Shovon at 08:55, 24 April 2025

2025-04-24T08:55:01Z

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{{Infobox person
| name = Derrick Acosta
| image = Derrick Acosta GDC 2017 (cropped).jpg
| caption = Acosta in 2017
| birth_place =
| birth_date =
| nationality = American
| alma_mater = West Hills High School
| occupation =
| years_active = 2003–present
| known_for = Mega64
| credits = ''[[Hemet, or the Landlady Don't Drink Tea]]''
| television = San Diego Film Awards
| website = derrickacosta.com
| module =
}}

'''Derrick Acosta''' is an American music video director, actor, podcaster and video gamer who co-created the sketch comedy group and public-access web series ''Mega64,'' hosts the ''Mega Strange'' podcast, and has written multiple broadcasts of the ''San Diego Film Awards''. Acosta was nominated at the 2023 ParaPod Awards and directed music videos for Cult Records, Swami Records, Gary Wilson, and Shepard Fairey.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":0" /><ref name=":9">{{Cite web |last=Bennett |first=Emily |date=2024-11-07 |title=Love Triangles and Dark Secrets in ‘A Corpse in Kensington’ {{!}} Love Horror film reviews and news |url=https://lovehorror.co.uk/horror-news/88779/love-triangles-and-dark-secrets-in-a-corpse-in-kensington/ |access-date=2024-11-11 |website=Love Horror |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Early life ==
Acosta is from San Diego, California,<ref name=":2">{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.10news.com/news/local-news/san-diego-news/proctor-valley-road-the-history-behind-the-ghost-stories |title=Proctor Valley Road: The history behind the ghost stories |date=2023-11-01 |last=Weil |first=Madison |language=en |access-date=2023-11-02 |website=[[KGTV]]}}</ref> growing up with a theater background in Santee<ref>{{Cite web |last=Morlan |first=Kinsee |date=2017-11-08 |title=I Made it in San Diego: 'The Cockroaches of the Internet' on Their Online Empire |url=http://voiceofsandiego.org/2017/11/08/made-san-diego-cockroaches-internet-online-empire/ |access-date=2022-06-09 |website=[[Voice of San Diego]] |language=en-US}}</ref> and attending West Hills High School.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Helewa |first=Nas |date=2009-02-21 |title=Mega64 is here. Be scared. |url=http://www.sdcitybeat.com/cms/story/detail/?id=2823&atype= |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090221150013/http://www.sdcitybeat.com/cms/story/detail/?id=2823&atype= |archive-date=2009-02-21 |access-date=2023-12-21 |website=[[San Diego CityBeat]]}}</ref>

== Career ==
=== ''Mega64'' ===
While in high school drama class,<ref name=":3" /> Acosta met Rocco Botte and Shawn Chatfield and the three of them co-created a public-access show called ''Mega64'' in 2003.<ref name=":1" /> He claimed early on that he became concerned about running into anyone he might know while filming.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=2004 |title=Mega 64 video to video |url=https://archive.org/details/GMRMagazine/GMR_21_Oct_2004?q=%22derrick+acosta%22 |journal=[[GMR (magazine)|GMR]] |issue=21 |pages=31 |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref> At the time, Acosta said [[YouTube]] was not an option so it was up to them to find other ways to broadcast their content online.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Blair |first=Iain |date=2015-07-14 |title=10 Comics to Watch: Guerrilla Gamers Mega64 Blew Up on Internet |url=https://variety.com/2015/biz/spotlight/10-comics-to-watch-2015-guerrilla-gamers-troupe-mega-64-blew-up-on-internet-1201539639/ |access-date=2022-06-08 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |language=en-US}}</ref> He said there was no focal point to make money at first, but claimed it was an inevitable path to a sustainable career.<ref name=":0" />

Years later, Acosta began hosting a weekly podcast.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Winkie |first=Luke |date=2023-02-17 |title=And now, for Mega64's greatest stunt: Aging gracefully! |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/video-games/2023/02/17/mega-64-aging/ |access-date=2023-02-20 |newspaper=[[Washington Post]] |language=en}}</ref> On one episode, he talked about getting bored with new video games because of his familiarity with them and how similar one game can be to the next.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kunzelman |first=Cameron |date=2019-01-11 |title=The Millennial Burnout Conversation Also Applies to Gamers |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/mby89y/millennial-burnout-gamers |access-date=2022-06-09 |website=[[Vice (magazine)|Vice]] |language=en}}</ref> Acosta celebrated ''Mega64'''s 15th anniversary at San Diego Comic-Con in 2018<ref>{{Cite web |last=Johnston |first=Rich |date=2018-07-07 |title=Full Details of All 254 Friday Panels at San Diego Comic-Con 2018 |url=https://bleedingcool.com/comics/254-friday-panels-san-diego-comic-con-2018/ |access-date=2022-06-09 |website=[[Bleeding Cool]] |language=en}}</ref> and attended a virtual panel in 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hersko |first=Tyler |date=2021-07-09 |title=Comic-Con at Home 2021 Schedule: The Top Panels to Look Out For |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2021/07/comic-con-2021-at-home-schedule-best-panels-1234649791/ |access-date=2022-06-09 |website=[[IndieWire]] |language=en}}</ref> The group celebrated the 20th anniversary in 2023.<ref name=":0" />

