Brian DeRozan- People You Should Know

Entertainment, People You Should Know — By Buddy Sampson on November 7, 2020 at 7:20 am

Brian DeRozan- Navigating the Crossroads of Life

By Buddy Sampson

Navigating tough decisions in your life can often put you at a crossroads- a sort of reckoning for the direction or pathways of life you choose. Author Alexandria Stoddard wrote a book titled, “You Are Your Choices,” and the right choices are the cobblestones of success. Brian DeRozan has navigated the choices of his life well, and now is beginning to establish himself as a force in Hollywood.

Brian DeRozan, who recently played a Romulan officer in the new Star Trek TV series, “Star Trek: Picard,” has faced several crossroads in his life and has navigated them well. “That was a lot of fun, “said Brian DeRozan of his role in the series. “It was about 3 hours in the make up chair.” But being a Romulan officer had its startling disadvantages. “When I was in full make up and I went in to grab lunch, I looked so real that people were avoiding eye contact with me,” laughed Brian. “The people that were serving the food would look up at me and then they’d quickly look away, it was just a little too real for everybody. “

The actor, producer, director and writer, who heads his own production company, Videoheadfilms.com can be viewed in the series “Very Frightening Tales,” produced by Suzanne De Laurentiis, alongside legendary actor, Joe Estevez. He also had a role with Logan Marshall Green in the 2019 thriller, “Telling Lies.” His first film, “Pure,” found success on the festival circuit and was nominated for multiple awards.

Born in Oakland, but raised in the Midwest, Brian, the child of interracial parents, lost his dad at a young age and was raised by his white mother and years later a white stepfather. He grew up in a primarily white family, which was the subject of his comedy series, “Dirty White.” His festival bound short, “The Color Happy,” has received critical acclaim. “It’s about a man with a criminal past, that forms a bond with a fatherless child.”  It is, in some respects, the story of his upbringing. “It was influenced from my experience as a child in the Big Brothers program,” he said. “My brother and I were both a part of that program, we were ‘littles.’ I have so much respect for that program and I wanted to tell that story about how the child influences the adult.”  He was inspired by director Quentin Tarentino’s Pulp Fiction. “That was the film that made me say ’that’s what I’m going to do,’” he said. He was also influenced by the popular “Star Wars” movies.

He holds a BFA from Kansas State University where he played wide receiver. “I played for Hall of Fame coach Bill Snyder,” reflecting on his career. ” It was football on the highest level. We had a lot of players that went pro, I was not one of them, but it was quite a program.”

After attending Kansas State University, Brian faced a crossroads in his life. “I kind of paused and I thought, ‘what do I really love, what do I want to do?’” he said. “It became clear that coming back to California, coming to LA and pursuing film and television- nothing else made my heart sing more than that did. That moment was after I graduated.” After coming to Los Angeles, he took several jobs, including working in finance. But he knew his heart lied in Hollywood. He studied with Arthur Mendoza at Actor’s Circle Theater and found early success in commercials, theater and small parts in television. “Arthur Mendoza had the biggest influence on me and really taught me what acting was all about, real old school and traditional,” he said. Later, he founded his production company Videoheadfilms.com. But he found his love in writing and producing and is currently making his directorial debut for the film “Blackface” which will hit the festival circuit in 2021.  His path will lead him to a big future in Hollywood.

Brian DeRozan has navigated the crossroads of life by challenging himself to leave his comfort zone. His quest for greatness makes him one of the People You Should Know.

More about Brian DeRozan? Videoheadfilms.com; www.imdb.me/parkerbrian