Paul Eliacin grew up in Flatbush, Brooklyn, one of eight kids raised by a single mother. After his father passed in 1965, his mother worked two jobs to keep the family going. In 1970, she had a mental health crisis and was hospitalized. Paul and his elder brother were dispatched to Job Corps and his other siblings were placed into foster care. His early years were filled with struggle school suspensions, feelings of failure, and thoughts of giving up.
But Paul chose to change his path. He earned his GED, studied theology, and enrolled at North Country Community College. He later worked on the set of the movie “Straight out of Brooklyn” and later became a Theatrical Teamster in New York’s film and television industry. Over 30 years, he worked on major productions like Law & Order SVU, Men In Black, and The Sopranos.
Three days after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attack, Paul was at Ground Zero. With his camera, he documented over five hours of video and 300 plus raw photos of that day and its aftermath. He plans to release a documentary for the 25th anniversary of 9/11 using this rare, firsthand footage, which is stored in a fireproof safe.
Paul also wrote, directed, and starred in the independent film Up In Harlem, employing his celebrity friends that he met throughout his career working in the film and entertainment industry. Such as the rapper and actor Ice-T, and others. It is currently streaming on Amazon Prime. He has worked in radio most notably as a line producer at WRKS-FM alongside the legendary journalist Bob Slade and the musician James Mtume. He continues to volunteer as an outreach coordinator for the homeless.
What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?
My days are pretty steady now that I’m retired from the union, but I don’t sit still. I spend mornings reviewing footage and organizing photos from projects—especially my 9/11 archives. I have over 300 photos and five hours of footage from Ground Zero. It hurts, but I go through every frame to prepare for my upcoming documentary. I usually take notes by hand. I like paper—it’s tactile. Afternoons are for outreach. I help coordinate support for the homeless. Some days I visit shelters or meet with local organizers. Staying connected to real people keeps me grounded.
How do you bring ideas to life?
I observe before I act. On film sets, I studied everything—lighting, camera angles, blocking. I applied that same mindset when I directed Up In Harlem. The idea started as something I jotted in a notebook. I pulled from my life and people I knew. I asked questions, wrote down stories, and shaped it scene by scene. For me, it’s not about rushing. It’s about capturing realness. I let stories come to me through experience, then I shape them with structure.
What’s one trend that excites you?
User-generated archives. More people are digitizing personal footage and sharing it online. That excites me. There’s power in everyday people documenting history. It’s why I held onto my 9/11 footage. I wasn’t trying to go viral—I was trying to preserve something real, something human.
What is one habit that helps you be productive?
Walking. When I walk, ideas come into focus. I walked for several miles through Brooklyn growing up, and I still take long walks when I need clarity. Some people meditate—I move.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Don’t believe the worst things people say about you—even when those voices are in your own head. I was suspended from school, ready to give up. But that wasn’t my whole story. I’d tell young Paul: Keep going. You’re not done yet.
Tell us something you believe almost nobody agrees with you on?
You don’t need a fancy camera to tell a powerful story. I’ve seen people with the best gear and no soul in their shots. I’ve captured meaningful images with basic equipment. What matters most is your eye and your intent.
What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?
Revisit your old work. Whether it’s writing, photography, or locked-away projects—go back and look at what you created years ago. There’s always something you missed the first time. I’ve discovered gold in footage I shot two decades ago just by taking another look with fresh eyes.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?
Other than walking, I drive. Not for speed or distraction, but for focus. I used to work as a professional driver and Teamster for over 30 years. Being behind the wheel still calms me. I often play music from my youth or old radio clips and just let my thoughts settle.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?
Observation. I never went to film school, but I studied like I did. On every set—Law & Order, Men In Black, Boomerang—I watched how things worked. I saw how scenes came together. That learning gave me the confidence to write and direct my own film. As they say, “Experience is your best teacher.”
What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?
When I was younger, I was almost kicked out of a job for being late and not following protocol. I thought just showing up was enough. It wasn’t. I learned that professionalism isn’t optional—it’s how people decide whether to trust you. After that, I became obsessively punctual for everything that benefitted me.
What is one business idea you’re willing to give away to our readers?
Create a platform where former union workers and retirees can share their work histories and stories—photos, call sheets, memories. There’s so much behind-the-scenes knowledge that gets lost. It could be part archive, part oral history project.
What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
DaVinci Resolve. I use it to review footage and make light edits. It’s powerful, but also intuitive once you get the basics down. I use it now to organize my 9/11 footage and build a story arc for the documentary.
Do you have a favorite book or podcast you’ve gotten a ton of value from and why?
The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson. It’s about the Great Migration, but it also teaches you how to tell personal stories on a big canvas. That’s the kind of storytelling I strive for—personal, historical, layered.
What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?
When They See Us by Ava DuVernay. It’s powerful, personal, and doesn’t look away from pain. That’s the kind of work I respect—films that speak truth but still offer hope.
Key learnings
- Observing others with intention can be as valuable as formal education.
- Revisiting old work can reveal missed insights and spark new creative direction.
- Daily movement, like walking or driving, can improve mental clarity and focus.