In an interview with Kill Screen, Acosta mentioned that people should not identify themselves with only one notion. He claims that although he is associated with movies and filmmaking, he wants to be known for his personality traits as well.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Burke |first=Kelly |date=2013-12-13 |title=Why are videogames so bad at being funny, and why are Mega64 so good at it? |url=https://killscreen.com/previously/articles/why-are-videogames-so-bad-being-funny-and-why-are-mega64-so-good-it/ |access-date=2022-06-08 |website=[[Kill Screen]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Outside ''Mega64'' ===
Acosta has produced content for Disney, Microsoft, Sony, MTV, Cult Records and Swami Records.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":6">{{Cite web |title=2022 San Diego Film Awards- 8th ANNUAL |url=https://filmconsortiumsd.com/special_events/8th-annual-san-diego-film-awards/ |access-date=2024-03-01 |website=Film Consortium San Diego |language=en-US}}</ref> As a music video director, he collaborated with Z-Trip, Shepard Fairey, [[Mrs Magician]], Gary Wilson, and Dead Heavens.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web|title=Paper Trail|url=https://sdfilmweek.com/2023/movies/paper-trail/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240120080338/https://sdfilmweek.com/2023/movies/paper-trail/|archive-date=2024-01-20|access-date=2024-01-20|website=2023 San Diego Film Week|language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2020, a doctored image of Acosta was used to portray Randall Sand, a fake political persona that claimed to be an Independent candidate for Arizona's 5th Congressional District.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-10-08 |title=Cyber Policy Center {{!}} FSI - Stanford University |url=https://stacks.stanford.edu/file/druid:vh222ch4142/facebook-US-202009.pdf |website=[[Stanford University]]}}</ref>

In 2022, he worked with Jodi Cilley, Jonathan Hammond and Shannon Taylor on the San Diego Film Awards at Hotel del Coronado.<ref name=":6" />

In 2023, Acosta and Johnny Weiss hosted the podcast ''Mega Strange''<ref name=":2" /> and were nominated for Best Podcast Hosts at ParaPod Awards.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Haring |first=Bruce |date=2023-03-04 |title=ParaPod Awards Set Nominees For Paranormal Event |url=https://deadline.com/2023/03/parapod-awards-set-nominees-for-paranormal-awards-event-1235278608/ |access-date=2023-05-08 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |language=en-US}}</ref> That same year, Acosta was a judge at Demonic Brilliance Film Festival.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |title=2023 AWARD WINNERS |url=https://dbfilmfest.com/2023-award-winners |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240301062615/https://dbfilmfest.com/2023-award-winners |archive-date=2024-03-01 |access-date=2024-03-01 |website=Demonic Brilliance Film Festival |language=en-CA}}</ref> Journalist Stan Yeung of Gaming Age said Acosta would have been a better fit for the 2023 film ''Tetris'' than Taron Egerton.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Yeung |first=Stan |date=2024-11-14 |title=Tetris Forever review for PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch |url=https://gaming-age.com/2024/11/tetris-forever-review-for-pc-playstation-xbox-switch/ |access-date=2025-04-15 |website=Gaming Age |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2024, he appeared in the film ''Hemet, or the Landlady Don't Drink Tea'' at the 13th Oceanside International Film Festival<ref>{{Cite web |title=OIFF 2024 SCHEDULE - SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24TH |url=https://osidefilm.org/oiff-2024-schedule-saturday-february-24th/ |access-date=2024-03-01 |website=[[Oceanside International Film Festival]] |language=en-US}}</ref> and was cast in a lead role for the film ''A Corpse in Kensington''.<ref name=":9" /><ref name=":8">{{Cite web|last=Brewer|first=Mac|date=2025-02-18|title=First look at Michael Madsen in "A Corpse in Kensington"|url=https://www.horrorsociety.com/2025/02/18/first-look-at-michael-madsen-in-a-corpse-in-kensington/|access-date=2025-02-18|website=Horror Society|language=en-US}}</ref>

