Derek Hockemeyer

We shot a running sequence in the early morning, with the Indianapolis sunrise coming up over the city horizon. I’ll never forget that scene because I had just moved to the city, and there were already so many familiar faces. Even though it was the crack of dawn, the energy on set was really exciting. Or maybe that was my own nerves.

Architecture and culinary are two other careers I could’ve probably ended up in. I love the design and execution of big projects architecture firms are able to take on, and how much design influences the spaces we inhabit every day. And food is such a high art. It’s like the whole point. PARAGON film crews have a lot in common with a kitchen line in a real fancy restaurant. We both cook.

Arrival (if you knew how it would all end up, would you embrace it? That’s what this film so beautifully asks. I love how this film communicates to the audience one piece at a time, so you can draw your own conclusion. This movie is perfect.), Whiplash (such a great film about the artist’s obsession and how striving for perfection means you sacrifice so much) Everything Everywhere All At Once (similar to the central theme of arrival, after watching this film for the first time and having a good happy cry, it makes you think a little more about the moments we have are so fleeting - yet how beautiful it is we have it at all), The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (a character transformation film that lands full circle, this movie is a comfort film hitting all the marks. I love how Walter is called to his adventure, and allows himself to really dive headfirst into it all), A Ghost Story (a slow artsy movie about the life we leave behind, really well executed message about grief and acceptance)

The kind of projects I want to work on are with people who are genuinely passionate about something. Organizations that make a real impact, companies that are all about doing and creating, and work that feels like it actually matters. In an overstimulating media atmosphere, I’m drawn towards brands that invest in concept commercial pieces and that promote a healthier happier lifestyle. Norda, Arc’teryx, On, and Northface are great examples of active outdoors brands that gear people up for adventure. Brands that motivate wellness and self improvement really excite me as a director.

Headset - beyond the obvious reason (it looks badass), it’s so helpful for the whole team to feel connected as a unit. And something about listening to labored breathing on a hot mic just gets the creative juices flowing.

One time I got bit in the ass by a dog while on a walk in the neighborhood, and when I went to go see if I needed stitches they told me I needed a rabies vaccine immediately because they had no way of identifying the dog and it was unusually aggressive. But I never ended up getting it because I got busy or something. That got me thinking about a short film about a guy who stays out in a cabin and gets rabies but refuses to go to the hospital, and spirals into delusion. Spoilers, I didn’t get rabies. But that’s always seemed like a fun idea to explore.