Private Project

DEREK CHANGES HIS MIND

TBI survivor Derek Dabkoski enrolls in an experimental stem cell study he hopes will help him regain the functionality he lost after he was brutally attacked and left for dead on the streets of San Francisco a decade ago.

He enrolls in this surgery at a difficult time for his family, as he and his wife Nadia, his primary caretaker restricted by their long and fruitless fight for her green card, are about to have their first child.

The story of Derek Changes His Mind follows the immediate medical challenges to Derek and Nadia, as larger systemic issues dictate the way they have to spend their days. From their tiny 225 square foot room above a garage, we root for the stem cells to repair Derek’s mind while watching the family's daily challenges: Derek’s life as a disabled person, Nadia’s life as a person denied access to the country she grew up in, and how a family stuck in these conditions have to fight constantly for the right to raise their newborn child in 21st century America.

VIMEO: https://vimeo.com/883083057 PASSWORD: DCHM

  • Derek Dabkoski
    Director
  • Ian McClellan
    Director
    Sadie's Baby
  • Im Joong Kim
    Director
  • Derek Dabkoski
    Writer
  • Derek Dabkoski
    Producer
  • Ian McClellan
    Producer
    The Battle of AmfAR
  • Derek Dabkoski
    Key Cast
    "Derek Dabkoski"
  • Nadia Janeth Dabkoski
    Key Cast
    "Nadia Dabkoski"
  • Carmen Petra Dabkoski
    Key Cast
    "Carmen Dabkoski"
  • Im Joong Kim
    Cinematographer
  • Nicholas Finn Myggen
    Colorist
    Junho
  • Nicholas Finn Myggen
    Post Supervisor
  • Frederico De Sá Fernandez de Sá Fernandez

    Animator
  • Analog Telepathy
    Additional Dialogue Recording
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Feature
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 18 minutes 25 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    May 1, 2022
  • Production Budget:
    2,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • SF DOC FEST
    San Francisco
    United States
    June 1, 2022
Distribution Information
  • Derek Dabkoski
    Country: United States
Director Biography - Derek Dabkoski, Ian McClellan, Im Joong Kim

A native of San Francisco, Derek Dabkoski is an award-winning filmmaker whose films have screened at festivals around the world, including the San Francisco and Vancouver International Film Festivals. He completed his undergraduate degree from NYU despite a debilitating physical attack that left him permanently paralyzed on his right side. He achieved his MFA from USC’s School of Cinematic Arts in film and television production, where he pursued his dream of directing. With a passion for telling stories about the underserved disabled community of which he is a part, his previous feature documentary, Derek Changes His Mind, followed his participation in a years-long study of the effects of stem cell therapy to treat his traumatic brain injury. Derek hopes to continue making films that will elevate the platform of the disabled community in all regards, especially within the entertainment industry.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

After graduating with an MFA in Film and Television Production from the USC School of Cinematic Arts, I tried hard to get work in the entertainment industry, but found I lacked certain qualities that companies wanted from candidates like myself. Discovering the experimental medical study on stem cells in the treatment of traumatic brain injuries seemed serendipitous
to me, like the greatest chance to better my life. Documenting the process would help me visualize the progress; be the perfect way to dissect each moment and see it from an objective perspective, serving purposes both expository and therapeutic.