The Prelim Podcast I Episode 7 — Derek Edwards

The Prelim Podcast is super excited to welcome legendary AC Derek Edwards to the studio for Episode 7! This week, we dive deep into the unbelievable stories that shape Derek’s massive career in the camera department. Talk about a Renaissance man—Derek has done it all, transitioning from actor, model, PA, and Panavision employee to a powerhouse force behind the lens. We take a nostalgic trip back to the '90s to look at his early days learning under legendary DPs and mentors like Malik Sayeed and Shane Hurlbut, ASC. Then, we dive into the late '90s and early 2000s music video boom, where Derek became the ultimate go-to AC—pulling focus on a mind-blowing 2,000+ music videos and sharing sets with icons like Pharrell, Kanye West, and Big Sean! Derek also opens up about the "teacher mentality" passed down to him by mentor DP Shane Hurlbut, who heavily invested in him early on, and how that transitioned to his work with The Filmmakers Academy. Derek shares so many great stories in this episode but one of our favs is when he shares an after work mentorship moment with his crew and "the distance game" he regularly played at bars so the team would learn instinctually the correct focal lengths w/o relying on dials and tech - a one of a kind guy with a one of a kind mind! Whether you're a gearhead, an aspiring filmmaker, or just love really great crew stories, Derek’s unparalleled industry wisdom spanning decades makes this an incredibly insightful and hughly educational episode you should not miss out on! 🎬 Subscribe so you never miss an episode 🎙️ New episodes every Tuesday 📲 Follow us @ThePrelimPodcast on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok & Twitter #filmindustry, #crewsetstories, #theprelimpodcast, #hollywoodsetstories, #behindthescenes, #moviecrews, #setlife