Derrick Sims
Director of Photography, Camera Operator, Editor, Colourist, Director, Producer, Projectionist
Currently in New Zealand
Based in New Zealand
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Bio
Born and raised in the American South, I began making movies as a kid and never really stopped. While studying journalism, I directed, shot, and edited “The Battle of Marks’ Mill,” a short, American Civil War film that (by pure luck) was chosen to play alongside IMAX revival screenings of Ang Lee's “Ride with the Devil.” The success of “Marks’ Mill” led to work on my first feature, “War Eagle, Arkansas” (2007).
In the following years, I DP’d two features in The South before moving full time to Los Angeles. There, I spent much of my time switching between DP/Editor/Colourist roles, but in 2011, I picked up the pen and wrote and directed the feature film “Come Morning.” It premiered in 2012 at the Austin Film Festival, and in 2013, the Oxford Film Festival awarded the picture with a jury award for cinematography.
I continued in feature-length, scripted narrative but also found a lot of rewarding work in commercials, music videos, documentaries, and shorts. 2016 was the year I wrote and directed my second feature, “The Perfect Host: A Southern Gothic Tale” and moved immediately afterward to New Zealand. We did all the post production work here and while the film premiered in 2018 in Austin, Texas, Aotearoa was our new home, and my life and producing partner Alaina (and our kids) never looked back.
Alaina and I own Fabled Motion Pictures and Fabled Effects House, two US-based companies that now work almost exclusively out of NZ. I freelance as a DP/Gaffer/AC/Editor/Colourist, but I have lots of experience in almost any production role.
My side hustle is as the founder/programmer of the Tararua Cinematheque, an endeavour I began in early 2021. More about it can be found around the internet.
Showreel
| Projects | Skills & Qualifications | Gear |
Feature Films
NFT
Editor
Colourist
2022
The Invisible Woman
Director
Producer
Director of Photography
Editor
Colourist
2021
The Perfect Host: A Southern Gothic Tale
Director
Screenwriter
Producer
Editor
Colourist
Visual Effects Editor
2018
The 37
Camera Operator
2016
The Remains
Director of Photography
2016
Face of Evil
Digital Imaging Technician
2nd Assistant Camera
2015
Classroom 6
Director of Photography
Colourist
Gaffer
2015
Reunion
Director of Photography
2015
Suite 101
Editor
2014
Echoes in an Empty Apartment
Director of Photography
Editor
Colourist
Sound Editor
Visual Effects Artist
2014
Miss Miao
Producer
Director of Photography
2014
Open House
Director of Photography
2014
Wild Horses
Set Dresser
2013
A Christmas Wedding
Director of Photography
Editor
2013
Kinda Like a Love Story
Editor
2013
The Power of Love
Editor
Colourist (Additional)
2013
Ruby Booby
Colourist
2013
The Trail
Colourist
2013
Making Light In Terezin
Director of Photography
Editor
2012
The Interview
Director of Photography
Editor
Colourist
Sound Editor
2012
Realitory: Welcome to the Machine
Key Grip
2012
The Boarder
2nd Assistant Camera
2012
Come Morning
Director
Screenwriter
Producer
Director of Photography
Editor
Colourist
Visual Effects Editor
2012
Who's Watching the Kids
Director of Photography
Editor
2012
Late Bloomer
Director of Photography
Editor
Colourist
Gaffer
2010
The River Within
Director of Photography
Editor
Colourist
2009
War Eagle, Arkansas
Camera Operator
2007
The Rectory
Director of Photography
0
Television Series
Q + A
Camera Operator - S2022
2022
Little Sparks
Director of Photography
Editor
Colourist
Screenwriter
2015
Call Time
Director of Photography
2012
Small Blacks TV
Camera Operator
2009
7 Days
Camera Operator (Additional)
2009
Short Films
Dirty Dishes
Director of Photography
Sound Designer
Colourist
2022
Dirty Dishes
Director of Photography
2022
Viva la Revolución
Director
Screenwriter
Producer
Director of Photography
Editor
2020
The Reapers
Director
Editor
Director of Photography
Screenwriter
2019
Shepherdess Rising
Director
Producer
Director of Photography
Editor
Camera Operator
Colourist
2019
Making the Film: Come Morning
Director
Producer
Director of Photography
Editor
2013
Red Light & Green Wine
Editor
2013
Cast
Director of Photography
2013
Donna
Editor
Colourist
2013
Confession of a Mother
Director of Photography
Gaffer
2013
Touch
Gaffer
2013
Separator
Director of Photography
2013
209
Editor
2013
Sola
Director of Photography
2012
The Basement
Director of Photography
Colourist
2012
The Death of Love
Director of Photography
2012
Eddie and Arrow
Colourist
2012
Omit
Director of Photography
2012
Jules & Me
Director of Photography
2011
Valley of Death
Editor
Colourist
2011
No Greater Love
Editor
Colourist
Compositor
2008
One Night
Director
Director of Photography
Editor
Colourist
Gaffer
2006
The Battle of Marks' Mill
Director
Screenwriter
Producer
Director of Photography
Editor
2005
Television Features
