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ERIC’S LIFE BEYOND RAIDERS

Eric Zala has led ambitious, collaborative, successful projects since age 12.

From the iconic Raiders fan film to award-winning projects and global talks, Eric Zala’s journey is one of passion, grit, and creative inspiration.
From the iconic Raiders fan film to award-winning projects and global talks, Eric Zala’s journey is one of passion, grit, and creative inspiration.

Beyond directing RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK: THE ADAPTATION first in childhood -- and later in adulthood…

From the iconic Raiders fan film to award-winning projects and global talks, Eric Zala’s journey is one of passion, grit, and creative inspiration.
From the iconic Raiders fan film to award-winning projects and global talks, Eric Zala’s journey is one of passion, grit, and creative inspiration.
From the iconic Raiders fan film to award-winning projects and global talks, Eric Zala’s journey is one of passion, grit, and creative inspiration.

Eric wrote and directed an original film, AN EARLY TWILIGHT. This short drama won over 20 awards in international film festivals and was picked up for distribution.

From the iconic Raiders fan film to award-winning projects and global talks, Eric Zala’s journey is one of passion, grit, and creative inspiration.
From the iconic Raiders fan film to award-winning projects and global talks, Eric Zala’s journey is one of passion, grit, and creative inspiration.

Eric worked his way up in the video game industry, from temp tester to Director of Quality Assurance, building from scratch a top-performing department of hundreds.

Eric Zala Raiders Filmmaker Journey | Best Fan Films - The Raiders Kids
Eric Zala Raiders Filmmaker Journey | Best Fan Films - The Raiders Kids
Eric Zala Raiders Filmmaker Journey | Best Fan Films - The Raiders Kids

Eric moved to Mississippi to co-write an original screenplay, WHAT THE RIVER TAKES, a southern gothic action-adventure. 

Eric Zala Raiders Filmmaker Journey | Best Fan Films - The Raiders Kids
Eric Zala Raiders Filmmaker Journey | Best Fan Films - The Raiders Kids
Eric Zala Raiders Filmmaker Journey | Best Fan Films - The Raiders Kids

Eric was the executive director of his hometown’s non-profit arts and cultural center, the results of his work there resulting in the mayor awarding Eric the Key to the City and declaring Sept 3rd, 2011 as “Eric Zala Day”.

After leading QA on 2K Games’ most successful video game everBORDERLANDS 2, Eric left behind his 15 year career in the video game industry.  The experience of reuniting 25 years later, to do the final missing Airplane Scene, made Eric and family realize they needed to pursue what is meaningful to them.

Eric Zala Raiders Filmmaker Journey | Best Fan Films - The Raiders Kids
Eric Zala Raiders Filmmaker Journey | Best Fan Films - The Raiders Kids

The Zalas sold their house to buy an RV -- to complete a 4-month, 18,000 mile+ road tour across America, with son, daughter & family dog – to support the documentary’s theatrical release, performing onstage Q&As. 

Eric Zala Raiders Filmmaker Journey
Eric Zala Raiders Filmmaker Journey
Eric Zala Raiders Filmmaker Journey
Eric Zala Raiders Filmmaker Journey
Eric Zala Raiders Filmmaker Journey
Eric Zala Raiders Filmmaker Journey

There, they experienced an overwhelming response from those who’ve seen the film, heard the stories.  

 

Resourcefulness, perseverance, collaboration, solution seeking, creative thinking, goal setting, team-building, and the ability to prototype and iterate. Your story has all of these and yet, what kids notice is that none of this happened at school or under the direction of a teacher.

The challenge for today's educators is "How might we make school more like the Raiders Guys multi-year long project?"

                                                                         -- Chip Houston, Head of Upper School, Mount Vernon Presbyterian School, Atlanta, Georgia

Excited that this story can help people in such ways, they began a family business — ZALA DETOURS — to share stories, to educate and to inspire, as they were inspired long ago.  

 

Today, Eric lives in his hometown of Ocean Springs, Mississippi, spending time with son and daughter before they leave for their own adventures.  He continues to travel and do ZOOM talks, to share what he’s learned from the 35+ year journey of RAIDERS, in following dreams and finishing.

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Eric Zala Raiders Filmmaker Journey
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