Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Erika Arlee. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Erika, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?
As a creative entrepreneur, resilience in the face of adversity is such a critical part of building success — not just from a business standpoint, but from an emotional standpoint as well. It takes patience and tenacity to navigate a career in the film industry. Personally, my resilience comes from creating balance in my work-life. Allowing myself time to simply exist and take pleasure in things outside of work: reading a book on the beach, spending time with friends, collaging, or any other number of activities that aren’t directly related to my professional world. This can be challenging when you own your own business, but it is imperative in order to combat burn-out. Diversifying my creative, professional, and personal pursuits helps me maintain balance. And I’m lucky to have close friends and family who support my journey by bringing me back to center when I experience imposter syndrome or doubt. True resilience, for me, comes from within, and you have to nurture your inner world in order to remain steadfast in the outer world.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am an independent filmmaker and co-founder of the award-winning production company, Honey Head Films. We are a boutique, female-led independent film house aimed to champion underrepresented voices in cinema, while bolstering our network of above-the-line creatives in the Wilmington region.
As a critically acclaimed writer, director, and cinematographer, my original work spans genres while maintaining a character-driven approach to storytelling. Writing has always been my first love, and I am constantly seeking inspiration from every experience I have in life. I am the proud author of 10 narrative short films, 4 feature films, a stage play, and a TV pilot.
My debut feature film, A Song For Imogene, premiered at Bentonville Film Festival in 2023 before going on to win Best Feature at The Rhode Island International Film Festival and open Cucalorus Film Festival back in my hometown of Wilmington, North Carolina. Most recently, A Song For Imogene was awarded Best Narrative Feature at Oxford Film Festival and Best First Feature at Croatia International Film Festival.
In addition to my multi-hyphenate work behind the camera, I am passionate about teaching and giving back to the next generation of young, aspiring filmmakers. I have held an adjunct professorship at The University of North Carolina – Wilmington in the Film Studies Department and co-founded Honey Head Films’ annual summer camp, Shoot Like A Girl, which equips young women with the tools and confidence they need to hone their creative visions while pursuing an interest in film.
Next up for Honey Head Films is my second original feature film, Host Country. It’s an action thriller set in a dystopian near-future that follows a mother on a journey to rescue her teenage daughter from a hostile militia group. We are actively packaging and pitching the project with our dedicated and delightful team of producers.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Adaptability is definitely #1 here. Honey Head Films was born from the ability to wear multiple hats with grace and efficiency. My co-founder, Kristi Ray, and I built a business model on being chameleons in the film industry: we said “yes” to every opportunity to grow or try a new skillset. That has made us extremely proficient producers and creatives because we never got mired in one way of doing something. We don’t hold ourselves to a traditional way of doing things if it doesn’t best serve the project. Our approach to filmmaking comes from a place of ingenuity, as opposed to an ‘industry standard.’
Building off of that point: you have to be well-rounded and knowledgable of all departments in order to be an effective director in the film industry. Teaching myself the technical trades, such as cinematography and editing, was imperative on my journey. It has allowed me to communicate more efficiently with my crew and jump into projects in pretty much any department. Not only that, but being an editor has allowed me to save time on sets because I can cut the scene together in my mind while I’m directing. I know which shots we need or don’t, and I know how to combine setups if we need to move faster throughout the day. It also helps to know how to write like a producer. That is critical when you’re working within the confines of a specific budget.
Lastly, starting my career on the stage has helped me immensely in ways I couldn’t have known when I was playing Scrooge in “A Christmas Carol” back in high school. Being a confident public speaker who can improvise and comport myself with ease and comfort in front of a group is a skill I don’t take for granted. It has been a huge part of my journey and success as a business owner, entrepreneur, and public figure.
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?
Honey Head Films is always open to new collaborators! We are uniquely positioned to support Tier 1 (<$7.5mm) film projects in the Southeastern region. Apart from independent and studio narratives, we also love working with bands, businesses, or brands on music videos, documentaries, and visual storytelling campaigns. For myself, I particular enjoy developing screenplays with clients who need a writing partner to take their idea to the next level. We are truly an open door over at Honey Head, and while we don’t finance projects at this time, we are well-equipped to produce work that is greenlit and looking for a way to make the most of their budget.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.honeyheadfilms.com
- Instagram: @honeyheadfilms
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/honeyheadfilms
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/honey-head-films
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9KeLbwf0R1_jPX3HeGzGtA
- Other: www.erikaarlee.com @erika.arlee
Image Credits
Katie McTiernan Ryan Brown
