About Us
Axion Pictures is a Latino minority owned professional film and video production studio that specializes in producing both creative and visually stunning quality productions.
At Axion Pictures, our mission is to use the power of storytelling to shed light on important social issues and inspire change. As a Latino minority owned production company, we specialize in creating visually stunning productions of the highest quality. We strive to produce powerful stories that not only entertain but also challenge and educate our audiences. Our founder, Derrick Perez, brings his passion for filmmaking and commitment to child advocacy to every project we undertake. With a deep understanding of trauma work and a dedication to social justice, we produce films and television shows of all genres, from horror to drama and action. At Axion Pictures, we are dedicated to making a meaningful impact through our creative and socially conscious productions.
Our team of creatives is fully prepared and eager to embark on an exciting journey to develop and create an exceptional first season of our television drama. Our team consists of highly skilled professionals, ranging from the Art Team all the way to our post production team. With their combined expertise, we are confident in our ability to deliver a captivating and visually stunning series. Our team members are not only talented but also passionate and committed to bringing the best possible product to our viewers.
At Axion Pictures, our mission is to use the power of storytelling to shed light on important social issues and inspire change. As a Latino minority owned production company, we specialize in creating visually stunning productions of the highest quality. We strive to produce powerful stories that not only entertain but also challenge and educate our audiences. Our founder, Derrick Perez, brings his passion for filmmaking and commitment to child advocacy to every project we undertake. With a deep understanding of trauma work and a dedication to social justice, we produce films and television shows of all genres, from horror to drama and action. At Axion Pictures, we are dedicated to making a meaningful impact through our creative and socially conscious productions.
Our team of creatives is fully prepared and eager to embark on an exciting journey to develop and create an exceptional first season of our television drama. Our team consists of highly skilled professionals, ranging from the Art Team all the way to our post production team. With their combined expertise, we are confident in our ability to deliver a captivating and visually stunning series. Our team members are not only talented but also passionate and committed to bringing the best possible product to our viewers.
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Derrick Perez
Director/Producer
Derrick Perez is more than just a filmmaker; he's a testament to resilience, creativity, and the power of pursuing one's passions against all odds. Born into adversity, spending eight formative years in foster care in Hillsborough County, Derrick's journey is one of overcoming obstacles and transforming challenges into triumphs. His love affair with the world of cinema began early when he was just 10, fueled by a fascination with superhero stories and a childhood spent immersed in comic books and movies. By the age of 14, Derrick was already making waves in the industry, negotiating his first movie theater premiere at AMC Theaters in Brandon, Florida. Since then, his passion for storytelling has only grown. While still in high school at Bloomingdale High School in Valrico, FL, Derrick founded the school's first film club, igniting a spark of creativity in his peers and nurturing a new generation of independent filmmakers. He continued to hone his craft through college, studying theater and commercial production while earning his Associate's degree in Entrepreneurship from Hillsborough Community College and later a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology from the University of South Florida’s College of Behavioral and Community Sciences. But Derrick's journey wasn't solely focused on his own artistic pursuits.
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His experiences in foster care and his dedication to advocating for vulnerable youth led him to working in child welfare, where he spent years championing the rights of children navigating the dependency (foster care) system. His efforts didn't stop there; Derrick became a founding member of the Florida Guardian ad Litem Champions, a group of young adults with lived experience in foster care, dedicated to enacting meaningful change within the child welfare system. Derrick was eventually appointed by the Executive Director of the State Agency to serve as the State Office Youth Services Advisor here he worked in close collaboration with the State Office and connecting with the Child Welfare Community-Based Care organizations and other stakeholders within the child welfare sector to ensure the promotion of children's best interests within the system of care as a State. Perez eventually stepped down from his child welfare role to dive back into pursuing his main passion and purpose, filmmaking.
