Meet Malik Myers

We were lucky to catch up with Malik Myers recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Malik, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

I found it through film. Watching movies with my family and friends remains to be one of my favorite things to do. Film had always been my passion since I was a very small child but it wasn’t until I saw the making-of featurettes for Michael Bay’s first Transformers that I was exposed to how movies were actually made and I realized that I wanted to make movies too. That realization led me to start editing fan-made trailers for my favorite films and shows. After serving 6 years in the Navy, I started film school in New York. Since then, I’ve started editing and directing short films. I want to entertain and move people through movies and television in the same way I’ve been; so I’m committed to pursuing a career in film.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I’m a director, born and raised in South Carolina, who specializes in editing. The nice thing about editing everything that I direct is that I have a holistic point of view on post-production. Music and sound design specifically receive a lot of focus because I’m keenly aware of what needs to be done auditorily to support what I’m doing with the visuals and how I’m crafting the film. I’ve edited and directed 3 awarding winning proof-of-concept shorts. The most recent projects being Don’t Read My Diary and For Lila. Don’t Read My Diary is a small and intimate psychological thriller I wrote with my writing partner, David Hazan. For Lila is a much more expansive and ambitious crime drama written by Kaitron Bryant under the pen name Tron’s Madness, and produced by him under his production company, Croatan Productions. I’m continuing to pursue a career in film and currently have a crime thriller in the works that I’m writing solo.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

The biggest skill I’ve cultivated before I started directing is editing. Developing a sense of pace and flow was essential in crafting a narrative that keeps people engaged. Typically, the audience isn’t actively paying attention to the editing if I’m doing it correctly. They’re just immersed in the narrative. Intuition is often seen as a natural inclination, but it can be sharpened and strengthened through conscious effort.

My intuition is what guides my casting process. Actors bring so much to the creative process of filmmaking and when you cast the right people, they’ll always elevate your project beyond the words in the script. Having cast 3 films now, I’ve settled into trusting my instincts. Music is another aspect of filmmaking that I’m very attuned to and passionate about. So whenever I’m collaborating with composers to craft original scores for the projects I work on, intuition is something I lean on a lot when making decisions about the music and the impact it’s intended to have on an audience. I’m a big film and television buff. Watching movies, analyzing movies, researching movies, and listening to creative filmmakers talk about their process has been the best educator.

Diligently observing everything from camera style to editing to sound design is very important. And once you notice these things, you can apply them to your projects and develop your own creative voice. I’d say the best way to improve and build on these things is repetition. I never really looked at tutorials to learn how to edit. It was a lot of trial and error. There’s a rhythm and pace to be aware of. The juxtaposition of certain imagery is going to evoke particular emotions in the audience and whatever those are, it’s important that it’s intentional. Consume and analyze as much art as possible. Movies, tv shows, video games, music, paintings, etc. All of it will give you inspiration and make you a better filmmaker.

Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?

Definitely Kaitron Bryant. Having done 3 short films with him, I can say he’s been a great collaborator. His feedback has helped me improve as a writer and his skill as a producer helped us overcome a plethora of issues throughout the production of our projects. He handles budgeting and scheduling better than anyone I know. Editing and finalizing post-production under a strict deadline was something I wasn’t used to but it was a welcomed challenge. Kaitron has always pushed me to grow and improve as an artist.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myersmalik689/