Dan Eckman (born January 27, 1984) is an American director, writer, and producer. Eckman first came to attention for his work in the sketch group Derrick Comedy.

Early life

Eckman was born on January 27, 1984, in Manchester, New Hampshire. He has been writing, producing, directing, and editing short films since the age of 15, and his work has been screened at numerous film festivals across the country. He graduated from New York University with a B.F.A. in Film and TV Production in 2005.

Career

Eckman's career began when he started making sketch videos for the Derrick Comedy group along with fellow members Donald Glover, Dominic Dierkes, DC Pierson, and Meggie McFadden. His NYU undergraduate thesis film, CHECKOUT, won several awards, including Best College Short at the 2006 HBO US Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen.

In 2009, Derrick Comedy released the film Mystery Team, Derrick's first endeavor into the feature film world. The film premiered at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival.

Before making Mystery Team, Eckman was the video production director for Blue Man Group, where his work was seen on the 57th Primetime Emmy Awards, the 2005 Billboard Music Awards, on PBS, at Universal Orlando and in the Boston Children's Museum, among others.

Eckman, along with his other Derrick partners with the exception of Glover, made a guest appearance on Community as Pierce's joke writers.[citation needed]

In 2011, Eckman directed the MTV film Worst. Prom. Ever. which starred Daryl Sabara and was produced by Pierson and McFadden.[citation needed]

In 2011, Eckman directed the very first Childish Gambino music video, "Freaks and Geeks", and the video for his single "Bonfire".

In 2011, Eckman directed the thirteenth episode of the third season of Community.[citation needed]

Personal life

Eckman was married to Meggie McFadden on July 10, 2010, in Paris.

Filmography

Filmography
YearTitleRoleNotes
200557th Annual Primetime Emmy Awardssegment director
2006Channel 101VariousTV movie
Keyboard Kiddirector/editorvideo short
Bro Rape: A Newsline Investigative Reportdirector/editorvideo short
National Spelling Beedirector/editorvideo short
Celebritydirector/editorvideo short
Self Defensedirector/editorvideo short
Girls Are Not to Be Trusteddirector/editorvideo short
2007Jerrydirector/editorvideo short
Emo Songdirector/editorvideo short
Blowjob Girldirector/editorvideo short
Memory Lossdirector/editorvideo short
2009Mystery Teamdirector/editor/producer/writerFeature Film
2011Worst. Prom. Ever.director/editorTV movie
2012The Boy Who Couldn't Sleep and Never Had Todirector/writer

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2005Billboard Music Awardssegment director
2012CommunitydirectorEpisode: "Digital Exploration of Interior Design"

External links