== Filmography ==
{| class="wikitable"
|+Music videos directed
!Year
!Title
!Band
!Notes
|-
| rowspan="2" |2012
|''Dead 80's''
|[[Mrs Magician]]
|Co-directed with Dustyn Peterman<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kaye |first=Ben |date=2012-07-19 |title=Video: Mrs. Magician - "Dead 80's" (CoS Premiere) |url=https://consequence.net/2012/07/video-mrs-magician-dead-80s-cos-premiere/ |access-date=2022-06-08 |website=[[Consequence (publication)|Consequence]] |language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
|''Do it For You''
|Plateaus
|Co-directed with Dustyn Peterman<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-05-03 |title=Premiere: Plateaus, "Do it For You" |url=https://imposemagazine.com/tv/premiere-plateaus-do-it-for-you |access-date=2022-06-08 |website=[[Impose (magazine)|Impose]] |language=en}}</ref>
|-
|2013
|''There is No God''
|Mrs Magician
|Co-directed with Dustyn Peterman<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pangburn |first=DJ |date=2013-04-11 |title=Watch Mrs. Magician's Surreal and Grotesquely Animated Video for "There Is No God" |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/693p86/watch-mrs-magicians-surreal-and-grotesquely-animated-video-for-there-is-no-god |access-date=2022-06-08 |website=[[Vice_(magazine)|Vice]] |language=en}}</ref>
|-
|2014
|''I Just Want To Hold You In My Arms Tonight''
|[[Gary Wilson (musician)|Gary Wilson]]
|<ref name=":7" />
|-
|2015
|''Fire Away''
|[[Rey Pila]]
|Co-directed with Dustyn Peterman<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-12-07 |title=Rey Pila comparte el video "Fire Away" |url=https://www.indierocks.mx/musica/noticias/rey-pila-comparte-el-video-fire-away/ |access-date=2024-03-01 |website=Indie Rocks! |language=es}}</ref>
|-
|2016
|''Feel Low''
|[[Dead Heavens]]
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=O'Hare |first=Shane |date=2016-08-23 |title=Monday Music: Dead Heavens – Feel Low |url=https://www.geekscape.net/monday-music-dead-heavens-feel-low |access-date=2022-06-08 |website=Geekscape}}</ref>
|-
|2020
|''Whatever Dude''
|Crasher
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sacher |first=Andrew |date=2020-07-10 |title=Watch Crasher's new video for "Whatever Dude" |url=https://www.brooklynvegan.com/watch-crashers-new-video-for-whatever-dude/ |access-date=2022-06-08 |website=[[BrooklynVegan]] |language=en}}</ref>
|}
{| class="wikitable"
|+''Mega64''
!Year
!Title
!Role
!Notes
|-
|2006
|''[[GameTrailers TV with Geoff Keighley]]''
|{{n/a}}
|<ref name=":5" />
|-
|2012
|''[[The Aquabats! Super Show!]]''
|{{n/a}}
|Episode: "[[List of The Aquabats! Super Show! episodes|Mysterious Egg!]]"<ref name=":5" />
|-
|2016
|''AAAA Game''
|Game development manager
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Barder |first=Ollie |date=2016-04-20 |title=The Main Limitation On Gaming Is No Longer Technological, It's Budgetary |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/olliebarder/2016/04/20/the-main-limitation-on-gaming-is-no-longer-technological-its-budgetary/ |access-date=2022-06-08 |website=[[Forbes]] |language=en}}</ref>
|-
|2019
|''Metal Gear Solid in 5 Minutes''
|[[Solid Snake]]
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Castillo |first=Jarrod |date=2019-05-07 |title=Mega64 recaps the original Metal Gear Solid in 'five' minutes |url=https://apptrigger.com/2019/05/07/mega64-metal-gear-solid-recap-5-minutes/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210911002153/https://apptrigger.com/2019/05/07/mega64-metal-gear-solid-recap-5-minutes/ |archive-date=2021-09-11 |access-date=2022-06-09 |website=App Trigger |language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="2" |2021
|''Mega64: Resident Evil VILLAGE''
|[[Ethan Winters]]
|<ref name=":0" />
|-
|''[[Mega64 Version 4.1: Revengurrection]]''
|Derek
|Also director, featuring [[SungWon Cho]] and [[Arin Hanson]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mega64 Version 4.1: Revengurrection (2021) |url=https://www.avclub.com/film/reviews/mega64-version-4-1-revengurrection-2021 |access-date=2024-01-20 |website=[[The A.V. Club]] |language=en}}</ref>
|-
|2024
|''Doug Huggem''
|Additional voices
|''[[Duke Nukem]]'' parody with [[Jon St. John]]
|}

== References ==

{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/community-voices-project/story/2021-10-20/san-diego-film-awards-adversity Opinion by Acosta] and Jodi Cilley at San Diego Union-Tribune

{{DEFAULTSORT:Acosta, Derrick}}

[[Category:Draft articles about actors]]
[[Category:Draft articles about YouTubers]]
[[Category:Draft articles about podcasters]]
[[Category:Draft articles about content creators]]
[[Category:Drafts about living people]]

Derrick Acosta - Revision history

Shovon at 08:55, 24 April 2025