Meet Brendan Merrill | Editor & Producer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Brendan Merrill and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Brendan, how has your work-life balance changed over time?

I’ve always had a pretty healthy work/life balance, but it’s shifted continually over the years. There are some spaces in life where I took opportunities to travel, to work abroad, to start a new endeavor. There are others in which I felt I was keeping my focus strictly on work but experiencing life in micro-bursts and long weekends. There is no single “right” answer to keeping a work-life balance. Everyone has different needs and ratios to which they can accomplish their goals and still keep their “cup filled.”

Just make sure not to trap yourself in a cycle of “head-above-water” self-regulation. If you’re constantly feeling boom-or-bust, feast-or-famine and are worried about the next day, every day, then it’s probably ok to devote more time to the activity that will release that pressure. Make sure to get your homework done, so to speak. I know that’s all our lives can feel like at times, like we’re trapped on this hamster wheel of paying rent & bills and the only thing we have time for is… literally… surviving one day to the next. It sucks.

One thing we can do to regulate this is communication, with our jobs, partners, families and friends. If things are too much, speak up. It’s bad to feel like you’re drawing, it’s a lot worse to feel like you’re doing it alone. Usually, when people who are close to you realize that you may be struggling, they will help. This may not be your boss, so maybe it’s time to find another job if so. I guarantee that trying to force things to work in your life rarely works out. Keep your mind open and make sure your essential needs are being met, and work out from there. We’re living in a time of relative instability, and it can feel like things are always on a razor’s edge. Surround yourself with people and activities that lift you up. Challenge yourself, but within your comfort zone. Don’t stress yourself out by risking it all everyday, life is too short. Find a community of people who respect you, it will make you feel more fulfilled, work harder and be able to stretch your limits more. That’s when you can reach, that’s when you can strive further, that’s when you can shoot for the stars. Make sure you’ve got a safe water-landing set up before you rocket off your proverbial launch pad, it’ll allow you to strain yourself, stretch your potential and excel to greater heights.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My art can – I suppose – be crystallized for this example as my creative output. Right now I’m finishing my first book, the initial installment in a four-part Science Fiction series. I think I’m boiling a lot of my personal philosophy into the book, imbuing different characters with different personalities that I’ve made my own over the years. I’m also writing several screenplays, each with it’s own very distinct flavor and rationale, ethos. Each of these projects scratches an itch. Something I’d like to see differently in the world, something I’d like to change within myself. More recently, a feature film I helped Produce was released called UNDER MY SKIN. It’s available now on major streamers, cable and Pay-Per-View satellite. It stars Liv Hewson, Alex Russell and an incredible cast. The movie focuses on the story of Denny, a young woman and artist who falls in love with a straight-laced lawyer named Ryan. When Denny begins to question their gender, the love and relationship they’ve created is tested. This film is powerful, timely and important. I highly encourage anyone reading this to watch it today.

How did I get here? Keeping that balance I spoke about earlier. I don’t consider myself to be the greatest in anything, the most talented or the most gifted, but I can grind. I can keep myself motivated and perform consistently. I think that’s been my strength. If you looked at my career, and specifically the shortcomings/failures within it, I think most people would notice a lot of times in which things didn’t work out the way I’d planned and see a lot of opportunities for me to call it quits. It was in those moments in which I didn’t give up, when I didn’t throw in the towel or didn’t lose hope… those are the moments I’m proudest of. Perseverance is not given enough credit, and I think a lot of successful creatives will tell you the same thing. Again, most of those times in which I didn’t give up… were the result of me being surrounded by an incredible community of people. People who would give me the space to feel sad, or depressed, or lonely or miserable. They are the reason why I didn’t give up. Again, if you’re smiling while reading this section… you’re probably one of those people. Thank you.

My brand and story? Stay tuned to the next few things coming down the line and I’m sure you’ll get a very good idea of exactly what those are.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
A week-long trip? Here goes nothing:

Days 1-3: Camping in Joshua Tree National Park. Nights of star-gazing and long-exposure photography, days of scuttling through rock passages and exploration. Try rock climbing. Nothing can center oneself like an experience in nature, and this spot is the best place to do it. Camp in the park or at a funky Air BnB just outside, but I’d recommend Sheep’s Pass Group Campsite #3 with about 20 of the weirdest people you can gather.

Day 4: A day at the beach in Santa Monica or Venice. Swinging on the rings, playing beach volleyball with a group of friends, walking along the water’s edge, admiring the scene in Venice and Abbot Kinney. Try to surf. That can be a full day and you’d probably not get enough of any of the activities. You will be wiped after this.

Day 5: Griffith Park day and Hollywood Bowl concert at night. Griffith Park has a ton of nooks and crannies worth exploring, from the deep, rusted canyons and old Bat Cave at the heart of the park to the Griffith Observatory and the stretching outer trails on either end. I’d finish the hiking section with a sunset at Captain’s Roost which has an unparalleled sunset view of LA and great palm trees that are perfect to hang a hammock between… then trot down and catch a concert at the Hollywood Bowl. There are very few bad seats there.

Day 6: Brunching for the first part of the day, lazing by a pool in the afternoon and partying in Weho in the evening. Go out with a gaggle of friends and burn it all down. Let the night take you where it may.

Day 7: Take the morning off, sleep in. Catch a matinee at Grauman’s Chinese theater OR the Alamo Drafthouse in Downtown LA where you can get a cold drink and meal while you watch. These are the two best cinema experiences in LA besides Rooftop Films, and having at least one cinema-related adventure is a must. Don’t bother with Beverly Hills, forget about the Walk of Fame. You want to live like a movie star? Go have fun and get into the mix of LA, which can be a giant tourist trap if you don’t know where to look. For your final evening… take in some excellent Korean BBQ and Kareoke in Koreatown. It’s amazing. Stop by the Shatto 39 lanes and go bowling if you’re into it before hitting up the Kareoke spots… be the Big Lebowski and wear a robe. You won’t regret it and you’ll probably make some weird friends in the process, which is the best part of life.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d like to thank my various mentors that I’ve had in LA. This goes out to the friends I’ve had since my landing in Hollywood like Patrick Harris, who helped me find work and always encouraged me at every step of the way. His big love and constant enthusiasm gives me life. This also goes out to some of the great bosses who have guided and lifted me up throughout my time in the industry, from Tia Shin (at LearnNet Academy in K-Town) to Brian Weidling (at Tumbleweed Entertainment in Santa Monica). Not only have they taught me innumerable lessons while working for them, they’ve been cheerleaders and wonderful supporters as well. I’d finally also thank the friends of mine who have never wavered in their support of my quests, wild goose-chases, struggles and triumphs. You all know who you are. If you’re smiling while reading this… it’s you.

Website: www.brendanmerrill.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ohhowthewinetalks/?hl=en

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendan-merrill-82399010/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mckennamerrill

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/madeinchinamovie2021/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0XxOfsc6DY

Other: WATCH UNDER MY SKIN ON AMAZON PRIME TODAY: https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0B8X6TYQ3/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r

Image Credits
1. MADE IN CHINA Poster 2. MORDRED Concept Art Frame 01 3. MORDRED Concept Art Frame 02 4. UNDER MY SKIN Poster