Meet Erin Woisnet of Cleveland, Ohio

Today we’d like to introduce you to Erin Woisnet

Hi Erin, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
There once was a hopeful, bushy eyed, freshly graduated film major who was determined to become a full time filmmaker…

That big dreamer was me. Eager to see what I could make of myself, I bought my first camera and filmed my first wedding- completely for free. I used it as portfolio and slowly started gaining some clients as well as being hired as a wedding videographer for a couple of companies: Yours Truly Media and Prelude Photography. Desperate to grow my business and make ends meet, I would sometimes travel to other states to film weddings.
Just about one year into starting my freelance business (Take 1A Productions) – COVID-19 hit. Which meant no more social gatherings. The world was at a stand still. I panicked and didn’t know what DIRECTION to go in next.
I decided to become a substitute teacher for a year. I figured schools weren’t going anywhere, even if education had to be adapted from 4 walls to a screen. I also went back to school online to earn my art teaching license. The journey of certification took me well over a year, between my online teaching courses, to failing and retaking praxis teaching exams multiple times, and student teaching being delayed due to schools undergoing quarantines. I was starting to feel defeated. I still did some freelance video/photography, but it was no longer my main focus. After much perseverance, I finally was licensed to teach art education K-12th!
I became an art teacher at a school of the arts in the fall of 2021. COVID mandates; hallway markers, desk dividers & masks were still in place. This charter school was no cake walk. Over winter break the 4th, 5th & 6th grade teachers all quit. Prior to break I agreed to be the assistant middle school boys basketball coach… and now the head coach just left. Administration turned to me, hopeful that I would step up to the plate. I reluctantly agreed to do it, knowing that no one else would. At this point, there were no organized sports for at least a year and a half due to COVID restrictions. These boys were super talented & they KNEW it. Hot headed, individuals who needed lots of love and DIRECTION. In order to play on the team, the boys had to be held responsible for their grades and behavior. Over the course of the season, they started to take their schooling more seriously and improved on behavior issues- they knew playing time was a reflection of these requirements! Their hard work took them all the way to the championship. My boys were taking on a team they originally lost to in the regular season. We got our revenge and came out the CHAMPS! I was super proud of them, for they all got to play in the final game, even if only for a wee bit!
All in a first years teaching, I took on head coach, taught art k-8th, and I also had to teach social studies twice a week to 6th graders (due to that teacher quitting). Every single teacher’s schedule at that school changed over night. We were all just trying to keep things a float. My administration truly did their best and showed unparalleled grit.
Naturally, at the conclusion of that school year, I felt it was time to move on. My high school alum was hiring for an art teacher and I lept at the opportunity to apply. The interview couldn’t have gone any better. All of my high school admins at the time I was in high school were the interviewees. I felt I had it in the bag!
God’s plan was not my plan… for someone who was not an alum, and didn’t teach art prior (whom, however is in an exceptional artist & great with kids) got the position, and I, an alumni with art teaching experience, did not. However, they did offer me an Internship teacher position for freshmen. The class was meant to give them the basic life skills needed to be a young professional in the work force (resume building, interviews, taxes, microsoft office and career research etc.). Confused yet desperate, I took the position, wondering how anything could be as difficult as my previous position as an art teacher at a school of the arts, managing 160+students daily, and where they haven’t had a consecutive art teacher in that position in over 5 years.
The grass looked evergreen from the mud puddle I was stuck in….little did I know quicksand was waiting to engulf me on the other side! Being in this internship position gave me time to reflect. A blessing in disguise, perhaps? My first problem- I wasn’t in the career I went to college for. Second problem, I wasn’t even teaching a subject I was passionate about/got my education license in!! Third, at this school, the inmates were running the asylum and I was not supported by most of my admininstration. Fourth, I felt like a fraud. Almost weekly I would have guest speakers come in from all different careers. They’d talk about what they do, and how they were eager to help my students get started in their chosen career field. Little did the speakers know that even if my adolescent students were bored out of their minds, I was career lusting hard over many of their jobs. Even the sound of hanging dry wall was getting to be too appealing! It was then that I realized, hey, what’s my excuse? After this school year, I’m going to sink or swim trying to make my dreams a reality. If there are people in this world who can make a living using a camera, why can’t I?
Just as my last paycheck was coming in at the end of summer, I was hired to be a school photographer! The perfect hybrid of what I knew. My first fulltime gig with a camera! I was so excited to say hi to the kiddos (even photographed some of my old students), snap their adorable pictures on picture day and say seeeeeeeee yaaaaaa!! Phewf!! It was many early mornings, as early as 4:30am some days, but I was much happier and felt at peace again.
Most people whom I went to film school with aren’t actually working in the industry, but I discovered that there’s a film studio (Transitions Studio/TruBlu) in my hometown of Cleveland that’s famous for shows like Takedown with Chris Hansen and Netflix worthy documentaries (White Boy, A Murder in the Park, American Gospel: Christ Alone)! I initially reached out to the company in June of 2023, and didn’t hear anything back. My college friend Joe, one of the few making it (KILLING IT-stay tuned for his spectatcle of a documentary “Micronations”) in the creative field, worked at Transitions. I reached out to him and he told me that Transitions was hiring interns for less than what I made scooping ice cream cones (shout out to previous employer, Honey Hut Ice Cream). BUT, it was almost guaranteed that if I proved myself, I could get hired on after the completion of the internship.
My second attempt was October 2023, I fine tuned my email, pulling some tricks from the “Internship Teaching” book and sent another “highly impressive email and it sparked HR’s attention,” according to Joe. An interview was scheduled shortly after. I accepted a 3 month internship position working 20 hours a week (while also finishing out the fall school pictures season with Lifetouch) making less than 12/hr, a big difference from my teacher salary, which already isn’t enough! It was a big sacrifice I had to be willing to take to pursue my happiness. I’ve since been hired on full time, where I’ve boom operated on Takedown with Chris Hansen and I help edit those episodes. I ACTUALLY get paid to create documentaries with the most fascinating, impactful stories! I feel so blessed and grateful to be able to be a fulltime creative. I’m humbled by how much I’m constantly learning and I’m always striving to be the best videographer and editor that I can be.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I won’t make this answer any longer than it needs to be – see above 🙂