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At the age of 25, Perez has years of experience in various production roles, from production assistant, assistant director, to line producer, gaining invaluable experience in the industry. In 2019, he founded Axion Pictures, a culmination of his lifelong dream to create meaningful films that resonate with audiences. Through Axion Pictures, Derrick has directed and produced 30+ music videos and numerous film projects, from thought-provoking short films like "Blink," which premiered at the historic Tampa Theatre and had over 700 guests including City of Tampa Community leaders and judges, come and attend the red carpet premiere and film screening on a Monday night on March 20th 2023. Derrick Perez is not just a filmmaker; he's a storyteller, a visionary, and a beacon of hope for those facing adversity. Big in his christian faith, Perez acknowledges the work God has done in his life and continues to keep Him at focus. His journey from foster care to film sets is a testament to the transformative power of what God can do in your life and how much he loves his children. Despite the rough upbringing that Perez has experienced, Perez knows God’s plan is bigger than any challenge or adversity he has faced or will face. Through Axion Pictures, Derrick aims to not only entertain audiences but to spark meaningful conversations and inspire change, and bringing others closer to God—one frame at a time.
Colin Garris
Head of Music & Sound
Colin Garris is driven by a passion and an early love for all things sound. From the crack of the bat while playing little league baseball to making drums out of pots and pans, he has always been curious about sound and the science behind the sound. At the age of 12, he joined his middle school’s band, learning how to play alto saxophone and transitioning to tenor saxophone by age 13. Soon after, he started learning how to play electric guitar and bass guitar and continued to develop his interest into a burning passion. He started to go to concerts of all kinds from heavy metal to classic rock, to hip hop, to even professional orchestra performances. In high school, he continued his journey with learning and performing music and kept playing tenor saxophone as a part of the marching band. Colin had also met Derrick Perez in their high school math class, founding a genuine friendship. During Derrick’s high school filmmaking era, Colin participated in being a background actor and learned about the process of filmmaking with Derrick.
After graduating high school, Colin took the summer to teach himself music production as well as finding an interest in EDM and DJing for fun. In the fall, Colin moved to Orlando, Florida to continue to studies. He attended F.I.R.S.T. Institute to learn to become an audio engineer to expand his knowledge and find new ways to explore his passion. He continued his hobby of producing EDM and DJing, being fortunate enough to perform at nightclubs around the state of Florida, including multiple appearances at Gilt Nightclub in Orlando, Florida. He graduated from F.I.R.S.T. Institute with a certificate in their Recording Arts and Show Production program. He was able to get experience working with trained professionals and decided to move on from his DJing hobby to pursue audio engineering full time as well as put his music production focus into a variety of other genres.
After graduating and moving back to Tampa, Colin began working with live event production companies to get his feet wet, working at Raymond James Stadium and Tropicana Field building stages and layouts for WWE events. During that time, he reunited with Derrick and started working on films. He found a new spark in music production and fell in love with sound design and composing music. Colin moved on from live event staging to become a live audio engineer and to focus on audio for film and has been at it since 2021. He continues his development and love for music and sound and doesn’t see his passion skipping a beat anytime soon.
After graduating high school, Colin took the summer to teach himself music production as well as finding an interest in EDM and DJing for fun. In the fall, Colin moved to Orlando, Florida to continue to studies. He attended F.I.R.S.T. Institute to learn to become an audio engineer to expand his knowledge and find new ways to explore his passion. He continued his hobby of producing EDM and DJing, being fortunate enough to perform at nightclubs around the state of Florida, including multiple appearances at Gilt Nightclub in Orlando, Florida. He graduated from F.I.R.S.T. Institute with a certificate in their Recording Arts and Show Production program. He was able to get experience working with trained professionals and decided to move on from his DJing hobby to pursue audio engineering full time as well as put his music production focus into a variety of other genres.
After graduating and moving back to Tampa, Colin began working with live event production companies to get his feet wet, working at Raymond James Stadium and Tropicana Field building stages and layouts for WWE events. During that time, he reunited with Derrick and started working on films. He found a new spark in music production and fell in love with sound design and composing music. Colin moved on from live event staging to become a live audio engineer and to focus on audio for film and has been at it since 2021. He continues his development and love for music and sound and doesn’t see his passion skipping a beat anytime soon.
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