Derek Manansala is a Filipino-American genre writer and filmmaker based in LA.

He has written projects directed by his wife, Grace Hanna, including LOLA, a sci-fi awarded by the DGA, Television Academy, and Imagine Entertainment, with screenings at Fantasia Film Festival and AFI Fest, among others.

Derek wrote and produced their next film, HALCYON DAYS, a surreal dark comedy starring an ensemble of Filipino-American comedy talent including Chris Renfro, Rachel Marsh, Mike Cabellon, and Darion Basco.

He edited HELD AT GUNPOINT, a documentary longlisted for the 2024 BAFTA Student Awards, and directed USC’s first ever single-camera TV comedy, WELCOME TO ALOHA.

Derek completed the improv & sketch programs at UCB, wrote on The Pack Theater’s house teams, and performed improv at the Del Close Marathon, UCB, the PIT, and many other condemned basements.

He grew up in New Jersey and received a BS in Civil Engineering from Rutgers University. Derek was a Walt Disney Imagineer before earning an MFA in Film & TV Production from USC.