Erik White was born in Brooklyn, New York, and spent his teenage years in New Jersey. He earned a degree in engineering from the CMA in New York, but felt an overwhelming sense of purpose to pursue his passion for filmmaking.
Under the mentorship of renowned music video director Hype Williams, Erik honed his skills as a second-unit director for several years before branching out on his own. This invaluable experience served as his classroom, allowing him to develop a unique visual style that would soon garner numerous accolades.
Erik made his directorial feature film debut with the comedy "Lottery Ticket," starring Ice Cube, Naturi Naughton, Terry Crews, and Bow Wow. The film tells the story of a young boy who wins a 370 million dollar lottery ticket, but must keep it a secret over the holiday weekend until he can claim the prize.
Throughout his career, Erik has created music videos for a wide range of artists, including Chris Brown, Diddy, Christina Aguilera, Mary J Blige, Ron Isley, Tim McGraw, Lil Wayne, T Pain, and Usher. His work has earned him multiple awards, including three BET Viewers Choice Music Video of the Year awards and two MTV Best Male Video accolades, as well as over 20 nominations.
Erik's talent extends beyond music videos, as he has also worked in the reality and doc-series space. He served as a Creative Producer and director for Ryan Murphy's reality competition show "The Glee Project," and directed the Duck Dynasty spin-off "At Home with the Robinsons." He also directed and produced the innovative YO!MTV MAPS series.
Recent projects include the hour-long television drama series "Legacy," starring Ving Rhames, the suspenseful thriller "Wake," produced by Tracey Edmonds and starring Shaniqua Shandai and J. Alphonse Nicholson, which is set to premiere on BET in October 2023. Additionally, Erik is working on the heartwarming romantic comedy "The Plus One," starring Cedric the Entertainer, Ashanti, and Jonathan Bennett, which is scheduled to hit theaters and streaming platforms in the fall of 2023.
Erik is also developing the action buddy movie "Stole," which is reminiscent of classic films like Bad Boys and Rush Hour. Furthermore, he serves as a motivational speaker for youth programs and founded the "E WHITE FOUNDATION," which aims to empower young individuals to find their creative voices through the arts.
In summary, Erik White is a multifaceted filmmaker with a passion for innovation and inspiration in the world of entertainment.