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
This section I will talk mostly about my own freelance business (Take 1A Productions). Take 1A Productions does everything from real estate photos/videos, sports photography/videos (Hermes Sports & Events, HFP racing, Lake Erie Monsters), nature photography, photojournalism with Signal Cleveland (a local nonprofit newsroom), wedding videos and promotional content.
As far as passion projects, I have a few that I hold near and dear to my heart. The first being ”Epistle to the Irrefutable.” Growing up Catholic and queer was a self loathing experience. The very core of Catholicism is (shoud be) to reenact God’s unwavering love. However, every Sunday at a Catholic church, a whole congregation would pray the gay away. This particular priest would encourage the congregation to pray with him the following “We are against same-sex marriage, for that intention we pray -Saint Michael the Archangel, protect us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him we humbly pray; and do Thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host, by the Power of God, cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits, who prowl through the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.” Embarrassed, I would slump in the pew. Nobody knew. I felt myself fall deeper into my Narnia sized closet.
Epistle to the Irrefutable is a poem I wrote explaining my journey from self-disgust to acceptance, bravery, and the recognizing/understanding that God’s love comes with no exceptions. His love is for EVERYONE.
#2: “Aiden”- This is a music video I wrote and performed about the loss of a loved one. I sing about the pain of not having closure of goodbye and wanting that person-Aiden, in this case, to know that I never wanted to leave his life, and that I hope he knows that I didn’t abandon him. This song can also be related to anyone who has felt either an emotional or physical loss.
#3 “Heaven Winks”- Heaven Winks tells the true tales of divine interventions that have occurred in my own life. The stories of unexplainable coincidences that I believe to be God interactions and how they’ve helped me not only navigate my life, but the lives of others. This project was inspired by a 5 star, international podcast “Touched by Heaven-Everyday Encounters with God.” I currently edit this podcast’s YouTube videos, and I am so blessed to be able to do so!! People from all over the world call in to speak about their near death experiences, angel and demon encounters, meeting the Holy Spirit, witnessing both Heaven and Hell. I am blessed beyond belief to be able to help this powerful podcast reach larger audiences with video format 🙂

Who else deserves credit in your story?
A GINORMOUS THANKS to VoyageOhio Magazine. Thanks for allowing me to tell my story so that I may also shout out so many lovely souls that have inspired, shaped, encouraged and helped me along the way. You guys do awesome work!! KEEP IT GOING!! 🙂
God deserves all the credit. Everything I have is because of Him. I don’t know why He’s blessed me so much, I’m forever thankful. He’s put the people listed below in my life for very specific reasons: My love is yours.
My parental unit. My parents never ONCE doubted my abilities (at least not to my face). They believed that I could do anything I wanted. They show up to every event, and they love me unconditionally. I love you crazies.
My girlfriend, Alyssa. She has to deal with all of my late night spewing of creative rabbit hole ideas. She allows me the time I need to do all that I want to do career-wise. She is mostly patient, and very encouraging. She is honest and gives me good, constructive feedback on most of my projects. I just love you, goofy.
boB-yes, he spells it backwards.. My angel sent down to guide me on this Earthly journey. He is a true friend. He’s taught me so much creatively, he inspires me every day to be a better version of myself. He is the videographer and editor of both “Aiden” and “Heaven Winks.” Words can never justify my gratitude for your dedication to our projects and friendship. I love boB.
Trapper Jack. Thanks for trusting me to help launch a broader audience to your podcast “Touched by Heaven.” I’m in awe that I get to play a small part in helping to deliver these impactful, LIFE CHANGING messages to all who listen. I truly have no more important mission in life than to help you spread these (and my own) stories. Thank you so much for the opportunity. Much love to you and all that you do.
To my bosses at Transition/TruBlu, Shawn, Jason & Mady, thanks for hiring me and literally changing my life forever. Working with you guys and being a full-time filmmaker has made me incredibly happy and has significantly helped me find my place in this world. I hope to work with you all for many, many years to come! Love you guys.
Jeff at Signal Cleveland. It is an absolute honor to be a photojournalist covering local news stories with your company. This has been one of my favorite jobs of all time and I hope to continue to capture the empowering, moving, insightful, and educational stories of my hometown of Cleveland that I love so much. Thanks for your trust in me to be the best that I can be. I appreciate this opportunity.
Andrew, my sound mixer for my music video. You worked COUNTLESS hours on “Aiden” and ensured it would be the absolute best it could be. Your patience, diligence, talent and care made it exactly what it was meant to be. I will always think fondly of the many recording dinners I shared with you and your fantastic chef mom! I love you, man.
Howie & Anna, thanks a lot for making me compare every boss to you guys for the rest of my life…. You two have clown shoes!! Haha. Your confidence in hiring me straight from our interview had me on a high at the start of the year. You saw the potential in all of your staff and you not only saw us as your employees, but family. You had our backs against some silly parents and you understood the importance of self-care. “You are replaceable at work…. but you are not replaceable in your home life.” I will always remember that saying and will do my best to take care of myself, and develop a healthy work/life balance. I miss you two and I love you both!
*To everyone who has helped me with any of my projects! It is out of your generosity and your talent that these creative works exist.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.take1aproductions.net
• Instagram: @Take1AProductions
• Youtube: Take 1A Productions @Erin1A