Meet Meghan McCullin | Director & Production Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Meghan McCullin and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Meghan, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I grew up in a military family and never had much in the way of consistency. I never knew when I was moving, how long I would be there, or where I would end up. I didn’t always have a lot of friends, so I found my comfort in films. I fell in love with cinema so much that all I ever wanted to do was make movies.

While I’ve always had a passion for film as a kid, I never gained the confidence to pursue it legitimately until I turned nineteen. I was the weird kid in high school who always had a video camera, and I had the dream of running off to Hollywood for fame and fortune, but I was always told by peers and teachers that I wouldn’t make the cut. I was involved in the business through modeling and commercial acting but never found success, and it tanked my confidence in my own abilities. It wasn’t until I moved from Las Vegas, Nevada, to the dusty small town of Yuma, Arizona, that I started to let my dreams die. I graduated high school and picked up a job I absolutely despised. I had been a content creator throughout my teen years, and while I gained decent traction, it was never to the level that I could’ve sustained myself doing that, so I felt like a failure at eighteen.

In hindsight, it wasn’t my time yet, and no one knows what they’re doing at eighteen. I decided to start community college and majored in Television Production at Arizona Western College. There, I learned the basics of production and had some of the greatest mentors who pushed me to keep learning and growing. I know that college isn’t for everyone, and in the entertainment industry, it’s not always necessary; however, attending college made a huge difference in my career and opened doors I never would’ve imagined. I was a Marine Corps Scholar recipient for five consecutive semesters and the Vision and Voice Award recipient at ASU.

2020 was the year I discovered I could not see myself doing anything other than filmmaking. I picked up my camera, gathered a few friends, and never looked back. Learning to be a filmmaker during a pandemic had its challenges, but after an extended break, we found creative ways to make it work while staying safe.

At the end of the day, I pursued a creative career because it’s the only job I’ve had where I truly feel alive. It hasn’t been easy, and I’m only just getting started, but it’s the one job worth struggling for.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
As a young director, I’m still exploring the depths of my creativity. I’ve directed twenty films, some of which I’m proud of and some I wish would never see the light of day. Directing was something I dove into head first and never looked back from. I’ve learned by doing and while I’ve certainly made a lot of mistakes along the way, I’ve also had a lot of successes. I’m dipping my toes into directing commercials and music videos locally, and I’m very excited to share more on those projects as we develop them. I’m most inspired by sci-fi, horror, and fantasy, so I look for projects that are a little “out there” in one way or another. I love things that are a little dark, gothic, and bloody despite the fact that I hate watching gore films.

My personal project that I’ve been developing for the past two years, Lorgaire, is currently awaiting the festival circuit. Lorgaire follows the story of Sibeal, a young college student who discovers she descends from a family of monster hunters. When a werewolf takes her best friend, only she can stop it and find him before it’s too late. For this project, I was inspired by Celtic folklore. Being of Irish descent, I wanted to create a project that truly represented my upbringing and culture but in a fun way that felt different. My little brother and I are currently writing a book series that serves as a prequel series to what will eventually be a film series. He wrote a short story to pair with my short film titled Lorgaire: The Last Hunt, available on Amazon.

In addition to the films I’ve directed, I’ve also picked up Production Design because I’m really passionate about helping build the physical world of the film. I think my passion for Production Design led me to pursue the path of horror and fantasy since those genres tend to be very demanding regarding set design. I’ve worked on ten short films as Production Designer and a handful of big-budget commercials in the art department. People rarely think about it, but every physical object in a scene was placed there with purpose and intention. The Production Designer’s job is to work with the Director’s vision and bring it to life on screen.

Both directing and Production Design are incredibly demanding jobs. Still, the biggest benefit to working as an independent contractor in the industry is that I can pursue both as opportunities arise.
My big dream and long-term goal are to be a writer/director exclusively; however, I truly love the craft and find myself picking up all sorts of odd jobs to gain experience and maintain my skill set.
Production is a high-stress work environment, but I’ve learned to thrive in chaos, and I find that I work quite well under pressure. Problems always arise on set no matter how big or small, so much of my job, whether Production Designer, Director or even Production Assistant, is simply problem-solving.

I’m still just beginning my journey as a Director and Production Designer. I’ve just graduated from Arizona State University with my Bachelor’s in Film & Media Production to pursue film full-time. I’m excited about all the challenges of being a newbie in the professional industry, but I still face many self-doubts. While this industry is not easy, I’ve had to constantly remind myself that I am only twenty-three and that it’s okay not to have all the answers.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’m well-known as a caffeine addict and drink girlie, so I’m always looking for cute coffee shops to sit down and do some work. My favorite spots are Lost Dutchman Coffee in Mesa, Copper Star in Downtown Phoenix, Boba Toko in Tempe, and Feel Good Smoothie and Juice Bar in Tempe. I try my best to support small businesses as much as possible because it greatly impacts our local economy.

I’ve also taken up hiking over our short springtime because I think it’s important to go outside and be active. My favorite hiking spot is Pinnacle Peak because I love the view from the top of the mountain. Self-care is often overlooked in the film industry but is vital to staying sane. When it’s too hot out, I often go for walks around Scottsdale Fashion Square because it’s indoors, and there are plenty of cute places to shop. I love the selection at Rockin’ Streetwear!

Old Town Scottsdale is my favorite area to spend my days off. I’m a big book nerd, and I love the people at The Poisoned Pen Bookstore; they have a great selection of books, and the vibes are immaculate. My favorite bar is The Hot Chick because they have great bar food, and the bartenders always make the best drinks.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There are so many people I would like to thank because if it weren’t for the friends, mentors, and haters I’ve met along my journey, I wouldn’t be sitting here today having this conversation. More specifically, my family has been my biggest support system as I’ve taken the deep dive into filmmaking full-time, and they’ve done everything in their power to help me get the tools I needed to bring my ideas to life. I’m the oldest of four siblings and grew up in a military family. Needless to say, family is important to me because they were all I had between moving around from Florida to California and everywhere in between. Despite the usual concerns that I would be able to provide for myself and be a functioning member of society, my family has never once made me feel like I wasn’t good enough to be a filmmaker. They always pushed me to keep taking risks, follow every lead, and continue creating despite the hardships I may face. To spare everyone the long list of names, I want to thank my grandmother, Patti Boquist, because she’s always been an example of a fierce, driven businesswoman. She’s a fighter, and the example she’s set is why I still haven’t given up. She taught me not to take anyone’s crap, to stand up for myself, and never to listen to the haters. I do credit her for some of my stubbornness, but it’s what has driven me to keep pursuing work in the entertainment industry. You must be willing to face rejection in this industry. You have to know who you are and what you stand for because people in this line of business can and will take advantage of you. It can be easy to lose yourself, so I’m grateful to have people who will always have my back and bring me back down to earth when necessary. My grandmother has always pushed me to be the best version of myself, and I wouldn’t be where I am without her unconditional love and support.

Website: https://meghatronproductions.com/about/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/megdafilmnerd/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meghanmccullin/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/meghatron_prod

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/meghan.mccullin

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeyE0XFIdXztkmF2FCToCkQ

Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@themeghatron