Biography

As a filmmaker, Zach Merck works tirelessly to find unique, authentic stories and interesting people that take him to the far corners of the planet. He is widely recognized for his extensive body of work in commercials, television, and documentary films.

Zach is an established Commercial Director with a memorable resume of branded clips - from comedy to cars - that spans 15 years. Notably, before the pandemic, he completed his sixth year exclusively directing the Chevy "Real People, Not Actors" campaign, a loyalty somewhat unheard of in advertising. Zach has won multiple Cannes Lions, Clios, Gold Pencils, and other stuffy advertising awards. He recently received both a Silver and Bronze Clio in May 2022 for his campaign for SMA awareness titled "Spaces".

Zach's award-winning feature documentaries and series include the Emmy-nominated "For the Love of Music: The Story of Nashville" (ABC), "Racing Under Green" (Discovery), "Six Beers of Separation" (Fox Australia), "The Art of Walking" (Nat Geo), and "Punk Like Me" (SXSW Audience Award 2006). His short films, the sci-fi action epic "The Price on Henry James' Head" and the sci-fi love story, "Am I Happy?", both have garnered acclaim at festivals all over the world.

In the Fall of 2021, Zach directed the first season of the hit Netflix reality series, "TwentySomethings", securing a spot in the streamer's Top Ten for 2 months. He had to scratch the "Real World" itch.

Zach's newest television series, the doc-series "Rennervations" for Disney+, premiered April 2023, starring Jeremy Renner with Vanessa Hudgens, Anthony Mackie, and Sebastian Yatra. He's also completed "Early Risers", a scripted comedy series about expats living in Saigon in the 2000s, written by Vincent Ngo (Hancock), and starring CS Lee, Kristian Bruun, Omar Elba, and Paul Yen.

On the horizon, Zach is now set to executive produce and direct "Sneakers" for Warner Bros, a new scripted hip hop horror series from the Stephen King universe, produced by Ridley Scott and Tom Moran, and written by Diallo Riddle and Bashir Salahuddin.

Zach Merck is also set to direct "Sleeping Beauty" for Scott Free Films, starring Madeleine Petsch (The Strangers, Riverdale), written by Kenny Ryan and Jacob Roman (Seal Team, Elevation), and produced by Ridley Scott, Tom Moran and Vera Meyer.
- IMDb mini biography by: Wild Gift Content