Today we’d like to introduce you to Derek Fleming
Hi derek, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My career as a professional storyteller began around age 5 when my cousins and I put on plays over the holidays. A fabled warrior who’s true power only came out during blue moons. Two brothers that each inherited a power glove from their father and formed rival gangs (the gloves granted dance power btw). And ofc there was the one where we sang “Car Wash” by Rose Royce and just ran over cousin Andrew like five times with our Little Tikes car.
Since then my storytelling career has gotten a bit better (and I’ve run over significantly less cousins) as several of us ventured into the “real” professional filmmaking world.
I worked in-house as a screenwriter for Broken Phonebooth Productions (an Orlando based production company) for several years and eventually became a director/producer there as well. I’ll never forget the terror and excitement of directing my first film. I had no idea what I was doing. But thankfully my crew was experienced and we lucked into hiring amazing talent who’d just finished a gig for HBO. That film, “I am not the Voice in my Head,” is still on the festival circuit, recently nominated for “Best of the States” in The North Film Festival held in NY city.
Nowadays I work as a freelance filmmaker in Orlando, North Florida, and New York. I do a sprinkling of many things but specialize in writing, directing, script supervising, and working as a production designer/various roles within the glorious Art Department.
Most exciting of all, I’m in pre-production for my next short film “It’s Good to be Home,” a comedy where cartoon vibes meet the weight of living. It’s set to shoot in early February and will serve as a proof of concept for the feature film I hope to make late next year.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Filmmaking is glorious and challenging. Every project presents unique obstacles to overcome and the satisfaction of creating new things.
But my personal challenges have proved far more fearsome. As someone who is bipolar, depression has been a serious struggle throughout my life. The passing of my lifelong best friend in 2021 devastated me and I spiraled into a dark place that took over a year of horrid days, immense effort, and lots of help to get through.
If you experience depression or any mental health problems, I’d encourage you to talk to someone about it. A therapist is great (and I’ve seen one for years now), but even just talking with a friend or family member can be super helpful.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a filmmaker based in the heart of Orlando, FL. I specialize in creative narrative filmmaking and am known for my sense of humor and ability to touch on deeper themes within a short amount of time. I’m proud of all the films I’ve created and the accolades they’ve won across various festivals.
What matters most to you? Why?
Patience and kindness. Every set I direct, I always start the shoot by stressing the importance of patience and kindness. I’d rather not make a movie than create an unhealthy work environment. Thankfully, my crew members always seem to appreciate this and more than a few have thanked me for the environment I foster once the shoot is finished.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://derek-fleming.com
- Instagram: @derek.says.hey
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Derek-Fleming
- Other: Email: stories.by.derek@gmail.com
