Derek D. Kim was born in Seoul, Korea somewhere in the late sixties and graduated from Westmoor High School in Daly City, California in 198?.He learned to direct from Hong Kong film director/actor James Nam (Co-star of "Five Fingers of Death"). He was used to be a martial arts instructor at The World Kuk Sool Won Association in San Francisco, California, from 1986 to 1989. He trained six days a week under the careful guidance of Grandmaster In Hyuk Suh. Since moving to Los Angeles, Derek currently trains under Grandmaster Yuen Baie Kim, President of The World Pro-Hapkido Federation.
Got his first break when he appeared on "Outbreak". He is currently working as a film producer. You may have seen him in films such as: Dunston Checks In (as the Hotel clerk), Independence Day (as the Korean Newscaster), among many others.
Derek D. Kim is also President of Dereko Entertainment, a feature film production company.
Entertainment Zone was lucky enough to get an interview with this up and coming Producer/Director/Actor!
Z: In Hollywood are you often type cast due to your nationality? DK: Yes. Most of the time I was cast because I could speak fluent Korean and
that was it. However, very recently I have been landing better English
speaking roles, playing a supporting role in feature films. Did you know
that even a couple of years ago, most Asian male actors where limited to
roles like an Asian gang leader/member, waiter at some Chinese restaurant,
really nerdy Asian student with thick eye glasses, wimpy guy, doctor,
scientist, computer genius, Japanese businessman, and a tourist and that was
it. Believe it or not, I used to work for some casting directors in the
past and have discovered the awful truth about casting. I have learned some
of the trade secrets, understanding the real reasons why minority actors
weren't given good roles in Hollywood. However, times have changed and
things got much better. There are more opportunities for Asian actors due
to hit films like Rush Hour, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, etc. I am
really excited and looking forward to all the new changes being made to the
old Hollywood system!
Z: You are kind of a "Jack of All Trades" in the Entertainment Industry.
Is there one particular area you prefer over the other? (ex: acting,
directing, etc.)
DK: Right now, I am only focusing on producing theatrical
release feature films and that is it. I really enjoy gathering scripts,
pitching it to the investors, attaching international bankable stars, hiring
the right director and the crew members, finding perfect location, renting
equipment, securing a distribution deal, etc. I love all the stress! I
have to admit that I am "Jack of All Trades" in the entertainment industry
because I learned to work in every single department throughout the years.
I got a job working as a caterer, craft service person, wardrobe, prop,
camera, grip, art director, production assistant, etc.
Z: We noticed that you lend a lot of advice to up and coming actors, it
seems as though you're trying to give something back from your success.
Would that be correct?
DK: Unfortunately, I have been tricked by a lot of people in the entertainment
industry in the past trying to make it in Hollywood. Therefore, I am on a
personal mission to prevent anyone trying to scam any beginning actors who
are new to the entertainment industry. I believe that everyone can succeed
in Hollywood if they are persistent and given the right knowledge,
connection, and timing. The funny thing is that a lot of people in the
entertainment industry are really selfish and don't want others to succeed.
Z: Your quotes all seem to revolve around positive thinking, is that how
you try to live your life?
DK: I first experienced the positive thinking when a teenager. I was really
curious so I kept reading a lot of think positive and success related books.
I believe that by thinking positive, a person could change his life forever!
A lot of people are really cruel and they tend to feed off negativity. I
try my best to live in a positive environment, filled with love. However,
the reality is that I do have some days when everything seems to fall apart.
What I do is take a deep breath and try to think positive.
Z: Your first big break was Outbreak, How did it feel to work with such a
high caliber star like Dustin Hoffman, and did he offer any advice to you during
the filming?
DK: Outbreak was my debut film and I landed a part of a Korean seaman who wound
up dead from touching the virus monkey. Actually, it was a fairly descent
supporting role which most of them wound up in a cutting floor during
editing. My scene took three days to shoot it. However, I was honored to
work with a legend, Dustin Hoffman. He was very nice and kept mentioning
about one of his earlier film, The Graduate. Mr. Hoffman told me that
playing a dead guy was not easy and I needed to roll my eyes all the way,
slipping some air through the side of the mouth. I couldn't believe that he
gave me acting lessons so I could perform better on the film. He told me to
relax, be natural and pretend the monkey was a little cat in a cage.
