Earhart

With excellent acting, the film gives viewers much to ponder regarding the process of aging, the presence of love and the pain of loss.

Al explains, “’Thank You, Amelia Earhart’ was born of two family members who died within months of each other, my mother and a relative who lived to age one-hundred and seven! Very loving ladies who had hearts of angels but who could also be extremely tough customers. The protagonist in the film, Myrtle, is a composite of these two strong women for unrestrained interactions. More than any other project so far, my vision most fully translated to screen. From conceiving the idea of the screenplay through producing and directing the film, I’ve remained quite enamored with this literate character study, and I hope viewers feel the same.”

The jury spokesperson at WorldFest Houston shares, “Thank you, Ameila Earhart is an unflinching look at a woman whose heart takes her on a dark and conflicted journey which ultimately teaches her that love never dies.”

Al also shares with us that none of this would have been possible without his wife, Brandi Mertens. A glance at the film’s IMDb page reveals a fairly inconceivable list of her responsibilities on the film. Al and Brandi are quite the filmmaking team, and when they put their minds together, they can create something incredibly special, as evidenced by their first film together.

The film is dedicated to CoProducer David Jurney, a dear friend and co-creator, who passed away unexpectedly earlier this year.

Al has had many great influences in his life, including a story-telling father and book-worm mother; his high school teachers, Nina Smith, and Mary Lee Gill; Oscar winning Hollywood producer Gary Frederickson; directors Alfred Hitchcock, Martin Scorsese, Alexander Payne, fellow local director Mickey Reece; and many others.

With so many incredible influences, it is no wonder Al’s love of film blossomed into something much more. He gives us a glimpse into his true passion and shares with us, “I have an overwhelming desire to create works that capture the intensities of life: beauty, sadness, and hope. That’s what I strive to do - create a space of shared emotional humanity where we can rest together for a while.”

When we asked Al about his goals for the future, his response was refreshing to hear and only further validates his devotion to what he does. When asked, “What’s next?” he replies, “For me it’s all about the art. I’m living my end game right now - making art with my beautiful wife and friends in my hometown and loving every minute of it. The M. Night Shayamalan model of work/life balance in his hometown of Philadelphia, trucked down to Oklahoma City. ‘What’s next?’ as far as a film, is one that couldn't be further from this one, as it’s a lightning-paced political thriller. I like to think of Stanley Kubrick, whose lifetime filmography contains no duplicates.”

With so many things clearly setting Al Mertens apart from the rest, what sticks out to me personally is when he says, “Introversion is critical in practicing the solitude needed as a writer.”

He goes on to say, “The only concrete advice I would offer anyone in the making of movies would be to perpetually ask yourself, ‘Am I doing this with enough love?’ Love for the art form, love for everyone creating the art, love for everyone the art may eventually touch, and especially love for myself.”

Al leaves us with, “I try to always believe that everyone with whom I come into contact can end up being helpful in some way—and wants to be. And that I can be the same for them.” With such an outlook, success was surely inevitable.

It is no wonder ‘Thank you, Amelia Earhart’ has hit the ground running with an award-winning worldwide premiere. Between the dynamic duo filmmaking team of Al and Brandi, the deeply personal nature of the material, along with Al’s genuine artistic vision and willingness to take risks, the film succeeds in doing what few films do: it leaves a lasting impression.

For more information on ‘Thank you, Amelia Earhart,’ and to discuss distribution opportunities, please reach out to Al’s team via the ‘Thank you, Amelia Earhart’ Facebook page.