Background Painter Erica Smith reflects on her lifelong passion for volunteering, her multi-pronged engagement with the Guild, and her desire to serve as a resource in her role as Shop Steward.
Name: Erica Smith
Job Title: Background Painter
Studio: Disney TVA
Contact: stewards-disneytva@tag839.org
Tell us a bit about yourself and your career journey.
Erica during TAG contract negotiations.
I, like many others in this Local, grew up partaking in any artistic endeavor that came my way. I also never realized how much my parents modeled volunteering and doing things for other people when I was young, but giving time was a big part of my childhood. So when I eventually found a children’s art museum that I could give my heart and soul to, it developed into a decade-long connection to a wonderful organization. I took art classes, volunteered literally thousands of hours, and eventually worked for them in a number of capacities. When I moved away for college, it took me a while to realize that I was missing volunteering. This (and a healthy dose of competitiveness) led me to work on dozens of student films, become a teacher’s aide for one of the professors, and generally weasel my way into all sorts of cool experiences.
After graduating in 2016, I landed a gig at Bento Box Atlanta and was there for three years. I got to see what it was like to work at an independent studio while also getting to experience working as a “sister studio” to an L.A.-based production. I knew I eventually wanted to live in California and got connected to my first Union project in 2019 at Bento Box L.A. From there I’ve gotten to work at WB, Cartoon Network, and now Disney TVA. Over the course of 2020, I realized that I desperately needed to give my time toward something that felt meaningful and dove headfirst into TAG activities.
What do you love most about working in animation?
I am very headstrong and decided I was going to work in animation when I was in seventh grade. That dream grew and developed over time, but the desire to work in animation never changed. Growing up in Florida and being close to Disney World also made animation feel very present in my life. So once I learned that it was an actual job, it just felt right. The privilege of getting to be a part of a team of artists who get to create new worlds and tell stories that represent all types of people and backgrounds is such an incredible privilege.
Erica (third from left) with fellow TAG D2 delegates.
Why did you volunteer to serve as a Shop Steward?
I joined the Union in 2019 and started looking for any way to connect to people and volunteer my time in 2020. I jumped in and joined a number of committees (too many), then became a D2 and Quadrennial delegate, joined the Negotiations Committee, and just kept getting more involved. It felt natural for me to become a Steward when I did (2021 or so) because I was actively engaging in so many aspects of the Union and was learning so much. Getting to step to that next level and attempt to help the folx at WB at the time was such a good challenge.
Ultimately, my reasons for joining the Guild and engaging in the ways I do has always stemmed from a desire to just help people.
Erica (taking photo) on TAG Tuesday with Guild kin.
As a Shop Steward, what are your priorities in helping TAG members at your studio?
Honestly, just getting to know members and have them recognize me as a resource is all I can hope for. Building that basic connection is how bigger movements and actions begin. If they at least know who I am and know that they can come to me with any questions that they have (be that studio related, union related, or anything) then we can grow from there. I’m still very much working on this, but I have so many ideas to really help grow and shape the culture at DTVA.
Learn more about Erica on her website.
Follow her on Instagram.