Derrick Sims

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Derrick Sims
Born Derrick Lee Sims
February 11, 1985 (1985-02-11) (age 23)
Kingsland, Arkansas, U.S.
Other name(s) Derrick Lee Sims
Spouse(s) Stephanie Alaina McClellan (2004-present)

Derrick Lee Sims (born 11 February 1985) is an American filmmaker and professor of film at Northwest Arkansas Academy of Fine Arts.


Contents

[edit] Biography

[edit] The Beginning

Like most filmmaking stories, Sims got his first camera at an early age (9). It was a 10-year-old 1980s General Electric CG706. Friends and family members were the "stars" of the earliest films, which usually had many fights, explosions, and ultra-dramatic plots. The camera was finally destroyed in 2000. It wasn't until his senior year in high school that he finally "moved up" to Hi8!

[edit] College and Awards

Sims graduated Cum Laude from Henderson State University with a BA in Mass Media and a minor in Theatre in 2007. During his professional filmmaking career, Sims has made numerous shorts and two feature films. Some of his more notable and award winning films are: "The Battle of Marks' Mill", a civil war documentary that premiered at the IMAX theater in Little Rock, Arkansas, "Murderous", a documentary that premiered in 2006 at the internationally recognized Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival, and "One Night", a film that won the audience award as well as best narrative short at the Arkadelphia Film Festival.

Also in 2006, he worked as behind the scenes cameraman/photographer and assistant script supervisor for the film "War Eagle," starring Brian Dennehy, Mary Kay Place, and Mare Winningham. Most recently, Sims color corrected a short film called "Greater Love", directed by Zac Heath.

Sims has also won awards for his theatre background, including the director's award for his rendition of Harvey (play). His light and sound design for Brighton Beach Memoirs, Tuna Christmas, and Talley's Folly, as well as his work with the television department where he produced and directed the show "DVD" and worked as general manager and lead editor for the department, won him the Creative Senior Award in the Ellis College at Henderson State University[1].

[edit] Currently

Sims teaches filmmaking at the Northwest Arkansas Academy of Fine Arts in Rogers, Arkansas.[2] His next picture, a feature called The River, will be directed by Zac Heath and shot June/July 2008. Later this summer, Sims will helm the film Faerie Tale. This will be his first directing endeavor in over a year.

[edit] Filmography

Director

Producer

  • Battle of Marks' Mill (2004): Executive Producer
  • One Night (2005): Executive Producer
  • Say I Love You (2006): Producer
  • Murderous (2006): Executive Producer
  • The Lady in Black (2007): Producer
  • Within a Dream (2007): Executive Producer
  • La Sonrisa (2008): Executive Producer
  • Faerie Tale (2008): Executive Producer

Director of Photography

  • Battle of Marks' Mill (2004): DoP
  • One Night (2005): DoP
  • Say I Love You (2006): DoP
  • Christmas Rush (2006): DoP
  • Murderous (2006): DoP
  • The Lady in Black (2007): DoP
  • Within a Dream (2007): DoP
  • The River (2008): DoP
  • Faerie Tale (2008): DoP

Soundtrack

  • Christmas Rush (2006): Musician, "Merry Christmas" and "Claus"

Miscellaneous crew

  • War Eagle (2006): Assistant Script Supervisor/Photographer
  • Greater Love (2007): Color Corrector

Actor

  • One Night (2005): Kevin
  • War Eagle (2006): Baseball Player/First Row Concert Goer
  • La Sonrisa (2008): Rachael's Father (flashback)

Visual/Special effects

  • One Night (2005): (Visual effects)
  • Bizarro Bobby (2005): Visual effects
  • Say I Love You (2006): Visual effects/Digital effects (car crash)
  • Murderous (2006): Visual effects/Makeup effects (gore)
  • The Lady in Black (2007): Visual effects/Digital effects
  • Within a Dream (2007): Visual effects/Makeup effects
  • Greater Love (2007): Visual effects (door)

Editor

  • Battle of Marks' Mill (2004)
  • One Night (2005)
  • The Showdown (2005)
  • Bizarro Bobby (2005)
  • Say I Love You (2005)
  • Christmas Rush (2006)
  • Murderous (2006)
  • The Lady in Black (2007)
  • Within a Dream (2007)
  • Faerie Tale (2008)

[edit] References

[Internet Movie Database http://imdb.com/name/nm2397480/]People from Arkansas

Year Title Awards
2004 Battle of Marks' Mill IMAX premiere
2005 One Night Best Narrative Short - Arkadelphia Film Festival
2006 Say I Love You Audience Award - Arkadelphia Film Festival
2006 Murderous Official Selection - Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival
2007 The Lady in Black "On the Lot"
2007 Within a Dream
2008 Faerie Tale