Derek Frey (born April 23, 1973) is an American film producer and director. He is best known for his long-time collaboration with director Tim Burton, serving as a producer on major studio films including Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Corpse Bride, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Frankenweenie, Big Eyes, Alice in Wonderland, Dumbo, and others.
Early life and education
Frey was born on April 23, 1973, in the Drexel Hill section of Upper Darby Township, Pennsylvania, near Philadelphia. He graduating from Upper Darby High School. Frey attended West Chester University and graduated with a BA in communication studies.
Career
Frey began his career in the film industry in 1996 as an assistant for Tim Burton and an employee of Tim Burton Productions. He worked as Burton's assistant on Mars Attacks!, Sleepy Hollow, Planet of the Apes, and Big Fish. In 2001, he became the head of Tim Burton Productions. He would go on to earn producer credits in a variety of Tim Burton films including Alice in Wonderland, Dark Shadows, Big Eyes, Frankenweenie, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, Corpse Bride, and Sweeney Todd.
Frey also directs and produces under the banner, Lazer Film Productions. The company largely produces short films and music videos. His 2016 short film, Green Lake, was shown at over 40 film festivals at which it earned 47 awards including "Best Horror" at the Los Angeles Independent Film Festival Awards. Other short films produced and directed by Frey include Kill the Engine, Motel Providence, Sky Blue Collar, The Day the Dolls Struck Back!, The Ballad of Sandeep (starring actor, Deep Roy), and numerous others. Frey produced Burton's live-action adaptation of Dumbo, which was released in March 2019.
Filmography
Feature films Year Title Role Notes2005 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Associate producer Corpse Bride2007Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street 2010 Alice in Wonderland 2011A Conversation with Danny Elfman and Tim BurtonProducer Documentary2012Dark ShadowsAssociate producer Abraham Lincoln: Vampire HunterFrankenweenie Co-producer 2014Big Eyes Executive producer 2016Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children2019 Dumbo Producer2022In Search of Tomorrow2024Aliens ExpandedTBA Toto: The Dog-Gone Amazing Story of the Wizard of Oz
Short films Year Title Director Producer Writer Notes 1995 Verge of Darkness Also actor1999UFO: The Burbank ChroniclesYesYesYes 2001 The Upper Hand 2002 The Day the Dolls Struck Back 2007 4th and 99 2008America's GameYesYesNo2010The Curse of the Sacred Stone 2011 The Ballad of Sandeep 2012 Vampires Kiss/Blood Inside The Killers: Here with Me Music video2013 Sky Blue Collar Captain Sparky vs. The Flying Saucers Stop-motion 2014 Motel Providence 2016 Green Lake 2017 Kill the Engine God Came 'Round 2021Awkward EndeavorsYesYesNo2024ViaticumYesYesNo2026The Current State of the Backyard Pool IndustryYesYes
References
External links Official website