Derek, a Bostonian of Middle Eastern and Native American (Sioux) descent, graduated from Harvard University majoring in Creative Writing & Literature in 2011. He then spent a year teaching Beginner’s Screenwriting at Grub Street before receiving his Masters Degree in Screenwriting from the American Film Institute in 2014. After AFI, Derek quickly found success at their Screenwriter’s Showcase, optioning his award-winning (Grand Prize Creative World Awards, Grand Prize Table Read My Screenplay London) action/comedy script THE WHEELMAN to Original Film (Fast & Furious franchise) and Sony. Original Film hired Derek to rewrite his script, now for a female lead, which lead to Derek becoming a member of the Writer’s Guild of America West. THE WHEELMAN is now in the hands of Datura Studios and gearing up for a production in the UK. Derek was added to the Tracking Board’s Young and Hungry List for 2015 shortly after his one-hour drama AFTER THE MERGE won the Final Draft Big Break’s Drama Pilot Category and was optioned by Dark Horse Entertainment. Derek's pilot THE END placed in the Top 10 of the Tracking Board's Launch Pad pilot competition which lead to his signing with Manager Derrick Eppich of Lee Stobby Entertainment. Most recently, Derek was accepted as a participant in Universal Picture's Writing Program where he'll write two features for the studio under a first look deal.