Erica Rothman
With more than 20 years of practice in social work and psychotherapy in the Triangle area, Erica’s career began not in video, but at the Chatham County, North Carolina, mental health center on a grant from the National Institute of Mental Health. While there, Erica co-founded the Rape Crisis and Family Violence Volunteers of Chatham County, which continues to be a model program for North Carolina even today.
In my years as a psychotherapist and community volunteer, I was continually struck by the power of the storyteller and of the story. As a community member on the UNC Hospitals Ethics Committee, I was able to make the connection that documentary filmmaking is a powerful way to use storytelling to bring people to action. After producing two videos on end-of-life decisionmaking, I pursued and earned a Certificate of Documentary Studies from Duke University. I launched a new career that took my social work skills out of the office and back into the community.
Years later, Erica has worked with more than 25 organizations and has filmed and edited hundreds of hours of video. Erica’s video productions have received local and national award recognition. Her work continues to meld together a rewarding blend of decades of experience as a seasoned listener, collaborator and interviewer with her talents and creativity as a producer and director.
Through listening and collaboration, good producers are conceptual: they are able to articulate themes and issues in a way that raises awareness and mobilizes clients to recognize goals and outcomes for their project. My greatest pleasure is being able to weave my education and experience with current technology to create resources for people in need.
