It appears that everything Meryll Soriano has gone through in her showbiz career and life in general — from her mental health journey to motherhood — has prepared her for the next step: directing.
“We’ve been working on it and hopefully, first quarter of next year — the short first, and then the full-length hopefully will follow,” she confirmed to The Philippine STAR her forthcoming directorial debut during an intimate press event hosted by her management team CreaZion.
Her first short was supposed to be a full-length one, but upon the advice of industry colleagues, she was encouraged to set things in motion with the short film, have a feel of the process and find her “template.”
“The topic was also very controversial at that time. It’s about postpartum psychosis and it needs a lot of research, and up to now, we’re still researching for the script. I’m happy that Mark Meily is helping me write it,” she said of her director in “Donor,” the 2010 Cinemalaya Best Picture winner that also earned Meryll the Best Actress award.
“It was such a long journey to find a writer until, of course, upon the advice of Sir Ricky Lee (National Artist for Film), to just write it. And when I did, I still wasn’t happy, so I asked for help… Just know your strengths and weaknesses. So, I’m just really happy I have people around me to support me on this.”
CreaZion, which also manages the acting careers of Dolly de Leon and Charo Santos-Concio, will serve as a co-producer for these films.
“Matagal na,” Meryll confessed when asked when the dream to direct started.
“Since 2010. But I just felt like I didn’t want to be a director yet kasi parang gusto kong umarte… hindi pa ako tapos. I wanted to do so many things.”
There was a time before, Meryll further admitted, when people around her were already pushing her toward directing. “Parang may pressure before. But I had to wait for my own time — yung sa tingin ko na ready na ako.”
That time has come and her planned first outing will touch on mental health, a topic that hits close to home.
“Eighteen years na akong diagnosed bipolar, and yung psychiatrist ko 18 years ago, hanggang ngayon siya pa rin yung doctor ko,” Meryll shared.
She, nevertheless, pointed out that her first attempt at directing aims to explore a different side of mental health — a more serious, darker side, so to speak — as it delves into postpartum psychosis.
“I’m really interested in postpartum psychosis,” she said, although she clarified she didn’t experience any severe postpartum condition after giving birth to her two boys — Elijah and Gido.
“Yung saglit lang, normal na dadaanan parang baby blues, pero hindi ako yung sagad na postpartum.”
But Meryll’s inspiration came from a real-life story that she discovered through a documentary.
“Ang hilig ko sa documentary, as in, pampatulog ko siya. Bata pa lang ako, nanonood na ako ng mga documentaries,” she said. “And I chanced upon this story of a mom who killed her kids…”
And because she wanted to understand the context more, the research for it took time and is still ongoing, as mentioned. “Kaya natagalan din dahil sa research. I wanted to know: Will it happen to us? Meron ba dito sa Philippines? Parang na-curious ako dun,” she said, explaining how she wanted to also explore Filipino family dynamics through the story.
Her full-length look into another mental health-related topic.
“Siguro yung full-length na gagawin ko someday is something very, very close to my heart — something I haven’t experienced myself, pero nakikita ko sa mga taong malapit sa akin. It’s about grief, personal loss,” she said.
When asked by this paper if she was motivated to direct because of the shortage of female filmmakers, she said it wasn’t a conscious reason.
“Hindi ko naisip yun,” Meryll admitted. “Gusto ko lang.”
So, while she’s known as an actress first, it’s just that her creative curiosity continues to grow — and she’s finally pursuing her other artistic interests.
Apart from developing her first short and full-length films, she now produces content for her YouTube channel “Invisible War,” a docu-style talk show centered on mental health.
“Bet na bet ko yung mag-i-interview lang ako,” she expressed. “It’s on my YouTube — I had guests like Ms. Dolly de Leon and Tito Boy Abunda. Ang saya kasi they really trusted me with their stories, and that ‘Invisible War’ became a safe space for them.”
Additionally, Meryll co-hosts a lighthearted online show, “The Mel and Meryll Show,” with her uncle, actor-comedian Mel Martinez.
“Walang kakwenta-kwenta ‘yon, promise!” she quipped. “Pampa-good vibes lang, yung mga uso na nagva-viral sa TikTok.”
Meryll with fellow CreaZion artists (clockwise, from bottom right) Karlo Carranza, Esteban Mara, Aaron Maniego, Polo Laurel, Chico Alicaya, Brei, Gabby Padilla, Chai Fonacier, Pupa Dadivas, Jade Lopez and Alex Agustin.
Meryll on dad Willie: I really want a relationship with him
Meryll Soriano has recently opened up about her relationship with her father, TV host-businessman Willie Revillame.
It’s no showbiz secret that they’ve had some tough times in the past. But she’s glad to note that “I’m happy na nakakasama ko siya ngayon…”
She’s helping him now with his businesses. She told The Philippine STAR: “I am helping him also now, and I’m happy… Natuwa siya and it’s time because I really want a relationship with him. Mahal ko kasi ang Tatay ko.
“Nakikita ko siya now, paano siya mag-isip, paano siya sa amin magkakapatid.
“Finally, nabuksan din yung door na magkaroon kami ng mas malalim na relasyon.”
When asked about her designated role in the company, she laughed: “COO — child of owner.”
“But I’m happy kasi siempre, alam ko naman and totoo naman din yun na sino pa ba ang pagkakatiwalaan mo, di ba?”
She likewise hinted that her father, who went on a TV hiatus when he ran for the Senate during the last midterm elections, is returning to your screens. Perhaps, sooner than expected?
“Lapit na rin. Excited ako, excited siya.”
When asked if she would tap her father to co-produce her upcoming films, Meryll said that Willy has a different business model in showbiz, but there’s no harm in asking for his support once the projects materialize.
Besides, she’s not type who feels like an entitled child also because “my father’s not like that…napatunayan na namin na hindi basta-basta na ganun na lang siya nagbibigay ng money or whatever.
“Hindi kasi siya spoiler. Hindi kami spoiled. Ako rin kasi ang aga ko nag-work, ang aga ko rin napatapos yung mga kapatid ko, kaya hindi ako… ‘Papa, penge,’ hindi ko siya values.
“Pero siguro kung tutulungan niya ako, but dapat buong-buo na yung project, may script, logistics buo na.”
Despite being a second-generation showbiz figure, Meryll doesn’t let the “nepo baby” tag bother her.
“Alam mo Nepo baby kasi ako Totoo naman, pero naging negative nalang kasi but it’s just a term na totoo naman. Of course, I’ve worked hard (for where I am now).
“Hindi ako affected na ma-brand ako. Ako ang nepo baby na walang pera. But really, naging negative na lang siya kasi yung yung term,” she said.
“But proud ako na pamangkin ako ni Maricel (Soriano, the Diamond Star). Proud ako na anak ako ni Willie. It doesn’t hurt my ego.”
