Paid to Play

Eric Elder is living a life built on what he loves. He jokes that he gets paid to watch cartoons and play games. It's more accurate to say he gets paid to animate, create games and build fantastic worlds--he works in animation, video game production and XR (augmented reality).

He's worked in these industies for over thirty years. His 2D animation credits include Beavis and Butthead, The Simpsons and King of The Hill, including an episode EMMY for the latter. What really lights him up, though, is creating curriculum and programs to assist others who wish to work in this field. When not working as a professional animator he spent 15 years working with the Art Institutes as an Instructor, then as an Academic Director and created the most successful Video Game production training programs in the system.

Like most of the Brothers, he has a story to share about an interaction with the police that resulted in shotguns pointed in his direction, handcuffs and the rest. In this case, over nothing more than his car alarm going off.

Favorite song: If You Believe from The Wiz, sung by the great Lena Horne.

Favorite books: The Lean Start-Up; Measure What Matters; Business Model Generation; and Business Model You.

Eric founded OW! (Online Worlds) Entertainment in 1997 to create virtual worlds for movie & TV properties.

For the past few years he has been focused on the emerging AR/VR industry managing productions, designing pipeline models, game/experience design, strategic planning and developing studio pitches for AR & VR based on major Hollywood IP.  

He currently spends most of his time as a Creative Media Consultant designing training programs and production pipelines for animation, video game & XR production. He is also actively a speaker at various industry related events.

 

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe wherever you get your podcasts or visit us at 365brothers.com.

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About this podcast: In each episode, a Brother reflects on his life; explores the experience of being a Black man in America; shares his interactions with law enforcement; and answers the question "If America was a woman, what would you say to her?"

Every interview starts with getting-to-know-you questions about favorites, accomplishments and then goes deeper. You won't find a collection of conversations with Black men like this anywhere else. Hear their wisdom.

Host, Rahbin Shyne, is an author, educator, creative and avid half-marathon walker. Follow on Instagram @allthingshyne or on Facebook.

Interested in being a guest? Click here.

Special thanks to Sonji Walker, Shedrick Sanders, Abigail Gonzalez and Don Davis for their generous support.