Creative History
The Path Of My Current existence
First, I was born. It was incredible. THEN: The first time I laid hands on a motion picture camera, was in 1985, when I was a Ballboy for the Denver Nuggets. One of the job details of our staff was to operate a video camera from the upper level... basically panning back and forth, following the ball across the court... Something about that job detail intrigued me... I think I loved, that with each frame, I was capturing a moment in time...
My first actual video project was created in high school when I proposed an alternative method of delivering a book report in my AP History class. With a Panasonic VHS camcorder, utilizing toys, legos, models, and action figures, I depicted the key turning points of World War II. The process inspired me to attend NYU Film School where I studied the crafts of cinematography, directing, editing, and the business of producing. I received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film and Television Production, receiving the annual Tisch award for Consistent Excellence in Filmmaking, while my thesis film went on to win awards for Best Experimental and Best Art Direction and subsequently became an official selection at the 1995 Denver International Film Festival.
My first job out of NYU was at NBC's Saturday Night Live, where I worked as a production assistant in the Commercial Parodies Film Unit under director Jim Signorelli. Cast members included Chris Farley, David Spade, Mike Myers, Adam Sandler, Phil Hartman, and Norm MacDonald. What a fun time that was, not to mention a fantastic learning experience. Prior to SNL, Mr. Signorelli had been Director of Photography on the 70's classic, "Superfly!"
My passion for visual storytelling has opened up doors into the world of Television, a medium through which I have worked as DP, Camera Operator, Drone Operator, Writer, Director, and Field Producer.
- D.J. Dierker, CEO, Tractorbeam Flix Inc.
On location shooting Shipping Wars for A&E