We had the good fortune of connecting with Jacob Erickson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jacob, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
My decision to start my own business came from realizing that I work best when I can rely on myself. Throughout my time earning a degree in Film and Audio at New Mexico Highlands University, I saw firsthand how challenging it can be to depend on others in collaborative environments—whether it was coordinating crews, working with actors, or meeting deadlines. Too often, I found myself taking on the bulk of the work just to make sure things got done. Over time, I also had a string of uninspiring managers, which made me question why I was giving so much energy to other people’s visions. Starting my own business was a way to take control—of my time, my projects, and the kind of creative collaborations I wanted to build. It wasn’t about chasing some big entrepreneurial dream; it was more about creating a work life that felt sustainable and true to how I operate best.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I started out with an associate’s degree in video game design, but wasn’t exactly sure where I was headed career-wise. When I transferred to New Mexico Highlands University, I ended up taking a few Media Arts classes—and that’s when everything started to click. I didn’t have any big dreams of working in Hollywood or chasing the film industry, but I did fall in love with storytelling. Especially the kind that connects you to real people and real places.

Through a series of internships, I got involved in oral history work—interviewing makers in community workshops, WWII veterans, and longtime residents of Los Alamos to help tell the story of the town through their personal experiences. That all led to my master’s degree field project: a video interview series with local Vietnam veterans that I turned into a fully immersive, multi-sensory exhibit. The idea was to create an experience that connected with all five senses—sight, sound, touch, smell, and even taste—to help audiences feel closer to the stories being told.

These days, I work on a wide range of creative projects with my business partner and longtime friend, Joshua Haggard. We do a lot of video work for local clients, but we’re also really into emerging tech. We’ve experimented with things like projection mapping, 3D printing, 360 video, VR and AR—and we’re always looking for new ways to blend storytelling with immersive experiences.

One of our long-term goals is to create a “virtual road trip” experience. The idea is to film actual road trips in 360 video and project them inside a dome or spherical screen that surrounds the viewer. Inside the dome, you’d be seated in a real vehicle interior—like the shell of an old van or car—and the whole thing would be synced with sound, motion, and even interactive elements. We want to replicate the feeling of being out on the road, exploring new landscapes, without needing to leave the room. It’s kind of like combining travel, documentary film, and immersive theater all in one.

I’m also proud to have recently worked on a documentary video for the Jemez Historic Site in New Mexico. I was the main editor on the project and also contributed videography. The piece was a collaborative effort, with story direction and additional footage provided by another student in our class, Terence Garcia. The final video ended up being a finalist in the KINO International Film Festival last year, which was a really rewarding moment for all of us.

It definitely hasn’t been a smooth ride the whole way. Working for yourself comes with a steep learning curve—managing your own time, wearing a dozen different hats, and trying to stay motivated without much structure. But I’ve learned how to adapt and keep learning as I go. The biggest takeaway for me is how important it is to really listen. Every time I sit down with someone and hear their story, even for just an hour, I walk away changed.

At the core of everything I do is a love for stories—especially the ones that don’t always get heard. I want to help people share their experiences in ways that are creative, thoughtful, and sometimes even a little unexpected.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If a best friend were visiting, I’d probably take them on one of my favorite long weekend road trips through southern New Mexico. We’d start by heading down through Roswell—not because it’s incredible, but because it’s fun to say you’ve been. The alien museum is kitschy, and the McDonald’s is shaped like a UFO, which is worth a photo at least.

From there, we’d keep heading south to Carlsbad Caverns, which is hands-down one of my favorite places in the state. We’d hike down into the cave, and if they’re up for it, book a guided tour deeper into the caverns—absolutely worth it. Then we’d hang around for the evening bat flight, where hundreds of thousands of bats pour out of the cave in a swirling vortex. It’s surreal. We’d spend the night at White City nearby—simple, but convenient.

The next day, we’d cruise back up to Artesia, then cut west through the mountains to Cloudcroft. There’s a cozy little hostel up there that makes a great base for mountain air and starry skies. The next morning, we’d head down into the Tularosa Basin to White Sands National Park and spend a few hours sledding down the dunes. You haven’t lived until you’ve surfed a gypsum dune with sand in your shoes and no regrets.

Depending on the time of year, I’d also recommend timing the trip with the Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque in October. It’s early mornings and chilly air, but seeing hundreds of hot air balloons take off at sunrise is totally worth waking up for.

Along the way, we’d eat as much New Mexican food as possible—red or green chile on everything (or both—Christmas is the way to go). There are also some great rockhounding spots around Socorro if they’re into geology—tons of old mines where, with the right permission, you can dig for cool mineral specimens.

Closer to home, I’ve got my go-to local spots: quiet hiking trails, hidden hot springs, and some chill places to watch the sunset or just decompress. New Mexico’s got this mix of weird and wonderful that’s hard to describe—but once you experience it, it sticks with you

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to dedicate my shoutout to a few key people and groups who have played a big part in my journey. First, the incredible professors at the NMHU Media Arts Department. Their expertise, mentorship, and strong ethics—especially their refusal to accept unpaid internships for students—set a high standard that’s stuck with me. I’m especially grateful to the mentors I worked with during internships at the New Mexico History Museum and the Los Alamos Historical Society, and to my film professor Kerry Loewen, who really pushed me to level up my video work and take it seriously as a craft.

I also want to thank my parents for always supporting my creative pursuits—not just emotionally, but hands-on, working alongside me during the long hours it often takes to bring a project to life.

And finally, a big thank you to one of my best friends and business partner, Joshua Haggard. He brings a unique perspective, a steady creative vision, and a grounded presence to every project we take on together. He’s often the one who connects with people in ways I can’t, and that balance has been a huge part of our collaborative success.

Website: https://www.jakeinfinatummedia.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Infinatummedia

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@HermitsPeakWatershedAlliance

Other: The youtube link is our non-profits link (the one I work for, Hermit’s Peak Watershed Alliance. I’ve shot and edited all of the videos)

The Facebook link for the LLC that my business partner and I run “Infinatum Media”.

https://syosha505.wixsite.com/namoires (that’s the link for the website that went along with my master’s project)

Image Credits
All photos are my own.

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