Biografia
Derek Braasch was born and raised in South Holland by his parents, Ed and Julie Braasch. He graduated from Columbia College in Chicago, IL, in 1999 and worked on numerous features, shorts, and music videos before directing his first short film, "Right in Front of Your Eyes," in 2002. He then directed his first feature film, "The Icing," released in May 2014. This film was also assistant directed and produced by his younger brother, Kevin Braasch. His second feature, the grisly and graphic horror film "Murder for Pleasure," followed, releasing in May 2015. His third feature, "Julie's Smile," written and directed by Eric Mattson, saw Derek helping to produce, shoot, and act in the film. Derek Braasch and his wife, Nina Trader, continue to produce and release many films through their company, Cheevies Film Productions. Their biggest film to date, "Torture the Flesh," premiered on October 30, 2024. Written and directed by Derek Braasch, this graphic and gory film returns to the style of their second feature, "Murder for Pleasure," and stars Joe DeBartolo, Darin Bowman, Myles Valentine, and Lynn Lowry. They also released the short film "The Ties That Bind," written by Nina Trader and directed and shot by Derek Braasch, which is part of Phil Herman's Unearthed Anthology. Phil Herman has collaborated with Derek Braasch on several projects. Upcoming works include "I Wish I Knew," currently in post-production and set for release in March, starring Nina Trader, Jimmy Shay, Michael Holub, and Daryl Ansfeld. It was written and directed by the husband-and-wife team of Derek Braasch and Nina Trader. Additionally, "The Clown Dies at Midnight 2: Clown Harder" is in preproduction, with plans to shoot in the summer of 2025.
