Kieth Merrill
{{short description|American filmmaker (born 1940)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2021}}
{{Infobox writer
| name = Kieth W. Merrill
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| pseudonym =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1940|05|22}}
| birth_place = Farmington, Utah, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| resting_place =
| occupation = Filmmaker
| years_active = 1973–present
| education = Bachelor of Arts
| alma_mater = Brigham Young University
| genres = {{hlist|Christianity|documentaries|fantasy|general fiction|historical fiction}}
| subjects =
| movement =
| notableworks = The Great American Cowboy (1973)
The Wild West (1993)
Amazon (1997)
Various films for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
| spouse =
| children =
| relatives =
| awards = Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature Film (1973)
| signature =
| signature_alt =
| module =
| website =
| portaldisp =
}}
Kieth W. MerrillMiddle initial from {{cite journal | author=Condie, Todd R.|title=A Philosophy of Storytelling|journal=BYU Magazine|date=Spring 2003|url=http://magazine.byu.edu/?act=view&a=1224|accessdate=June 11, 2009}} (born May 22, 1940){{cite web|title=Kieth Merrill|work=allmovie|publisher=All Media Guide|url=http://www.allmovie.com/artist/kieth-merrill-102594|accessdate=June 11, 2009}} 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.{{cite web|title=Kieth Merrill profile|work=Outstanding Alumni Profiles BYU College of Fine Arts and Communications|url=http://cfac.byu.edu/index.php?id=1587|accessdate=June 11, 2009}}
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.{{cite web|title=8-Day Norway Fjords "Lights of the Fjords" Cruise |work=Meridian Magazine |date=September 23, 2004 |url=http://www.www.meridianmagazine.com/travel/040225norway.html |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060225013109/http://www.meridianmagazine.com/travel/040225norway.html |archivedate=February 25, 2006 }}{{cite journal|author=Kelly, Brian|title=Kieth Merrill: Great American Filmmaker|journal=New Era|page=10|url=https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/new-era/1975/08/kieth-merrill-great-american-filmmaker|accessdate=June 11, 2009}}
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. 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.{{citation needed|date=December 2015}}
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{{cite web|title=Kieth Merrill profile|work=College of Fine Arts and Communications History|format=wiki|publisher=Brigham Young University|url=http://history.cfac.byu.edu/index.php/Kieth_Merrill|accessdate=June 11, 2009}} when he delivered the commencement address to the BYU College of Fine Arts and Communications in 2007.{{cite web|author=Merrill, Keith |title=Telling 'Out Story' to All the World |work=Meridian Magazine |year=2007 |url=http://www.meridianmagazine.com/arts/070510story.html |accessdate=December 25, 2015 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100202053718/http://meridianmagazine.com/arts/070510story.html |archivedate=February 2, 2010 }}
In 2021, his refusal to watch Never Rarely Sometimes Always for Academy Awards consideration as a voting member garnered some attention.{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2021/film/news/eliza-hittman-never-rarely-sometimes-always-oscar-voter-1234916491/|title=Director Eliza Hittman Calls Out Pro-Life Oscar Voter Who Refused to Watch Abortion Drama 'Never Rarely Sometimes Always'|date=February 27, 2021}}
Filmography
Merrill has done work in various formats, including IMAX and 70mm. He has created feature films, documentaries, television commercials, and miniseries.{{cite web|url=http://www.hollywood.com/celebs/detail/id/1427390 |title=Kieth Merrill profile |website=Archive.is |accessdate=December 27, 2015 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130125170709/http%3A//www.hollywood.com/celebs/detail/id/1427390 |archivedate=January 25, 2013 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.ldsfilm.com/directors/Merrill.html|title=Kieth Merrill - Filmmaker|website=Ldsfilm.com|date=April 2, 2002|accessdate=December 27, 2015}}
- The Great American Cowboy (1973 Documentary Academy Award Winner){{cite web|url=http://awardsdatabase.oscars.org/ampas_awards/DisplayMain.jsp |title=Session Timeout - Academy Awards® Database |website=Awardsdatabase.oscars.org |accessdate=December 27, 2015 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029194626/http://awardsdatabase.oscars.org/ampas_awards/DisplayMain.jsp |archivedate=October 29, 2013 }}
- A Matter of Winning (1973)
- Great American Indian (1976)
- Three Warriors (1977)
- Take Down (1979)
- Kenny Rogers and the American Cowboy (1979)
- Windwalker (1980)
- Mr. Krueger's Christmas (1980)
- Wheels of Fire (1981)
- Harry's War (1981)
- Rivals (1981)
- The Cherokee Trail (1981)
- Grand Canyon: The Hidden Secrets (1984, IMAX)
- Niagara: Miracles, Myths and Magic (1986, IMAX)
- Alamo: The Price of Freedom (1988)
- Legacy (1990)
- Polynesian Odyssey (1991, IMAX)
- On The Way Home (1992)
- The Wild West (1993, TV miniseries, Emmy nomination)
- Yellowstone (1994, IMAX)
- Passion for Life (1995, IMAX)
- Ozarks: Legacy and Legends (1995, IMAX)
- San Francisco: The Movie (1995, IMAX)
- Zion Canyon: Treasure of the Gods (1996, IMAX)
- Amazon (1997, IMAX, nominated for Academy Award)
- The Witness (1997, IMAX)
- Olympic Glory (1999, IMAX)
- The Testaments (2000)
- The 12 Dogs of Christmas (2005)
- The 12 Dogs of Christmas – Great Puppy Rescue (2012)
Bibliography
- The Evolution of Thomas Hall (May 2011, {{ISBN|9781606418369}}, Shadow Mountain)
- Saga of Kings series
- The Immortal Crown (May 2016, {{ISBN|978-1-62972-025-8}}, Shadow Mountain)
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{wikiquote}}
- {{MormonLit author|5780|Kieth Merrill}}
- {{IMDb name|581303}}
{{Imax}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Merrill, Kieth}}
Category:20th-century Mormon missionaries
Category:American film producers
Category:American documentary filmmakers
Category:Latter Day Saints from California
Category:American Mormon missionaries in Denmark
Category:Brigham Young University alumni
Category:People from Farmington, Utah
Category:Directors of Best Documentary Feature Academy Award winners
Category:Latter Day Saints from Utah