Today we’d like to introduce you to Derek Hill.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I started my career working in the Dallas Stagehand business working shows like the Dallas Summer Musicals, the New York Metropolitan Opera when it came to town, the State Fair of Texas Musical, the Dallas Opera and Dallas Stage Scenery during my summer breaks from college. Having spent several years doing this line of work, even though I received a Management & Economics degree from UTA, I continued working within the Stage industry. After becoming the Business Agent of the Stagehand Union for one year and Executive Board Member for two additional years, I branched out to start working on television series as well as the movies that came to the Dallas/Ft. Worth. As I progressed in my career in the Movie/TV Industry, having started at the bottom and slowly working my way up the ladder. My 1st film/movie that I was the Set Decorator was “Silent Rage” with Chuck Norris. I followed that up with “Silkwood,” “Places in the Heart” and 16 other films/TV projects. Then I stepped up to Art Director on Oliver Stone’s project “JFK” and continued with Oliver Stone on six other projects. Eventually moving up to Production Designer in 1993 and have worked all around the world on the various different projects with different directors. Throughout my entire career, I have continued having my DFW area base.
Has it been a smooth road?
The road has not been without setbacks or obstacles along the way. But with the drive and determination that I instill within myself…I feel it’s just another opportunity or direction to achieve. Especially in this business where there are so many personalities and type of different situations, I feel that growing up in the DFW area and not living in the Los Angeles area, might have been an obstacle to overcome, or possibly not attending a Film School Degree, however, many say that my resume is one of the most diverse in the Industry and I still continue after almost 40 years in the business.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Derek R. Hill & DRH Designs story. Tell us more about the business.
My career has now lead me to be a Production Designer in the Film/TV Industry. I design the look of the project that I get hired to do working very closely with each Director on films/movies and on Television with both Directors and Producers. Since my career has spanned many years, I can say the Design work on the first “Pirates of the Caribbean”, the Sean Penn movie “Into the Wild”, Oliver Stone’s movie “W”, Antoine Fuqua’s movies, Olympic Has Fallen”, “Southpaw” and “The Magnificent Seven, My Emmy Nominated work on the TV Series “House”, The History Channel Emmy Nominated project with Kevin Costner, “The Hatfields & McCoys”, the History Channel project with Director Bruce Beresford, “Bonnie & Clyde”…and my latest Emmy nominated work on “Ozark”. Mostly proud of my diversity of work within the business.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
There is an increase in the product with the advent of cable, internet and the many different companies that create the product. This has allowed more youth in the industry as well as Visual Effects and quicker, faster ways to create a product. Video has come along way, even people with the iPhone can now create their own movies.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.derekrhill.com
- Email: drhillartdir@earthlink.net
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drhillartdir/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/derek.hill3/photos?lst=1112850211%3A1112850211%3A1538451765&source_ref=pb_friends_tl
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/drhpd
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