The Award-Winning Writer/Producer/Director, grew up in Chicago going to the movies watching kung fu, comedy, and action/drama movies. A very imaginative child while growing up, Deri became suspicious on how films were made, he lacked real interest until he was invited to a set of a independent film in 1999, thus causing him to write his first film, TOOT’S AND BLOW’S™ in 2001. After digitally filming it in 2003, it was distributed (York Entertainment) on DVD in 2006, being renamed WELCOME TO THE SOUTHSIDE. In 2006, he did his second film, a comedy, THE PARTY LINE™ and in 2007 he wrote, directed, and produced his third film LOVE BONES™, which is distributed by Indieflix.com. His most recent project, a six vignette of visual-sonnets called THINGS FALL APART, has been received very well, although this was his first time getting behind a camera. With his affinity for love and tragedy in films like the exalted and revered Cooley High and the blue and courageous Mo’ Betta Blues, he extracts from the diverse and wonderful city of Chicago and presents it through the gritty kaleidoscope of people and places he has lived amongst. His current project, FINDING FOREVER IN LOVE ™ has most recently been featured in the Black Harvest Film Festival in Chicago in August of 2014. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts from Chicago State University, and a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from Full Sail University.