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Career Spotlight : Writer, Director, Producer
Michael Merino
Chloe's Chronicles catch up with Writer, Director, and Producer Michael Merino to talk all about his newly released film Acceleration, what’s next project-wise, and his passion for The Arts.
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Chloe ~Hi Michael! It’s so great to get to speak with you. Thank you for taking the time, would you be able to tell our Samera audience a little bit about yourself and how you first started your career in Film?
Michael ~ Definitely! I fell in love with movies as a child and my oldest brother loved 1970’s films and I would sit and watch those films with him. My love for film has always been a part of my life, however, I wanted to be an architect, and then math got in the way. After college, I worked and traveled the world for 6 years…taking on every odd job you could imagine. Then when I returned to the United States I was offered a job as a Producer at a local Community Access TV station in Washington, D.C. where I worked as a freelance News Producer on Capitol Hill. While doing that, I bartended at night and got to know a lot of folks in the political and television scene. Eventually, my creative spirit reared its ugly head and I decided to shoot my first feature film...never having done one and using only old equipment stored in the back of the TV studio. I convinced the station’s management I was going to film Public Service Announcements over the weekend. So, we’d shoot the PSA in an hour then go shoot our film for the next two days, every weekend for 6 weeks (12-day
shoots), and have been doing experimental film after experimental film. Long story short my journey to get here from a Freelance News Producer to a Filmmaker took about 10 years.
Chloe ~ Your new movie is currently out right now Acceleration is a fast-paced Action Film that follows a Mom played by Natalie Burn, as the strong heroine lead, against a major mobster. As not only the Director of this piece and working with Daniel Zirilli but as the Writer what was your inspiration for this film?
Michael ~ To be clear, I wrote and am the Director of the film. Daniel was brought in to Direct the fight scenes given that our schedule was reduced from 18 to 10 days and locations reduced from 6 to 2 due to budgetary constraints. My inspiration came directly from Michael Mann’s film Collateral.
Chloe ~ What conversations were had regarding representing the female protagonist (Rhona) as not only a Mother but also a strong, action lead, and what about that was important to represent and show in your opinion?
Michael ~ There was never really any conversation, it was on the page when I wrote the script. I have always been a huge fan of strong female leads as human beings, not some unrealistic superhero. Ripley from Alien is the template.
Chloe ~ The genre of Action Films is one that has always dominated the attention of viewers. Were there any Action Films or movies in general that you took cues from or were influenced by, not only when writing the script but also when shooting the film?
Michael ~Definitely! I would say the three main influences for Acceleration were: Collateral, Alien, and Atomic Blonde.
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Chloe ~In Acceleration, you had the opportunity of working with many talented actors including Sean Patrick Flanery (of The Boys, Dexter, and The Young and the Restless) as well as Danny Trejo (of Spy Kids, Alone Today, Big City Greens, and Sons of Anarchy) what was it like working with those two actors, and what did you learn overall or take away from the experience with the whole cast?
Michael ~ Sean is a complete professional. He’s prepared and willing to take the role places you never expected. His accent was not written as such, he came up with that. After his first scene, I knew he would own the character and the film. From him, I learned to allow the actors as much “rope” as they need…give them a safe environment in which their work and jewels can appear. Similarly, Danny was so precise, polite, and professional that I felt I was in safe hands with him! He reminded me to be on point at all times. Seasoned actors are like that. A wonderful collaborator!
Chloe ~ Besides Acceleration, you also have several Producing and Directing projects in Pre Production right now including Bounty, Confederates: Genesis, Reflect, and the screenplay Death Count. What can you tease to our audience about these projects and your involvement in them?
Michael ~ Bounty has TWO well-known action actors attached, however due to COVID and scheduling we have yet to solidify dates that work for everyone involved. Soon. As for Confederates, that's a spec film that my Producing partner is currently shopping, and we do have interest. In the meantime, we have shot a Proof of Concept teaser to use as a marketing tool. Reflect is a project I consulted on which just wrapped, so I am also looking forward to seeing what the talented Writer/Director Dana Kippel has created. It’s a lovely and soulful piece.
Chloe ~ Michael, you have lived a very interesting life moving from place to place working in a variety of industries and lines of work. How do you think all of those experiences have shaped you as a creative person, and what benefit do you feel that has given you?
Michael ~It’s my belief if you want to be creative it’s absolutely important to get out into the world, and try different lines of work. Do the whole Ernest Hemingway thing. Travel, read, travel, read…I know far too many creatives who have never left their comfort zones and I believe it makes for a fairly pedestrian and uninspired life. Go where you don’t speak the language and learn to navigate the land. Get out there! Take chances, fail, fall…dust off, try again. It’s imperative.
Chloe ~Have you always been interested in the Entertainment Industry or were there any interests or moments in your childhood you think alluded to or influenced this career path for you?
Michael ~ When I was 11 years old I wanted to be the lead singer of a rock band…I can’t carry a tune, so that ended very quickly. At 15 or 16 years old I wanted to be an International News Correspondent, specifically a War Correspondent. Then, I did get a taste of that life and realized it wasn’t for me.
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Chloe ~ You have talked about how a diving accident gone wrong ultimately led you to decide to pursue a career in filmmaking. Can you explain a little bit about that experience and how you took the leap to make that decision?
Michael ~While living in Australia, I went scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef and during a break in Dives thought it might be wise to climb the 60-foot mast and dive from it. As I dove off I slipped and ended up belly-flopping into the water, followed by a loud POP! And being knocked out. I came to seconds later and both my legs had gone numb. With the assistance of fellow divers, I crawled onto the boat. I was taken to a doctor to be checked out, put on meds, and told to rest up for the next few days, which turned into a week. I realized having no insurance I would have to tough it out, and after years of back issues and suggestions of surgery it was acupuncture that became my savior…however the residual effects keep me from fully enjoying some athletic activities like KENPO which I had been studying at the time of the injury. Se la vie!
Chloe ~Michael, you are an avid Action and Horror film fan with some critically-acclaimed films of your own in that genre including The Deal, The Milkman, and The Haunting of Pearson Place, just to name a few. What do you think it is that attracts you to these kinds of pieces and this style of film, and what kind of project would you like to work on next?
Michael ~ I’m drawn to stories that question authority. Period. Go after the man, religious or otherwise. I don’t like the status quo, and really feel we shouldn’t just accept a belief or political system because it's simply based on tradition, faith, or an idealized notion of living. As to what I’d like to work on next…I have one project titled BAD HOMBRES which goes after all that aforementioned…that’s the one I really want to make.
Chloe ~ Finally, if you could sum up what you hope to achieve in 2022 creatively what would you say?
Michael ~ To continue to build creative and professional relationships, working with actors and crews at the highest level possible. It’s not about the money (although as the saying goes “Some money would be nice”) or awards, it’s about the joy of creating with like-minded people, and hopefully entertaining others…while including a subtle message tucked in the story that makes you think.