• In January of 2012, Derek added a 12kW solar array to his Simi Valley home.
  • The array produces enough power to run the entire house all year, including a fully equipped editorial, visual effects, animation and coloring suite.
  • "I have always been an early adopter of newer technologies, but I never felt solar energy was practical for home consumers until recently.  While solar panels have been around for over 50 years, I think the technology has taken a huge jump forward recently and the costs have now come down to a point where solar begins to make economic sense."
  • The new panels share their perch atop a hillside with another array that is used to heat the water in a swimming pool below. 
  • "We are going to cover the visible edges of the array with native brush that blends in with the hillside, so that the structure will not be visible from the houses below.  The plan is to make it disappear completely except from overhead - eventually it'll show up on Google Earth!"

  • In September 2011, Derek joined the team at Warner Bros. Motion Picture Imaging (MPI), the digital post production backbone for Warner Bros. Studios.
  • Derek will help develop new workflows for both television and features, add new in-house visual effects capability, and complete both editorial and VFX work for some of the television and film clients at MPI.

    "MPI is unique in that we can give our clients a highly personalized boutique experience with the backing and resources of a major studio.  With a great team including top-notch colorists and over 25 currently airing episodic television shows with production offices within walking distance on the Warner Bros. lot, MPI is poised to grow dramatically, and I look forward to being a part of that!"
  • MPI is located in Burbank on the Warner Bros. 20-acre studio back lot, hidden behind this
    façade off the end of "French Street" near sound stage 26.

    "This is a great place with very talented people, surrounded by the rich history of film and television that has been made here for decades as well as new productions in the works right outside our door.  I look forward to introducing my previous clients to MPI and serving many new ones in the years to come."