Creativity is more than the final product. It’s a nuanced process, filled with risk, trial and error, hard work, and passion. ELM Animator Ezra Pailer has succeeded by embracing every part of that process — even the roadblocks — without losing sight of his end goal.
Ezra has been working at ELM for over three years, and has grown as an animator and designer through his enthusiasm to pursue passion projects and develop skills like 3-D animation. Recently, he created animation sequences for “Hakki,” an ELM production streaming on HBO’s MAX that tells the story of Hakki Akdeniz, a Turkish immigrant who overcame homelessness to become the top pizza chef in New York City. Ezra was particularly passionate about the film, which won Best Director at the Toronto Documentary Feature & Short Film Festival.
Our Baltimore-based video production company is full of creatives who think outside the box to make films that push the bounds creatively. We encourage employees to pursue the film projects they’re passionate about and approach work through their unique lens. This is why Ezra loves working at Early Light Media.
“ELM is a space where people truly understand the value of taking creative risks,” Ezra says. “It’s a work environment where no idea is too lofty to explore, because we know that taking leaps of uncertainty is an important part of creating something powerful.”
Ezra is inspired by brainstorms with his ELM colleagues. Their shared commitment to taking risks and growing as artists keeps him inspired in the office. In fact, Ezra draws a lot of his inspiration from the people around him — through hikes with loved ones, long drives, and late-night conversations. “To me,” he says, “these types of experiences are at the very root of being human and at the heart of being an artist.”
His advice for fellow creatives? Don’t be afraid to ask for what you need at work, in order to perform your best. Also, don’t be afraid to share your ideas with co-workers — no matter how unconventional they seem.
“One of the most rewarding parts of being on a team like ELM is the way everyone supports each other’s visions,” Ezra says. “And being surrounded by people who nurture each other’s creativity makes it much easier to open up to new possibilities in your own way of thinking.”
