Life & Work with Justin Meckes

Today we’d like to introduce you to Justin Meckes. 

Hi Justin, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’ve spent the last ten years writing novels and short stories. The ten years before that were spent pursuing my interest in film. Although I’ve yet to publish a novel, I’ve recently returned to filmmaking and have had some success in that arena. This December, one of my shorts will make its international premiere in Melbourne, Australia.

Ironically, most, if not all, of my recent film work has had something to do with writing and not just because I’m credited with the screenplay. For instance, I’m currently working on my third spoken word film, the animated short premiering in Australia was based on a children’s book I authored, and the mini-documentary I shot a couple of years ago was about another writer. He was a comic book writer, to be precise. I don’t know much about comics, but the film was about the scope of the writer’s dream and some of the obstacles he was facing in pursuit of his ambition. It should be obvious that I could relate. 

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The path of a creative isn’t worthwhile without struggle. And I’ve had my share of rejections. Maybe more than my share. I’ve also made creative mistakes. I’ve been fortunate to be able to go back and correct some of them. However, my biggest challenge has been remaining optimistic about the process. While I understand that the journey is the destination, I’d like to be more certain that the creative endeavor has an endpoint in mind. 

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
Because my film work has played festivals across the country and now overseas, it’s safer to say that I’m known as a filmmaker. But my work runs the gamut from children’s films to humor, poetry, and even a little sci-fi. The latter might explain why I made a film about an aspiring comic book writer. 

Regardless, I’m most proud of a film I made in 2021. It’s titled “9 Brief Films from Suburban Zen.” The sardonic tone of the piece was compared to the work of David Sedaris by the organizer of a film festival in Atlanta. That’s high praise considering we both hail from Raleigh. 

What do you like and dislike about the city?
I’ve lived in Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill. I’m a big fan of North Carolina, in general. I took a drive cross country in my early twenties and still believe the scenery in my home state is hard to beat. I’ll admit NC isn’t perfect, but the part I live in comes pretty close to it. 

Contact Info:

• Website: justinmeckes.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/justinmeckes
• Twitter: twitter.com/justinmeckes
• Youtube: youtube.com/@justinmeckeskids