character, discipline, respect, and are very meticulous, continues to spearhead our growth in each of those genres. In 2022, OPFilms led production on three feature films (Everything I Ever Wanted, Jack & Ava, The Final Play) that are set to release later this year, 2023. We’re excited about the future and what all comes with it; yes, of course the good, but even the bad as well.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Honestly, I get this question a lot. Calls, text messages, emails, personal DM’s, yes, it’s always this question. And despite being asked many times by many types of people, for me, it’s always been and will be this answer. Before you make that call, send that text, hit send on a long-winded email, or slide into the DM’s, be confidently ready to answer the same questions about yourselves. For example, what are three qualities and/or skills that you have? Do you believe they leave an impact on someone, something, or better yet, the world? Your responses should interest me, the work you present should prove a reel/resume scarred with mistakes, yet longing for opportunity. I should see and hear that; hell, I should feel that. Never tell me its because of the equipment, the resources, or that maybe, just maybe, you ran out of time. Because now the time you’re looking for has already been used by another person…they’ve been preparing, practicing, and growing. And now, they’ve earned the chance to answer the same questions you’ve voiced, typed, and penned to another. Listen, most times the answers to your questions are right in front of you. You have to have an undying love for the work, the success, and even the failures. Because they will come. No, I’m not telling you to not ask for advice…I’m telling you to be ready for the answer, because you are it.
Do you think it’s better to go all in on our strengths or to try to be more well-rounded by investing effort on improving areas you aren’t as strong in?
It takes over 100 SUCCESSFUL repetitions to break a habit. With that being said, there are only 24 hours in a day and only one you. Even though God has blessed us with many abilities, I firmly believe the only way to become professional, yes, a sheer expert at something, is to hone in on that one strength that you believe will make the most difference in the world. Of course, you can always be good at other things, but to unlock greatness one must spend an unprecedented amount of time, effort, and patience to a craft. Pray about it, ultimately decide which strength is priority for you, then attack it 1000%. Make sure you’re successfully completing repetitions at the highest level without fail. Then, you will see, what was once a hobby becomes a lifestyle.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.olliepandafilms.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/olliepandafilms
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OlliePandaFilms
Image Credits:
Nicole Piper Drew Balfour
