Merrick McFarling
- Actor
- Writer
- Producer
Merrick Donald McFarling is an American aspiring actor, filmmaker, editor, producer, and writer. He has been involved in a variety of amateur films, short films, student film projects, stage productions, and YouTube-based projects, most notably including work with EarthCoreStudios. His extensive theater and acting experience spans high school, college, and post-collegiate productions, including several Shakespeare projects across both live performance and filmed projects.
McFarling first became interested in filmmaking in 2010, at the age of nine, when he began making short iMovie projects. These included the "Bluegrass Trailers," a series of parody-style movie trailers starring his dog, Bluegrass, as well as early projects produced under his amateur production label, Mer Bear Studios. In 2014, he created the short film Old Man Joe and the Devil, which later led to several follow-up projects, including Old Man Joe’s Christmas Vacation and Old Man Joe’s Easter Adventure.
In high school, McFarling became heavily involved in the Mounds View High School theater program, participating in all 12 productions staged during his time there. He began in technical theater and stage crew before later performing onstage. During this period, he became friends with filmmaker Eddie Possehl, the founder of EarthCoreStudios, and went on to collaborate with him on several projects. His work with EarthCoreStudios includes Off Camera, in which he played Mark, and Spider-Man: Unknown, in which he portrayed Kraven the Hunter and also served as a body double for Spider-Man.
While attending the college, McFarling remained involved in creative work acting and assisting behind the camera on student film projects. Outside of his artistic work, he earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science from the University of Minnesota in 2025. He continues to pursue independent film, theater, and YouTube collaborations.
McFarling first became interested in filmmaking in 2010, at the age of nine, when he began making short iMovie projects. These included the "Bluegrass Trailers," a series of parody-style movie trailers starring his dog, Bluegrass, as well as early projects produced under his amateur production label, Mer Bear Studios. In 2014, he created the short film Old Man Joe and the Devil, which later led to several follow-up projects, including Old Man Joe’s Christmas Vacation and Old Man Joe’s Easter Adventure.
In high school, McFarling became heavily involved in the Mounds View High School theater program, participating in all 12 productions staged during his time there. He began in technical theater and stage crew before later performing onstage. During this period, he became friends with filmmaker Eddie Possehl, the founder of EarthCoreStudios, and went on to collaborate with him on several projects. His work with EarthCoreStudios includes Off Camera, in which he played Mark, and Spider-Man: Unknown, in which he portrayed Kraven the Hunter and also served as a body double for Spider-Man.
While attending the college, McFarling remained involved in creative work acting and assisting behind the camera on student film projects. Outside of his artistic work, he earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science from the University of Minnesota in 2025. He continues to pursue independent film, theater, and YouTube collaborations.
