erik himmelsbach-weinstein

I wasn't born in the Valley, but, trust me, I’m more a Valley native. I grew up in apartments in Sepulveda, a town that no longer exists, and condos in Chatsworth east of Topanga. On streets like Columbus, Langdon and Varna. I cruised Van Nuys Boulevard, drank beer at Gravity Hill, saw shows at the Country Club. As an adult, I have lived in Valley Glen, Valley Village, Studio City and Sherman Oaks. I have some perspective. My obsession with the Valley is chronicled in the blog section of this site.

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Since 2018, I've been senior director of video for the Los Angeles Times, where I've increased the publication's profile as a producer of long-form video content. At the Times, I've won some local Emmys, L.A. Press Club and Webby awards, and earned other various sorts of recognition.

 

On this site, you'll find links to some of my written work (on my journalism page) and clips of my production work (digital/television). In the past, I’ve been a managing- and senior-level editor for national, regional and local publications like Spin, Bikini, Orange Coast and Los Angeles Reader. I’ve written about music, film, TV, books, restaurants, and myself for publications such as L.A. Times, Rolling Stone, Mojo, Alta, Los Angeles Magazine, Details, Chicago Sun Times, Village Voice and countless others. 

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As a writer and producer, I've specialized in documentary. Projects include several episodes of VH1’s Behind the Music; the VH1 Rock Doc “Monterey 40;” and the ESPN films “Year of the Scab,” which screened at the Tribeca Film Festival; and “The Marinovich Project,” nominated for a Best Sports Documentary Emmy in 2012.

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From 2003-2005 I wrote the column Valley Boy for a Los Angeles publication called Citybeat.  No digital footprint exists for these columns, so I’ve housed many of them here, along with newer musings that strike my fancy. 

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Hit me up. I’m at erik@valleyboy.net