From writer-director to champion MMA fighter, Derek Garlington consistently creates purposeful content and moments. He obtained his B.A. in Broadcast Journalism from Hampton University in 2012 and his MFA in Screenwriting from the University of Southern California in 2020.  Between those degrees, Derek published his novel Souls of a Kindred Flame then created the short film adaptation Kindred Souls. He worked as a location assistant on NBC’s The Blacklist and as a producer/editor for the New York Film Academy. Upon arriving in LA, Derek worked on several films, one of which won a Student Academy Award. At USC, he served as the president of the African American Cinema Society and Black Graduate Student Network. These experiences led him to found Creatively Next Up, a curated writing and development group for upcoming filmmakers. Currently, Derek is working on a documentary about the Black wellness community in LA.