Today we’d like to introduce you to E. A. Dodson.
Thanks for sharing your story with us E. A. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Ollie & Panda Films took its first breath of life at a wedding in my hometown of Thomasville, Georgia back in 2016 with old, beat-up camera equipment and a vision blurred by what exactly the future may hold. Four years later, our team has traveled around the country meeting amazing individuals and building meaningful relationships; our images have garnered national film awards and network appearances, but most importantly, we have persevered, innovated, and grown into achievers.
I once was a college football player at Shorter University in Rome, Georgia; the taped sheets of paper with terrible handwriting and food and drink stains ripped from my childhood journal have always motivated me. There they were, on the fridge, covering my bedroom walls, and even on the bathroom doors; repaying my loving and supportive parents, Greg and Mary, for everything they had done for me was a major goal. Thus, my dream life of a camera, a lens, and an inspiring story took a backseat to the many sports I participated in. College for me was exciting, fun, and memorable… as it should be. Scoring touchdowns, winning on the biggest stages, and getting a lot of recognition… that would make anyone happy, right? Yeah, you’re right, maybe for a little while. But something that truly lives inside of a person’s heart, their true calling, their gift to the world… it comes back full-circle.
After college, I decided to do what was comfortable; instead of pursuing filmmaking full-time and with every ounce of my energy, I chose to help others. Thus, I became a Georgia educator and an athletics coach, using my leadership and motivational abilities to inspire others to take their big leaps. And to be honest, that wasn’t such a horrible thing. I was blessed to be able to aide others in their moments of vulnerability, the times when they believed they weren’t good or strong enough to press on. Now–insert the discrepancy; here I was, so happy for others but struggling with timing my own “selfishness.”
Time is an odd thing, isn’t it? It doesn’t stop for anyone. It’s constantly ticking away, and so are opportunities. I still remember getting a call from a producer about having my services on a feature film production taking place fairly close to where I grew up. And I still remember apologizing to him repeatedly because I’d already had a commitment; I was booked 180+ days of each year as an educator and coach. I often revisit the moment of driving in silence on a two-lane backroad in the wee hours of the morning coming from a shoot that I somehow squeezed in my schedule… just to feel the thrill of being on a production set again and only to never be paid.
I never received a dime and I felt disrespected; unappreciated. I lay in bed that night with my then-girlfriend, Allyson, and I told her the “plan” that had been replaying over and over in my head. As she reminded me, I knew it would upset some people, most importantly, the students that I had built trustworthy bonds with. But it was time. My testimony is filled with highs and lows, support and hate, truths and lies, and love and loss. But all 27 years have led to this; the right time, the right situation, the right opportunity. And now, an award-winning full-time filmmaker, I don’t want to be a hypocrite; this is for every student I’ve ever told they can do it because you can, and you still will.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Have you ever driven a car? Hell, no road is smooth; they never are! You’re going to hit bumps along the way… it’s inevitable… yes, some are bigger than others, but they’re still obstacles. And it’s your job to lay new foundation. I believe a lot of people struggle with wondering if they’re good enough… if their work is good enough and they end up quitting on the marathon of a race that is a dream. With every project that I’m dealt with, big or small, and also simply because I’m stitched this way, I’m constantly trying to outwork my last work. If we’re honest, the one major obstacle for everyone is themselves. We’re humans! We overthink, we worry, we care so much, but sometimes you just have to not give a damn and just go do it! You have to become the person that patches the road, that corrects old mistakes, and fills in the missing pieces of the puzzle you’re creating. My past and current obstacles, as challenging as they may seem, are different from others, but the principle remains the same: lay the foundation. Your diligence and patience will be rewarded.
We’d love to hear more about Ollie & Panda Films.
Ollie & Panda Films is named after my two Siberian Huskies, Ollie & Panda. Ollie is the oldest of my three dog-children and he’s been with me since day one. I started this company on the sheer will to begin again. Without Ollie, especially during some of the darkest days of my life, this company would have never been. We are known for our cinematic, vibrant and colorful storytelling. Our edits are clean, never too busy, leaving viewers mesmerized by the rollercoaster ride of emotions we seek to take them on. To date, and to name a few proud moments for our team, we have created music videos for CMT Television, won the grand prize for the National Powerade “Power Your School” competition, completed narrative and docu-style work for numerous clients, sharing the celebration of love via wedding cinematography across the United States, our short film, “Claire” being nominated and winning awards at IndieX Film Festival in Los Angeles, and being awarded “Best Indie Filmmaker” at the Top Shorts Film Festival in LA. Our team is small and compact, but our problem-solving, cost-effective style makes us readily available for projects of all budgets. We work hard, extremely hard, for people. When you book us, you’re booking a team, one with the upmost professionalism, gear quality, and performance.
What were you like growing up?
For as long as I can remember, I have always been this high-energy, “don’t tell me why we can’t do something, but tell me how we can,” kind of person. If I could explain my personality in one word… the word I think most people would choose is: persistent. I’m goal-oriented, a dreamer. Ever since I was a child, growing up on teams and building strong social abilities, I have always wanted to be the best. Having two supportive parents, but also parents who allowed me to fail so that I knew what that felt like, I’ve strived to never feel the definition of that word again. Sports consumed most of my time, but my attention off the playing surface was filled with cameras and movies. My dad videoed everything; my birth, my first words, birthdays, Christmas celebrations, ballgames, everything. That old Sony was something else! Reviewing those tapes over and over, I became fascinated with the motion of a frame, the composition, and the ability to change a person’s mood or feelings based on what they’re viewing and hearing with their eyes and ears. The crazy thing is, here I am, still trying to do that today… I just need 90 minutes of your time.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.olliepandafilms.com
- Phone: 1-229-977-0406
- Email: eric@olliepandafilms.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/olliepandafilms/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OlliePandaFilms
Image Credit:
Personal Photo:
Nicole Piper Photography
Nicole Piper, Jacksonville, Florida
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