By PAGE LEGGETT

If there’s someone in your field you admire, let them know. And ask them for advice. It could lead to one of the best experiences of your career.

Take it from someone who knows: Sir Hodge (that’s Erick Hodge’s pseudonym) won a $15,000 Creative Renewal Fellowship from the ASC, which allowed the digital storyteller to work with an industry hero of his, Oghalé Alex of Isoko in London, on a customized course of study.

Hodge and Alex connected online several years through mutual friends. “I told Oghalé I’d love to learn from him – how he approaches his business, what he’s doing with his studio, what his process is,” said Hodge. “He’d never done anything like that before – but was excited to try.”

The artist is thrilled with all he learned. “Oghalé gave me the keys to the kingdom,” he said. “He asked what I wanted to learn so he could tailor the experience to my needs.”  

The student becomes a master  

A multidisciplinary (photography, film, videography and overall creative direction) creative, Hodge is a storyteller at heart. But his tales are told through images rather than words.

He aims to “explore the human spirit’s ability to overcome obstacles and push through difficult circumstances.”

You might be surprised to know Hodge is a commercial artist. You won’t see his work in galleries (not yet, anyway) – but you might see it in an ad campaign. It’s perhaps an unusual route for someone whose goal is “to push the boundaries of visual storytelling and to give a voice to those … often left unheard.”

His clients and partners – including Nike, Walmart, Under Armour, the NFL, the NBA, ESPN, Charlotte FC, Pepsi, Ally Bank and more – seek him out precisely because of his vision. Most find him through word of mouth.

He’s a one-man show – until he lands an assignment. And then he assembles a team of freelance creatives based on what his client needs.

His clients appreciate that he takes time to teach them about his art. “One client told me I do an incredible job of educating them on my process, why I do things a certain way,” he said. “As a creative, you can believe that everyone sees the world as you do, but they don’t. You have to bring people into the fold.”

Hodge’s fellowship allowed him to work one-on-one with someone he considered an industry icon – who then became a friend and collaborator. He got to be part of the creative direction of a shoot – onsite and also doing editing and post-production on the back end in person and online.

Hodge took part in brainstorming sessions and learned how someone he considers a creative genius takes an idea from concept through execution. Casting, location scouting, creating mood boards, pitching, pre- and post-production – nothing was off-limits.

He’s hardly a beginner when it comes to any of that. “I take pre-production very seriously in every project I do,” he said. “I call that the dating phase. You’re getting to know your client and their goals. The production part is the wedding – the briefest of the three phases – and post-production is the marriage. It’s where things live. I give credence and value to all three phases.”

Hodge set out to “gain a deeper understanding of the craft of creative direction and the different roles and responsibilities within a production.” He got that – and much more.

Trademark visual style

Hodge’s experience amounts to a lot more than the three weeks he spent in London. He began one-on-one video brainstorming sessions and phone calls with Alex this spring.

Alex’s work is imbued with a sense of calm. His chill vibe is evident in all every project. It’s his hallmark – and something Hodge admires.

“I have so much love for Oghalé,” he said. “We’re kindred spirits in many ways, but totally different in how we approach things. His style is all about calm. We spent a lot of time talking about what that means and how you carry that theme throughout a campaign using ‘tranquil narratives, harmonizing subjects with their surroundings … a palette of soft colors and a touch of romanticism.’” 

Hodge strives for a distinct, recognizable look and feel to his work – something that signals to informed viewers that it’s a Sir Hodge image, print ad or TV commercial.

“All the upper-tier creative directors have their own visual style,” Hodge said. “In the past couple of months, I think my style has become more refined, but I still have a ways to go. But that’s one of the biggest reasons I wanted to do this. I wanted feedback from an artist I respect.”

And the feedback was better than he could’ve imagined. “When you talk to someone who’s really established in their creative practice and understands their visual tone, voice and approach,” he said, “they can see things in you and your work that you may not necessarily see.”

Alex told Hodge not to call the experience an apprenticeship. “He said we were peers, and that this was more of a collaboration than an internship,” Hodge said.

The two are still in contact through video and phone sessions they’ll continue through the end of 2024. And then Hodge will pay it forward.  

“I plan to use the knowledge and experience I gained … to give back to my community,” he wrote in his grant application. “I aim to thoroughly document my fellowship experience,” and use it to “inspire and guide others in their creative pursuits.”

Don’t give up

“This was an invaluable experience, and I am indebted to the Arts and Science Council for making it happen,” Hodge said. His gratitude is boundless, and that’s perhaps because this wasn’t the first time he’s applied for this ASC fellowship.

It was his fourth time.

“The first year I applied, I didn’t get it,” he said. “The second year I applied – during the pandemic – ASC provided partial funding to a couple of people, and I was one of the lucky ones. That grant allowed me to go to Puerto Rico for a family ancestry project. The third year, I didn’t get it, and I was really bummed. The application takes a lot of time to complete. I didn’t think I’d apply again. Other people I know applied, and I’ve even pitched some ideas for their applications for grants they won! It was very discouraging.”

But the fourth time proved to be the charm.

Judges were unanimous in selecting Hodge, said Ivan Garnica, ASC’s grant manager. He was one of 25 artists to apply for one of 10 slots. “The judges said Sir Hodge had strong work samples and showed a love for and commitment to the Charlotte community,” Garnica said. “They praised the ‘clear ask and clear plan.’”

Garnica added that artists developing their own course of study – as Hodge did – is a little unusual, “but it’s incredible when people do it. It’s even more incredible when artists use the fellowship to do something to benefit the people of Charlotte.”

Hodge is “forever grateful to the ASC” and said that “if the Arts and Science Council was a person, I would hug them and say, ‘Thank you; you blessed me.’”

Hodge came home with confirmation from his mentor-turned-friend-and-colleague that he’s on the right path. “I’m hitting my stride and have new inspiration and a new level of confidence,” he said.

And he made the most of his time in one of the world’s greatest cities. When he wasn’t working, he was visiting cultural sites or seeing a soccer match. He said, “I felt so integrated into London that I believe, in another life, I might’ve lived there.”

Learn more about Sir Hodge at his website, sirhodge.com. Or follow him on Instagram at instagram.com/holasirhodge.