Kieth Merrill Explained

Kieth W. Merrill
Birth Date:22 May 1940
Birth Place:Farmington, Utah, U.S.
Occupation:Filmmaker
Years Active:1973–present
Education:Bachelor of Arts
Alma Mater:Brigham Young University
Notableworks:The Great American Cowboy (1973)
The Wild West (1993)
Amazon (1997)
Various films for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Awards:Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature Film (1973)

Kieth W. Merrill[1] (born May 22, 1940)[2] is an American filmmaker who has worked as a writer, director, and producer in the film industry since 1967. He is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the Directors Guild of America, and received an Academy Award for The Great American Cowboy (1973) and a nomination for Amazon (1997).

He published a novel, The Evolution of Thomas Hall, through Shadow Mountain in 2011. His first fantasy novel, The Immortal Crown, was published by Shadow Mountain in 2016.

Biography

The son of artist/landscape architect David Merrill and playwright/actress Leola Green Merrill, Kieth Merrill was born and raised in Farmington, Utah, a small, pioneer-founded town 20 miles north of Salt Lake City.[3]

As an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he served as a missionary for the church in Denmark for two-and-a-half years.[4] [5]

Merrill graduated in 1967 with a bachelor's degree from Brigham Young University (BYU). He is married to Dagny Johnson, and they are the parents of eight children. They reside in Northern California.[3] Merrill was commissioned by the LDS Church's First Presidency to produce the films Legacy and The Testaments for the state-of-the-art 70 mm Legacy Theater at Temple Square in Salt Lake City.

Merrill has been a member of the Board of Trustees of Southern Virginia University and president of the BYU Alumni Association. He received the Franklin S. Harris Fine Arts Award from BYU[6] when he delivered the commencement address to the BYU College of Fine Arts and Communications in 2007.[7]

In 2021, his refusal to watch Never Rarely Sometimes Always for Academy Awards consideration as a voting member garnered some attention.[8]

Filmography

Merrill has done work in various formats, including IMAX and 70mm. He has created feature films, documentaries, television commercials, and miniseries.[9] [10]

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. Middle initial from Condie, Todd R.. A Philosophy of Storytelling. BYU Magazine. Spring 2003. June 11, 2009.
  2. Web site: Kieth Merrill. allmovie. All Media Guide. June 11, 2009.
  3. Web site: Kieth Merrill profile. Outstanding Alumni Profiles BYU College of Fine Arts and Communications. June 11, 2009.
  4. Web site: 8-Day Norway Fjords "Lights of the Fjords" Cruise . . September 23, 2004 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20060225013109/http://www.meridianmagazine.com/travel/040225norway.html . February 25, 2006 .
  5. Kelly, Brian. Kieth Merrill: Great American Filmmaker. New Era. 10. June 11, 2009.
  6. Web site: Kieth Merrill profile. College of Fine Arts and Communications History. wiki. Brigham Young University. June 11, 2009.
  7. Web site: Merrill, Keith . Telling 'Out Story' to All the World . . 2007 . December 25, 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100202053718/http://meridianmagazine.com/arts/070510story.html . February 2, 2010 .
  8. Web site: Director Eliza Hittman Calls Out Pro-Life Oscar Voter Who Refused to Watch Abortion Drama 'Never Rarely Sometimes Always'. February 27, 2021.
  9. Web site: Kieth Merrill profile . Archive.is . December 27, 2015 . bot: unknown . https://archive.today/20130125170709/http%3A//www.hollywood.com/celebs/detail/id/1427390 . January 25, 2013 .
  10. Web site: Kieth Merrill - Filmmaker. Ldsfilm.com. April 2, 2002. December 27, 2015.
  11. Web site: Session Timeout - Academy Awards® Database . Awardsdatabase.oscars.org . December 27, 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131029194626/http://awardsdatabase.oscars.org/ampas_awards/DisplayMain.jsp . October 29, 2013 .

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