I’m Ben Derico—an independent Director and Cinematographer based between Chicago, IL & San Francisco, CA. I specialize in character-driven, documentary short stories in both English and Spanish. As a freelance DP, I've worked on projects following the social life of traditional rug makers in Morocco's Atlas Mountains, learned how donated bicycles from Chicago make their way to rural bike mechanics in Ghana, and documented an amateur American photographer chronicling the lives of rural tobacco farmers in Cuba, just to name a few. ​ With 8 years of experience working on set with agencies like Leo Burnett, BBDO, and IDEO as a DP, producer, and director with Sidekick, my commercial production studio, I've managed teams on weeks-long productions, making deadlines, and never compromising quality. ​ More than being just a camera operator/owner, I pride myself on being a quick learner in new environments and a trustworthy partner to help bring a story to life.