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 In 2010, Variety listed Deryck Broom as a rising star. His first full-length animated feature film, The Lion of Judah, is due for USA cinema release through Rocky Mountain Pictures, locally with Nu Metro, and internationally by Warner Bros later this year.
In his twelve years as a director, Deryck Broom has directed, in part or in full, over 200 film, video and television programs. His past clients include Endemol UK (MTV) and TNT.
Locally, Deryck Broom spent two years as a shoot director for Top Billing . He has also won and been nominated for a number of local awards.
Deryck has directed a few international television commercials for various high profile brands; QJ (‘Coke’ Middle East) and Johnson & Johnson. His first television commercial won a finalist in The London International Advertising Awards.
Deryck is obviously in high demand, which is why we were fortunate enough to steal a moment with him to find out what makes him tick and get the low down on his favourite movies.
"It was great to direct Academy Award winner Ernest Borgnine (91). He had so much energy I had to ask him to take breaks."
I can't watch movies without...
- ...getting lost in them. I fall so hard into the story and if it's good, I completely leave reality. I remember watching Saving Private Ryan and there's this part where the soldiers are all resting in a church after a heavy battle, it is late at night and Tom Hanks’ character, Capt. Miller, walks in and tells them they better get some sleep cause they start marching in three hours. I curled up in my cinema seat and closed my eyes.
Which famous people share your birthday?
- I’m honoured to share my birthday with Stan Laurel. It’s also a public holiday so I usually get the day off which is always a bonus. (16 June)
What is the first film you remember watching?
- I remember as a kid in Rhodesia (Zimbabwe), they had a screening of The Cross and The Switchblade at my father's church. I must have been about six or seven years old. It moved me so much that after the film I ran and hid upstairs. I was crying. My sister tried to console me thinking I was scared, but I don’t think I was scared. I think I was overwhelmed. I was inspired, excited and thrilled and I don’t know for sure, but maybe that was the day I decided in my heart I wanted to be a filmmaker.
What's the worst movie you've ever seen?
- All the movies that I have watched with my best friend Shaun fall into this category. We have this awful curse that if we get to the cinema together we end up watching absolute rubbish. I get completely irritated that people pump money into trash when I know so many awesome filmmakers with amazing scripts unable to get funding. As a teenager I owned a copy of Attack of the Killer Tomatoes, it was so bad I loved it.
Which movies have made you tearful?
- This question is wasted on me cause I can cry watching Oprah. I stopped crying during Titanic after the third time I watched it. Little Miss Sunshine had me in uncontrolled tears. I have never laughed so hard in a movie whilst being completely emotionally stripped. Little Miss Sunshine created an outstanding balance between humour and drama and the performances were perfect.
Who is the most famous movie star you've ever met?
- It was great to direct Academy Award winner Ernest Borgnine. He was 91 years old when he voiced Slink for The Lion of Judah. He had so much energy I had to ask him to take breaks. It was initially intimidating working with Michael Madsen, but he ended up being a great encouragement to me. I’ve also chatted to Dennis Hopper and others, but I’ll never forget the day I met the Face Man, Dirk Benedict. He came to Cape Town to help ‘save the rhinos’. I was about fourteen at the time and was seriously ‘starstruck’.
What's your favourite movie line?
- When Harry Met Sally - Harry Burns, “I came here tonight because when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.”
Who would you choose to play you in your biopic?
- I honestly don’t think my life would ever be that exciting; I’m just a family man who makes movies and TV shows. I’d be nervous if Ralph Fiennes was cast cause it means something terribly sad has happened in my life. If they chose Ben Stiller it would be because I’m a joke. I’d like somebody with depth and charm like Denzel Washington to play me, we might not be terribly similar, but he is a very versatile actor.
If you could produce a movie, what would it be about?
- I want to make faith-based films like The Lion of Judah, that’s where my heart is. I’d love to direct a Narnia, but Bourne, Bond and romantic comedies are also on my list.
Finally, your top ten movies of all-time...
- The English Patient ...I think the epic storytelling, brilliant performances, breath-taking cinematography and seamless score and sound design make this one of the movies that has inspired me the most.
- Philadelphia ...this was an important movie, every now and then they come along like The Blind Side and Fireproof. Philadelphia changed the way the world saw and treated Aids and HIV.
- Love, Actually ...my wife and I watch it every Christmas.
- Braveheart/Gladiator ...no need to justify.
- Finding Nemo ...took animation out of the crèche and made it completely accessible to adults.
- Billy Elliot ...again, great story telling. I love inspiring movies.
- Lord of the Rings: Return of the King ...I put it alongside Ben Hur as the two grandest movies I have ever seen.
- Toy Story 3 ...The Pixar team are pitch perfect in moviemaking.
- Crash ...another important movie.
- How to Train Your Dragon ...I have to put this on because it is the one my son and I are watching again and again at the moment and it makes me feel like a kid again.
Top Ten Movies with... is a people series on SPL!NG, featuring a host of celebrities ranging from up-and-coming to established personalities from all industries including, but not limited to: Internet, Radio, TV, Film, Music, Art and Entrepreneurs. It's a chance to discover who they are, find out where they're at and to get a fun inside look at their taste in movies.
CREDIT ROLL: 'Profile' and 'Direction' Photo - Casey Crafford
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