Z: Let's talk about music? I read somewhere that you have a rock band? If
so are their any CD's available on the market? How many guitars do you own?
Who influenced you musically and favorite band please?
DK: First of all, I love music. My parents thought I was really crazy for
buying an expensive electric guitar when I was in my early teens. I started
to play lead guitar in various local bands while attending Westmoor High
School in Daly City, California. I was usually the youngest in the band,
surrounded by other members who have already graduated. So, you could
pretty much imagine that I was constantly falling a sleep during my classes.
I used to take different electric guitars to school every other day just to
annoy all the teachers. I was always falling a sleep during classrooms
because I was usually up all night jamming with my band or playing a gig!
Unfortunately, none of the bands that I played with ever produced any
albums because they played cover songs. The funny thing is the last band
that I played with was entirely different. It was a Christian band that I
formed at my Korean Presbyterian church in Koreatown (Los Angeles). I played
a bass, instead of guitar and we have performed over two hundred times in
different local Christian church and events.. However, the only song that
was available on the market back in the early nineties was a song called
"Bonjour, Lady!" which I wrote, produced, sang lead vocals and played all
the instruments on it. I own the rights to it so I plan to release it on
upcoming feature film that I am producing.
I own about fifteen very rare custom made electric guitars. Some of them
got stolen because they are extremely rare and difficult to find. All of
my guitars are custom made because I am left-handed and I usually have to
order it from a manufacturer or a guitar store. I plan to buy some more
guitars and fill up the entire house! My biggest influence in music were
ABBA, Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Cars, Boston, etc. I am more into hard rock
and pop. I don't really have any favorite bands right now because I like
all type of music.
Z: What is a beauty product consultant? Can you tell us a little about
your roles in this field for the 3 movies Eyes of Tammy Faye, Planet of the
Apes and Grinch?
DK: Back in 1999, someone asked me if was interested working as a beauty product
consultant /sales representative to make some extra cash. So I said sure.
I asked them what I have to do? So the owner of a major beauty product
company in Los Angeles told me that I would be selling a different variety
of beauty products to the entertainment industry. It sounded really good
because I could be earning a huge commission from doing it casually. I had
to learn everything about the beauty product, memorizing over two hundred
different products. While I was working for him, How Grinch Stole the
Christmas was already in development. I believe Rick Baker sent a group of
people requesting us to produce a custom made, extra long end eyelash which
the Grinch (Jim Carrey )some of the members were going to wear it. So they
consulted with us, and we made a prototype eyelash for them. They liked it
very much and we produced over one thousand pieces, made with a real human
hair, manufactured in overseas. Right after that, The Eyes of Tammy Faye was
in production and they asked me sell them four thousand pieces of eyelashes
that they were going to give it away as a promotion. I consulted with them
and suggested that they should use a certain type of eyelash. For the Planet
of the Apes, Rick Baker was working once again and he must have sent a
different group of people to us. I showed them a different type of yak,
synthetic and real human hair to them. The yak hairs generally look like an
ape hair. I sold them some to them while they were designing the prototype
ape masks. A year later, when I went to the set of the Planet of the Apes,
I was surprised that it took a few hours just to apply the sheet of hairs on
the principal actors who were playing one of the apes. Each actor would
have their name on a box filled with those hairs. As the word of mouth was
getting out that I was selling some beauty products to film studios, my
phone was ringing off the hook. I was getting calls from different theater
groups, college drama instructors, production companies, fashion designers,
art directors, film schools, and even high schools throughout the entire
United States! It was getting out of hand! I was too busy consulting with
them and at the end, I had to quit because it was too stressful. But it
was a lot of fun!
Z: Last question: You mention in your bio that you and your family have
overcome a lot of obstacles. How is everyone doing now? Is your family also
involved in the business now?
DK: I had to overcome so many obstacles because most people were against what I
really enjoy doing....entertainment! My family was absolutely against it
because they come from a conservative background and unfortunately they
don't understand it. Everyone in my family is fairly supportive, including
my wife. The only person that is involved in the entertainment industry is
my wife, who is the co-owner of my company, Dereko Entertainment. She is
extremely supportive and always give me a good advice.
Thank you!
We thank Mr. Kim so much for his time and generosity he's given to The Zone. We know he definitely has a grasp on how to succeed in Hollywood, and know he'll go far in this industry. We wish him all the best!
Please see below for links for Derek Kim and his production company.
