About the Director

Director - Writer - Editor - Visual Effects Artist - Production Designer - Set Design & Construction - Prop Design & Construction - Commercials - Music Videos - 3D Animator

A Journey Through Imagination: The History of Eric Vogelvang

The seeds of my filmmaking career were sown in childhood. Whether I was staging local plays, designing neighborhood theme parks, or building intricate toys for my siblings, I was always refining the creative instincts that would eventually define my professional life. However, my path became crystal clear in June 1975. Standing in line for a movie everyone was talking about—JAWS—I experienced a creative rebirth. I walked out of that theater knowing exactly what I wanted to do, and I have never looked back. 

The Attic Empire

Eric Vogelvang Enterprises was founded in 1976, coinciding with my family’s move to a sprawling three-story Victorian mansion in Orange, California. This historic setting provided the perfect canvas for my expanding projects. While I began with simple 2D and stop-motion animations in a second-floor studio, my ambitions soon outgrew the space. At age 14, I set out to create a sequel to Jaws, beginning construction on a 20-foot shark. The project required more room, leading me to the third-floor attic. For the next 24 years, that space served as the nerve center of my "Empire"—functioning as an office, art gallery, museum, special effects stage, and workshop.

Throughout high school, college, and into my professional career, I produced films across nearly every genre. I found myself drawn particularly to projects requiring complex props and special effects, such as science fiction, horror, and period-accurate historical pieces. As my father refurbished the family home, the house itself became a versatile backlot, transforming into everything from a police precinct and a coroner's lab to a haunted manor.

Evolution into the Digital Era

After marrying, I re-established my studios in a larger facility next door—a space that seamlessly integrates a professional studio with a home environment. My early career involved the typical Hollywood grind, but I soon realized that the intermittent nature of production-based employment was less fulfilling than independent creation. Though I have been freelancing since the early 1980s, the digital revolution of 1993 changed everything.

Technology finally allowed a single dedicated filmmaker to manage the entire production pipeline. In 1993, Eric Vogelvang Enterprises transitioned into a full-service production studio. Today, we cater to the Orange County area and beyond, offering a comprehensive suite of services ranging from high-end graphics and commercials to full-scale cinematic production.

Lifelong Learning & Philosophy

My technical foundation is built on a diverse educational background, including:

• B.A. in Radio, Television & Film | Cal State Long Beach

• Editing & 2D Compositing Certification | UCLA

• Blue/Green Screen Cinematography & Film Production | American Film Institute

• 3D Animation | Platt College

• Blender Modeling & Animation | Santiago Canyon College

I continue to evolve alongside the industry, recently integrating 3D printing and AI workflows into my creative toolkit.

I have always operated under a simple philosophy: Just because I haven’t done something yet, doesn’t mean I can’t do it. Every new challenge is supported by decades of experience and a relentless drive for innovation. I look forward to collaborating with industry professionals, student filmmakers, and clients alike. Together, we can bring dreams into reality.

                           Sci-Fi shoot                                                Stop motion animation for "The Soldier"                                On location for "Child's Play"                            "Sweet Dreams & Bed Bugs"premiere

       Teak & Textile commercial shoot.                                Ali Omar music video shoot                                              Diversity Awards shoot                                                     Indy Connor Jones shoot

Film and Digital Movies

• Child's Play - Writer, director, editor, special effects.

• Sweet Dreams & Bed Bugs - Writer, director, editor, special effects.

• A Noble Deed - Writer, director, editor, special effects.

• The Old Coat - Halcyon Productions. Editor, special effects.

• Flight of the Tigaris - John Gilbert Productions. Designed and built a model spacecraft, special effects.

• Volcano - Fox 2000. Built 200 flame throwers.

• Fink - Hartman Productions. Created more than 37 special effects for this 40 minute idependent feature film.

• Bread Alone - Heat & Light Productions. Built Soviet rifles, Ukranian bibles and crosses, farm house props.

• Ghostwriter - Producer, set designer, location scout.

• Monty and the Runaway Furnace - Props, actor.

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Television / Commercials

• Wishart Law Firm - Commercial, Camera operator, editor.

• What About Biz - Lighthouse Venture Group Productions. Camera operator, editor for this TV program.

• Teak & Textile - Commercial. Writer, Director, Editor, Visual Effects, Music editor.

• Asset Management - Commercial. Camera operator, Editor, Visual effects.

• Benchmark Ventures Inc. - Commercial. Camera operator, Editor, Visual effects.

• Villa Romana Trattoria - Commercial. Camera operator, Editor, Visual effects, Music editor.

• South County Eye Care - Commercial. Camera operator, Editor, Visual effects.

• Mike Naso Law Firm - Commercial. Camera operator, Editor.

• Taxman - PSA. Crockett Productions, David Zucker - Director. Set  decoration and props.

• Basketball Diplomacy - PSA. Crockett Productions, David Zucker - Director. Set  decoration and props.

• Judgement Day: The John List Story - TV movie. Universal Studios/CBS Television. Built a 1/10th scale model house.

• Pepsi Corporation - Two commercials. Writer, Director, Editor, Visual Effects, Music editor.

Video

• USC - Titles for a conference. 2D animator.

• Gartner - Heat & Light Productions. Seminar conference editor.

• McAffee - Heat & Light Productions. Built a caged sandbox.

• City of Orange - Halloween video.

• Oxnard Police - 3D animator for a logo.

• Kaempen Industries - Industrial video.

• Ice Link Inc. - Industrial video.

• Plane Pocket Enterprises - Industrial video.

• Crystal Cathedral Ministries - Interviews and music videos.

• Orange County Master Chorale - Concert videos.

• Chance Theater - "HMS Pinafore" and "Pirates of Penzance" stage production videos.

• Ali Omar - Ten music videos, 2 concert videos.

• Mandie Pinto - "Let the Father Be Your Wings" background video.

• The Local Squeeze - Smokey Robinson interview. Camera operator, editor.

• Diversity Awards - Camera operator, editor for 4 years

• Ball Junior High School - Concert videos and virtual concert videos since 2018.

• Orange Historical Society - Documentary. "The History of Pixley Manor".

• Orange Historical Society - Documentary.  "The Big Red Cars of Orange".

Fabrication and Construction

• Stage Light & Magic - Built cannons and mortars for outdoor concerts, "Phanton of the Opera", "The Glory of Easter", "The Glory of Christmas", and Disneyland fireworks.

• Robotech - Designed, built and modified several animatronic robots for the "Ghostbusters" attraction at Universal Studios, Florida.

• Lighthouse Venture Group - Built a 6 foot lighthouse.

• Larry Roberts Special Effects - Built squib pads, window breakers, and explosive release hooks.

• Paramount Studios - "Star Trek 5". Built cave walls.

• Fox 2000 - "Volcano".  Built flamethrowers.

• Eric Vogelvang Enterprises - Built a steadicam, figrig, an 8 foot dutch windmill, a water tower, a Victorian style carport, a waterfall, a Tiki Terrace treehouse and a studio.