Erik Voake began his career producing, directing and filming action sports documentaries from around the world. Filming exclusively on 16mm film and working with the most talented extreme athletes in the most exotic locations, Erik quickly rose to the top of his genre. His work has received multiple awards and accolades including “Best Stunt Film” for his hit film series “Slednecks”, from the X Dance Film Festival, the premier action sports film festival.
Given Erik’s success it was not long before top Hollywood producers discovered his work. He was soon hired to work as a producer at the Zalman King Company. He immediately began producing, directing, filming and editing the definitive Body Count, featuring Ice T, documentary titled “Murder for Hire”. This project led Erik to directing music videos and other music related content. He soon found himself directing music videos for the RZA of the Wu Tang Clan, directing such music videos as “Unleash Me” and “Chamber of Fear”. Erik continues to direct numerous music videos, DVDs and EPKs to this day. Directing rap and hip hop videos led Erik to being hired to work as Co Producer and Director of Photography on the hit Lionsgate film, “A Day in the Life”. This film, dubbed a “hip hopera” starred Mekhi Phifer, Omar Epps, Michael Rapaport, and was directed by Sticky Fingaz from ONYX.
While Erik was producing “A Day in the Life” he received a call from long time friend and mentor, Larry Clark, director of “KIDS”, “Bully” and “Wassup Rockers”. Larry enlisted in Erik to work as Director of Photography on a short documentary titled “Impaled”. The film, which was an examination into the effects of pornography on youths’ sex lives, was screened at the Sundance, Cannes, Locarno and Edinburgh film festivals and also at the Tate Modern in London. Erik recently produced and filmed another short documentary titled “Jonathon” that was screened at the Museum of Modern Art in Paris. Erik continues to collaborate with Clark on more projects.
From the time Erik relocated to Los Angeles he immediately began developing television shows, something he continues to do to this day. Erik and Charlie Corwin of Original Media created and sold a cable reality series titled “Crusty’s Dirt Demons” a show that profiled the life and exploits of motocross riders. Erik served as Executive Producer on the series and the show went on to air for two seasons on FUSE Networks. It was the networks highest rated new show in its debut season. The show is currently in syndication on FUEL.
Erik always had a quiet passion for photography as well. After a trip to Iraq produced an incredible series of black and white images of people living their daily life, a career shift was inevitable and his documentary style of photography was born. For his first project he spent exactly one year documenting the world famous Roxy Theatre on the Sunset Strip in Hollywood, CA. At the end of the year he was left with nearly 3000 amazing all access images, including photos of legends in all genres like Ozzy Osbourne, NAS and even Dolly Parton. The photos were first introduced at the much-esteemed Celebrity Vault on Canon Drive in Beverly Hills. The exhibit went on to be shown at 7 more galleries throughout LA during the same calendar year. His work has in a very short period of time been published in numerous publications including Mens Journal, SPIN, Billboard, Sunset, VIBE, The Source, YRB and more.
Erik continues to focus on photography and has also turned his sights towards the growing new media market where he can merge his talents as a producer, director, cinematographer and editor. He currently resides in Los Angeles and enjoys riding his bike.