Erik White

Since childhood Erik White knew he loved music, and knew he loved music videos even more. As a child growing up in Queens and New Jersey, White watched movies constantly, and credits this hobby for keeping him out of trouble and helping him develop an appreciation for visual styles. White attended school for sound engineering and became a sought-after mixer, working with a number of high-profile musical artists. In 1997, White visited his uncle, legendary video director Hype Williams, on the set of his video and realized that this was the work he wanted to pursue professionally. While working on the sound side of things, White observed the technique that the cameramen had, and learned about the various lenses they used and how they affected the look of the video. He became immersed in the study of cinematography, leading to work alongside Williams for two years before starting out on his own. White directed videos for Mario's "C'mon," Nick Cannon and R. Kelly's "Gigolo," and "We Ride (I See the Future)" by Mary J. Blige. In 2010 white directed his very first feature film, "Lottery Ticket." The movie featured Bow Wow, Brandon T. Jackson, and Naturi Naughton, and chronicled the experience of a young man from the projects who deals with the fallout when his neighbors find out he has a winning lottery ticket worth $370 million.