Derek Braasch, a talented filmmaker, was born and raised in the lovely town of South Holland, surrounded by the love and support of his parents, Ed and Julie Braasch. He graduated from Columbia College in Chicago, Illinois, in 1999, and went on to work on various projects, including features, shorts, and music videos.
Before venturing into feature filmmaking, Derek directed his first short film, "Right in Front of Your Eyes," in 2002. This marked the beginning of his journey as a director. He then went on to direct his first feature film, "The Icing," which was released in May 2014. Interestingly, his younger brother, Kevin Braasch, not only assisted directed but also produced the film.
Derek's second feature film, "Murder for Pleasure," was released in May 2015. This gruesome horror film showcased his skill in crafting a graphic and intense cinematic experience. His third feature film, "Julie's Smile," was written and directed by Eric Mattson, and Derek acted in and produced the film.
Derek and his wife, Nina Trader, co-founded Cheevies Film Productions, a production company that has been responsible for releasing numerous films. Their latest and most significant film to date, "Torture the Flesh," was written and directed by Derek and premiered on October 30, 2024. This graphic and gory film stars Joe DeBartolo, Darin Bowman, Myles Valentine, and Lynn Lowry.
In addition to "Torture the Flesh," Cheevies Film Productions is also releasing a short film titled "The Ties that Bind," written by Nina Trader and directed and shot by Derek Braasch. This film is part of Phil Herman's Unearthed Anthology, a collaborative project between the two filmmakers.
Derek and Nina are currently working on several projects, including "I Wish I Knew," which is in post-production and is set to be released in March. This film stars Nina Trader, Jimmy Shay, Michael Holub, and Daryl Ansfeld, and was written and directed by the husband-and-wife team.
Their upcoming project, "The Clown Dies at Midnight 2: Clown Harder," is in pre-production and is scheduled to be shot in the summer of 2025.
