Alex Merkin(I)

Alex Merkin is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, and editor. A New York native hailing from the prestigious Boston University College of Communication, Merkin is noted as being a "talent to watch" by Daily Variety. Initially, Merkin graced the silver screen with his directorial skills in the 2006 short film titled Across the Hall , starring Adrien Grenier (Entourage), and produced by First Look Studios and Jon Kilik (Babel).Director Alex Merkin Earning high acclaim, the short film received over fifteen awards throughout the film festival circuit cementing Merkin's arrival into the Hollywood realm. Ascending from the rave reviews and critical acclaim of his short film, Merkin developed a feature length screenplay with writers of Across the Hall making its debut in theaters in 2009. The feature length version of Across the Hall stars Brittany Murphy, Mike Vogel, and Danny Pino. Merkin's feature film directorial debut was positively received by critics, and was noted as being " a riveting trip into betrayal and revenge". Regarded as being an influential film maker by infusing modern film techniques into noir fiction genre, Merkin utilized his highly stylized and classic cinematic sensibility tactics within Across the Hall. Theatrically released into the U.S. Market, the film continues its course with great commendation and is currently available on Blu-Ray And DVD. Applying his signature neo-nior highly stylized approach, Merkin received the award for "Best Thriller of 2010 by Gorezone Magazine in London, England. The Daily Variety again noted Merkin's work as "truly one of the finest suspense" films. With Merkin's success stemming from thematic bodies of work encompassing thriller, revenge, betrayal, and suspense, Queen Latifah's newly formed production company, Flavor Unit, entrusted Merkin's directorial vision with the companies debut feature films, Percentage, and House of Bodies. Percentage starred Cam'rom, and Macy Gray and centers on " two hustlers on the run set up a credit fraud operation that soon attracts the attention from the police and the city's top criminals" Aside from Merkin's theatrical dedication, he is noted as being an exceptional commercial director, editor, and music videographer. Much of his commercial success may be seen with recurring projects and clients such as HBO, PUMA, SONY, First Look Studio's, Toyota, Bad Boy, Epic Records, Atlantic Records, Samsung, First Look Studios, Ruff Ryder, Harlem World and Frank151. Much the film enthusiast and preservationist, Merkin designed and supervised the new television and film department at the prestigious Lee Strasberg Theater and Film Institute at New York University in an effort to instill fundamentals in film making, and further the appreciation for the art. Ever the artistic advocate, and paying homage to his initial New York aesthetics, Merkin continues working in all creative capacities and mediums including both film and commissioned still art.