Derek Frey

Derek Frey
Born (1973-04-23) April 23, 1973 (age 51)
Drexel Hill, Upper Darby Township, Pennsylvania, U.S.
EducationBA in Communication studies
Alma materWest Chester University, Upper Darby High School
Occupations
  • Producer
  • director
Years active1995–present
OrganizationTim Burton Productions
Notable work
Websitederekfreyfilms.com

Derek Frey (born April 23, 1973) is an American filmmaker who has been a producer on numerous Tim Burton-directed films including Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, Frankenweenie, Big Eyes, Alice in Wonderland, Dumbo, and others.

Early life and education

Frey was born on April 23, 1973, in the Drexel Hill section of Upper Darby Township, Pennsylvania, near Philadelphia. He graduating from Upper Darby High School.[1] Frey attended West Chester University and graduated with a BA in communication studies.[2][3]

Career

Derek Frey (right) recording at Air Studios with Andy Richards, Mike Higham & Ric Levy, 2011. Photograph c/o Leah Gallo

Frey began his career in the film industry in 1996 as an assistant for Tim Burton and an employee of Tim Burton Productions. He worked as Burton's assistant on Mars Attacks!, Sleepy Hollow, Planet of the Apes, and Big Fish.[4][5] In 2001, he became the head of Tim Burton Productions. He would go on to earn producer credits in a variety of Tim Burton films including Alice in Wonderland, Big Eyes, Frankenweenie, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, Corpse Bride, and Sweeney Todd.[2]

Frey also directs and produces under the banner, Lazer Film Productions. The company largely produces short films and music videos. His 2016 short film, Green Lake, was shown at over 40 film festivals at which it earned 47 awards including "Best Horror" at the Los Angeles Independent Film Festival Awards.[3][6][7] Other short films produced and directed by Frey include Kill the Engine,[8] Motel Providence, Sky Blue Collar, The Day the Dolls Struck Back, The Ballad of Sandeep (starring actor, Deep Roy), and numerous others.[2][9][10] Frey produced Burton's live-action adaptation of Dumbo, which was released in March 2019.[4][11]

Filmography

Feature films

Year Title
[12]		 Role Notes
2005 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Associate producer
Corpse Bride
2007 Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
2010 Alice in Wonderland
2011 A Conversation with Danny Elfman and Tim Burton Producer Documentary
2012 Dark Shadows Associate producer
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter
Frankenweenie Co-producer
2014 Big Eyes Executive producer
2016 Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children
2019 Dumbo Producer
TBA Toto: The Dog-Gone Amazing Story of the Wizard of Oz

Short films

Year Title
[12]		 Director Producer Writer Notes
1995 Verge of Darkness Yes Yes Yes Also actor
2001 The Upper Hand Yes Yes Yes
2002 The Day the Dolls Struck Back Yes Yes Yes
2007 4th and 99 Yes No No
2010 The Curse of the Sacred Stone Yes Yes Yes
2011 The Ballad of Sandeep Yes Yes No
2012 Vampires Kiss/Blood Inside Yes Yes No
The Killers: Here with Me No Yes No Music video
2013 Sky Blue Collar Yes Yes No
Captain Sparky vs. The Flying Saucers No No Yes Stop-motion
2014 Motel Providence Yes Yes No
2016 Green Lake Yes Yes Yes
2017 Kill the Engine Yes Yes No
God Came 'Round Yes Yes No

References

  1. ^ "Alumni Wall of Fame / Derek Frey". http. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
  2. ^ a b c Umland, Samuel J. (September 28, 2015). The Tim Burton Encyclopedia. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. ISBN 9780810892019.
  3. ^ a b "Noteworthy News". West Chester University. Retrieved June 6, 2018.
  4. ^ a b Wheels, Helen (March 7, 2018). "Interview: Derek Frey". Cult Critic. Retrieved June 6, 2018.
  5. ^ Lammers, Tim (October 1, 2016). "Interview: Derek Frey talks Tim Burton, 'Miss Peregrine,' 'Green Lake'". Direct Conversations. Retrieved June 6, 2018.
  6. ^ Ringo, Diana (July 22, 2017). "Interview with director Derek Frey". Indie Cinema. Retrieved June 6, 2018.
  7. ^ "April 2016 Awards". Los Angeles Independent Film Festival Awards. Retrieved June 6, 2018.
  8. ^ "Review of 'Kill The Engine'". Independent Shorts Award. May 20, 2018. Retrieved May 20, 2018.
  9. ^ Tustin, Kevin (October 3, 2017). "Delco-based filmmakers bring work to Philly's FirstGlance Film Festival". Delco Times. Retrieved June 6, 2018.
  10. ^ "The Minor Prophets & Derek Frey unveil their latest film in Cannes, 4th and 99". FilmFestivals.com. May 15, 2007. Retrieved June 6, 2018.
  11. ^ Ramos, Dino-Ray (August 7, 2017). "Tim Burton's 'Dumbo' Adds Joseph Gatt To Live-Action Adaptation of Disney Classic". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 6, 2018.
  12. ^ a b "Derek Frey". IMDb. Retrieved June 6, 2018.