Frank Merle
American filmmaker
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Frank Merle is an American screenwriter, director and producer best known for The Employer[1] and From Jennifer. Also a theatrical producer and director, Merle graduated from The Theatre School at DePaul University.[2]
Frank Merle | |
|---|---|
Merle in 2026 | |
| Alma mater | DePaul University (BFA) |
| Occupations | Screenwriter, director, producer |
| Known for | Writing, producing, and directing The Employer and From Jennifer |
Film career
Merle co-founded Keyhole Theatre Company in the Wicker Park neighborhood of Chicago, IL. He served as artistic director of Keyhole Theatre Company for seven years until it closed.[2] He made the short films, What Joan Knows, Morgan's Last Call, Gnaw, Art Room, and Carnage on Graves Farm. The latter three were released on home video in 2010 as Carnage, Chaos & Creeps.
Merle's first feature film was the 2013 psychological thriller The Employer. It was a Shriekfest official selection and Merle won Best director for the film at the Los Angeles Movie Awards.[1][3] In 2016, Dread Central reported that Merle would write and direct From Jennifer, the third installment in the To Jennifer found-footage series originated by James Cullen Bressack.[4]
Filmography
| Year | Film | Credited as | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Director | Producer | Writer | |||
| 2007 | What Joan Knows | Yes | Yes | Yes | short film |
| 2008 | Morgan's Last Call | Yes | Yes | Yes | short film |
| Gnaw | Yes | Yes | Yes | short film | |
| 2009 | Art Room | Yes | Yes | Yes | short film |
| Carnage on Graves Farm | Yes | Yes | Yes | short film | |
| 2010 | Carnage, Chaos & Creeps | Yes | Yes | Yes | short film |
| 2013 | The Employer | Yes | Yes | Yes | [1] |
| 2016 | 2 Jennifer | No | Yes | No | |
| 2017 | From Jennifer | Yes | Yes | Yes | [5] |
| 2018 | For Jennifer | No | Yes | No | |
| 2021 | The Gloom | Yes | Yes | No | podcast series |
| 2022 | Tales From the Other Side | Yes | Yes | No | segment director/producer |
| Goodnight | Yes | Yes | No | ||
| Forgotten | No | Yes | No | ||
| Catfish Christmas | No | Yes | No | ||
| 2023 | All Gone Wrong | No | Yes | No | |
| Blood Covered Chocolate | No | Yes | No | ||
| Driftwood | No | Yes | No | executive producer | |
| 2024 | Porcelain | No | Yes | No | |
| 2025 | A Hard Place | No | Yes | No | co-producer |
| Namaka | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||