Derrick Simmons (director)
| Derrick Simmons | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Occupation | Producer, Director, Action Actor, Stunt Coordinator, Writer, Artist, Filmmaker |
| Known for | Nobody's Perfect (Director) |
| Notable work | Oz, Paper Soldiers, Paid in Full, Women Do it Better |
Derrick Simmons is an American director, writer, actor, stuntman, and producer. He is also the founder of Derrick Simmons Film Works, and Phat Tune Recording.[1][2][3]
Biography
Derrick Simmons was born in Queens, New York. His father worked for MTA and his mother worked for the Board of Education. Simmons grew up in Queensbridge and Woodside Houses. He attended Harbor JHS of Performing Arts in Harlem, New York and later attended Talent Unlimited where he majored in drama.[4]
Career
Derrick Simmons started his acting career at age 10 by appearing in a National Burger King commercial where he appeared opposite Stacey Dash.
As a stuntman Simmons has performed in more than 150 films and as an actor he has performed in around 40 titles. His work can be seen in over 200 projects including commercials, television shows and multimillion-dollar blockbuster films.[5]
Simmons has worked in various television programs such as "Law & Order", "New York Undercover", "The Wire", "Third Watch", "Hack", "The Sopranos", "[Law & Order SVU]]", "The David Letterman Show", "Saturday Night Live", "30 Rock", "House", "Royal Pains", "Rescue Me", "Blue Bloods", "Person of Interests", "Boardwalk Empire", "The Blacklist", "The Good Wife", "Gotham", "Orange is the New Black", "House of Cards", "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt", "Blindspot" and "The Get Down" etc.[6]
Some of Simmons's feature film credits include "Paper Soldiers", "Paid in Full", "A Bronx Tale", "The Preacher's Wife", "Booty Call", "In Too Deep", Tyler Perry's "Diary of a Mad Black Woman", "Madea's Family Reunion", "Daddy's Little Girl", "Why Did I Get Married Too", "Little Nicky", "Hannibal", "Jump Offs", Kevin Smith's "Dogma", "The Best Man", "Cop Out", "American Gangster", "Get Rich or Die Tryin", "Women Do it Better", and "Ray" where he stunt doubled Jamie Foxx as Ray Charles, Spike Lee's "Inside Man", "Precious", "Find me Guilty" with Vin Diesel, "Run All Night", "The Purge: Election Year", "Nobody's Perfect", and "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles". He also guest starred in Boardwalk Empire.
Derrick Simmons started the production company Derrick Simmons Film Works. The company has till date produced three movies titled Nobody's Perfect(2016), Women do it better(2009) and Jump Offs(2007). Simmons is also the director of all three of these movies. He won the best director award at Pocono Mountains Film Festival for the movie Nobody's Perfect(2016).
Derrick Simmons founded the production company Derrick Simmons Film Works. The production company provides all production multimedia services like pre & post production, movie scores, stunts, professional photography, website and graphic design.
Simmons is also the founder of Phat Tune Recording which is an independent recording label. The label handles all the soundtracks for Simmons's independent films.
Derrick Simmons has also worked in raising awareness for domestic violence.[7]
References
- ↑ "Celebrity Stunt Artist". MovieFone.
- ↑ "Derrick Simmons' Nobody's Perfect". BlackFilm.
- ↑ "Award-winning director Derrick Simmons". EurWeb.
- ↑ "Movie Indie". Fandango.
- ↑ "Movie Official Site". Nobody's Perfect.
- ↑ "Derrick Simmons". CQCounter.
- ↑ "Filmmaker From New York". Uptown Jazz Dallas.