Today we’d like to introduce you to Erin C. Davis.
Hi Erin, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I’ve always been a ham. At least that’s what my mom would call me when I’d be jumping in front of our family’s new-age video camera in the ’90s. Dancing, singing, and trying to steal attention away from my sister lol; I’ve just always loved performing.
There’s something about film that makes me feel a kind of way. There is this… intimacy. You can stare into the soul of a character. See them behind closed doors in their private and most vulnerable moments.
My mind pretty much lives in a fantasy world. I’m constantly daydreaming and imagining circumstances of life, some realistic and some not. I play things out like a movie in my mind. And, I guess in a way, I see acting as the closest I’ll get to living out imagination in real life…
Aside from acting, I work in another aspect of film and television. I work crew on set, specifically in the Props department.
In simplest terms, a prop is anything an actor or background extra holds or handles. And I mean ANYTHING… a cell phone, a drink they are drinking, a gun they are firing. Sometimes it can be simple and sometimes a Prop can tell a story.
In the Marvel Universe for instance, Captain America has his Shield, Thor his Mjolnir (hammer), and Doctor Strange his Eye of Agamotto. All Props and all help tell the story… and I have been lucky enough to work with some of them :P.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I wouldn’t say life is ever exactly a smooth road.
I grew up and began this career in Maryland. (If anyone knows a Marylander, we are obsessed with our steamed blue crabs, state flag, and old bay seasoning!) As a child, I was very rambunctious. I would throw my energy and silliness at people and would run high on different emotions. It was probably the end of elementary school when I started seeing and feeling that I didn’t really fit in. Then in middle school I created a little motto to live by – “weird is better than boring.”
I didn’t know anyone growing up that had gone into an industry like this…
It’s absolutely something I had to seek out, learn, and fight my way into myself.
I could never see myself working at a desk for some corporate company or staying in the same town forever.
I’ve always said I give myself 50% credit. The other 50% is right time right place, certain privileges I may already be born with, and people who have given me a hand along the way. “I get by with a little help from my friends.”
Two friends in particular come to mind. The first is Sharif Salama who is now kicking a** as a film and television Locations Key and Manager here in ATL. But back in 2015, Sharif got me on my first big set working Craft Services on the 4th season of Netflix’s original series House of Cards.
The second is a friend who is truly an amazing and fully dynamic actor, Sam Lukowski. When I moved to ATL Christmas of 2017, he pulled me around to all the industry networking parties, introduced me to different film groups and a couple of acting agents. I would have been a bit lost for a lot longer without him.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Most notably, I worked on set full time doing Props on Marvel’s first Disney+ series, WandaVision.
Also here in Atlanta, I was able to sign with Aligned Stars Agency..
I have done commercials for Toyota, and ads and print for Frigidaire and MOEN Appliances. I shared a bit of screen time with Riz Ahmed in Jason Bourne and was cast as the Hostage in a bank robbery scene of HBO’s Watchmen.
My first Props job in ATL was a month on the reshoots of Avengers: End Game… and since then, I’ve been able to work on about 18 productions to date. (A lot of them day playing only a number of days!) but WOW… 18. Hahaha, it feels wild counting and writing that out.
No matter what I do; acting, props, or otherwise, I take pride in staying true to myself. I care about people a lot, and I would never want to feel like I’m using someone just to get ahead in this business.
The industry and opportunity here is insane (in the best way), and I am grateful to be here.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
That’s a hard one for this industry. There’s really no one particular way in. Literally, everyone I’ve talked to about it has had a different path. I would say you have to be willing to reach out to people again and again. Show your eagerness to learn.
It’s not unlikely you’ll start with unpaid or low-paying gigs. I certainly did. From there, connections will grow as you go on — you just have to be able to learn the difference between people and projects that might help take you places vs. the ones that wont. Be eager. Be smart. Research the people and projects starting out and follow your gut.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @erin.davis6565
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/erin.davis.56679/
