Derek Means

Images

Education

Equipment

I own and can operate: RED Weapon Helium, Letus Helix 3-Axis Gimbal, Duclos Leica-R Prime Set

I can operate: Arri Alexa, Arri Alexa Mini, Movi Pro, Canon C300 mkI & mkII, Arri Amira, RED Epic, Aaton XTR Prod, RED Scarlet, Sony F35, RED One/MX, Steadicam CamCrane200, Sony FS100, Arri SRII, Sony F3, Cannon 7D, Sony A7S

About me

Derek Means is a cinematographer based in Brooklyn, NY. Derek’s method is deeply collaborative, working closely with the entire creative team to create unique imagery designed to provoke emotional response through visual stimulus. Inspired by the shifting filmmaking landscape, Derek has immersed himself in the entire film production workflow, from conception to completion, inclusive of editing, color correction, and image compositing. He believes that successful cinematography should frame the viewer’s experience without distraction or ego.

Additional Information

Derek’s love for stories started when his father dropped off a dusty box of crumbling sci fi novels in his room when he was 8, and matured as he devoured literature and film through high school and college. He didn’t pick up a camera until he had completed a B.S. in Computer Science and a B.A. in Justice; worked for the US Secret Service; helped to develop software to teach ESL students English through a web-based phonetic speech recognition system; spent time as a professional sailor in the Baltic, Atlantic, and Mediterranean; sweated on an asphalt road construction crew in the Colorado Rockies; instructed Muay Thai; and completed over 300 skydiving jumps. It was while hitchhiking and walking 14,000 miles from Munich to Cape Town that he became fascinated with the camera as an expressive device. Visual media became a way of reflecting on unconsciously held perspectives and assumptions as his travels took him further from the known.

Derek returned to NYC in 2010 and since then has dedicated himself to learning the filmmaking skills necessary to visually explore the slippery nature of experience and perspective and how this impacts human communication.

Skills

Secondary Job Title	Cinematographer
Job Titles	Camera Operator, Camera Operator (HD), Cinematographer, Director (Self Shooting), Director of Photography, Writer / Director
Years in industry	6+ years
Experienced in	Arts, Comedy, Commercials, Cookery, Corporate, Digital/Online Campaigns, Documentary, Drama Reconstruction, Environmental, Film (Feature), Film (LB), Film (Short), Horror, Music, Music Promo, Reality TV, Television
Interested in	Arts, Comedy, Commercials, Documentary, Environmental, Film (Feature), Film (LB), Film (Short), Horror, Music, Music Promo, Television, Wildlife
Languages Spoken	English
Own a car?	No
Driving Licences	Standard
Organization/Union Membership	IATSE