As a kid, Derek was a huge fan of movies, and knew that he would some day move to Hollywood to become a professional director. Armed with his grandfather’s old RCA camcorder, Derek was already writing, shooting, and editing his own movies by the time he was in high school. He continued to develop his skills while attending film school in Texas, but never lost sight of his goal to end up in Los Angeles. The opportunity finally presented itself when, by chance, Derek was able to connect with a personal hero of his.