First Comics News: Could you tell us a bit about yourself?
Erik Franklin: I’m Erik. I am an artist, writer, actor, and filmmaker. I have been a storyteller since I was born, and will probably stay that way forever.
1st: Could you speak to your early days of storytelling?
Erik: Well, I was the kid in class who used the blank pages in his workbook to make comics, and any writing assignment would always be a creative one. Usually involving monsters, robots, ts, or superheroes. I did some of my most creative storytelling on the playground, haha! As an adult, I am still trying to chase that feeling. If it brings me the same glee that I had as a kid, then I know the idea is probably a pretty good one.
1st: The first time I came across your work was in a pulp story for Ron Fortier’s Airship 27. Could you talk about that work for Airship 27, and have you had other prose tales published as well?
Erik: Well,l Airship 27 was my first published prose work. I submitted a Black Bat story and was accepted. After that, I jumped around to various/genres and characters, having fun experimenting with the various worlds. I currently have not had any other prose work published. I do have a Western novel finished, but have not had the time to go back and polish it up for publishing.
1st: Now, turning to film, what does your portfolio as an actor look like?
Erik: Well, I love to act, of course, and I have played everything from the good boyfriend to a psychopathic doctor, haha! In between acting jobs, I attend acting classes, and in a trade-off, it helps with my comic art. The more I learn about self-expression, the more I can effectively pour it into my characters.
1st: Could you speak to the movie directing and producing you’ve been involved in?
Erik: Well, I’ve made a bunch of short horror/comedy productions, and am currently wrapping up post-production on a modern-day, sci-fi adaptation of Don Quixote. Also, I’m filming the Spider-Man 4 Fan Film, which I think most people are interested in.
1st: When you produce a film, how do you go about getting the actors and production people for it?
Erik: With actors, they are either people I know from acting class, or I hold an open casting call. For the crew, I usually observe people when I work on sets as an actor, and if I like what I see, I hire them accordingly. To me, the most important thing is attitude for both cast and crew. A hardworking, positive mindset can go a very long way in making filmmaking fun and worthwhile.
1st: Who do you list as your creative influences?
Erik: Some of the people I am influenced by creatively (in no particular order) would be Jack Kirby, Roger Corman, Sergio Leonie, Lily Renee, George Lucas, Bruce Lee, Stan Lee, Sam Raimi, Jim Lee, Todd McFarlane, Clarence Barker, Rob Liefeld, Robert E Howard, Dawn McTeague, Rudy Ray Moore, Sorah Suhng, Quinten Tarantino, Robert Rodriguez… and pretty much anyone who started small and worked hard, sacrificed, and told amazing stories.
1st: Anything else you’d like to touch on before we end the interview, Erik?
Erik: Well, I would be remiss without mentioning you as the first person to give me a chance in the comics field. I wrote for Skyscraper and treasure that comic and the opportunity you gave me, so thank you, Mark!
1st: My privilege, Erik. You did a fantastic job with your writing and later with the artwork on Skyscraper as well. Thanks for doing this interview.
Erik: My pleasure!
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