Photo credit: Lola Scott
Today we’d like to introduce you to Christian ‘Blaque’ Meier.
Hi Christian ‘Blaque’, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
All my life, I’ve been an avid daydreamer. If disassociating down a wormhole of idiosyncratic storylines was a D-1 sport, I’d be getting drafted. I was raised by a single mom who made a modest income from cleaning houses. As a child, I would accompany her to work and be left to entertain myself. Without the distraction of TV or video games, and in a time before iPads, my imagination would be the main source of enjoyment. I could keep myself occupied for hours by getting lost in a mind maze of my own fantastical world, which inevitably led to my love for creative performing. I grew up in rural North Georgia, and during my time in high school, I participated in theater productions, which further ignited my love for acting. After graduating, I secured representation from an Atlanta agent and began auditioning for roles in films, TV shows, and commercials.
While I managed to secure numerous commercial roles, I faced challenges in finding my place in the world of film and TV. Being half black and half white, I found myself in a difficult position, as I didn’t quite fit the mold for either black or white roles. The industry at that time had a clear racial divide, with characters being strictly categorized. I was often limited to auditioning for roles labeled as “African American,” which unfortunately tended to perpetuate racial stereotypes with titles like “Thug” or “Gangbanger.” Although these sorts of roles were skillfully portrayed by others, I personally had no interest in playing characters defined solely by their race. As these sorts of auditions continued to roll in, I became increasingly frustrated with my career. I decided that if I could not audition for the types of characters I was most interested in, I would write them myself. I began writing my own scripts and creating short films as a way to express my creativity. Some of these short films and screenplays found their way into the hands of filmmakers who genuinely appreciated my work.
This led to collaborations with aspiring writers, producers, and directors, where I would assist in refining their scripts, outlining their ideas, and developing their concepts further.
It’s around this time that I partnered with the production company Grand Line Creations, where we would produce narrative shorts and feature films, including our upcoming horror feature, Dementophobia, starring Hannah Fierman, Piper Collins, and Keith Brooks.
As my network expanded and my passion for the industry grew, I ventured into establishing my second production company, Trash Mouth Productions. This unique company is dedicated to crafting unconventional and absurd narrative content while uplifting emerging creatives and fostering an anti-hierarchical collective. Under the banner of TMP, we proudly released our first short film, Lovestruck, which has garnered immense success and is now available for streaming on Redcoral. Additionally, we are eagerly anticipating the release of our upcoming comedy murder mystery, The Murder on Cape Melancholy, a project that I have written and directed with the support of the talented Trash Mouth team, including Edi Tingle, Zach Echols, and the brilliant cinematography of Tylere Brown and Tony Collins.
With these new pursuits, I earned new opportunities for my acting career as I booked roles such as Henry in the Freeform/Hulu show Single Drunk Female, as well as a handful of feature films for Hulu, Hallmark, and Lifetime.
Despite the numerous challenges and setbacks I met, I had the privilege of encountering exceptionally gifted individuals who played a pivotal role in guiding my journey and uncovering a way to channel my excessive daydreaming and turn it into something meaningful.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I am half black and half Jewish, which comes with its own set of challenges. I have always been labeled as “not white enough” or “not black enough.” I always felt out of place in a sometimes divisive culture. I grew up as one of the few people of color in Forsyth County, a community so notorious for its prejudice that Opera Winfrey produced a television special about it. Growing up in this type of atmosphere taught me a lot. I learned how to manage difficult situations, how to command a room, and that when life does not provide you with a seat at the table, you must forge your own path.
Growing up in my hometown, I faced the challenge of being perceived as “too black” by some individuals; however, as I embarked on my journey as an actor, I discovered that I wasn’t considered “black enough” in the industry. The film world was still divided, with limited roles offered to black actors compared to their white counterparts. Being labeled as an “African American actor,” I found myself auditioning for stereotypical characters like thugs or gang members. These roles didn’t resonate with me, and I grew frustrated with the lack of opportunities. Determined to portray the characters I truly desired, I made the decision to create my own opportunities by writing, producing, and developing my own projects. This choice ultimately resulted in a significantly more fulfilling career and helped me discover my love for writing.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
As a writer and filmmaker, I have a passion for what I call “a spoonful of sugar to help the medicine go down” storytelling. Difficult truths and hard-to-tell tales wrapped up in an easy-to-absorb package, writing whimsical, theatrical comedies about melancholic situations to tell deeper stories of sadness and grief in a more lighthearted way. At present, I am involved with two production companies. The first is Trash Mouth Productions, where I have recently taken on the roles of writer, director, and producer for our upcoming comedy/murder mystery titled ‘The Murder on Cape Melancholy’. I am fortunate to have the support and collaboration of my fellow Trash Mouth producers, Zach Echols and Edi Tingle.
Additionally, I am also associated with Grand Line Creations, where I have written and produced our horror feature film titled ‘Dementophobia’. This film stars the talented Hannah Fierman, known for her roles in ‘VHS’ and ‘Creepshow’. It was skillfully directed by Richard Hempton and expertly captured by Robert Vardaros, who also serves as the film’s director of photography.
For updates on ‘The Murder on Cape Melancholy” as well as a full lineup of upcoming work, you can follow us on Instagram at @trashmouthproductions.
You can also check out our short film, Lovestruck, on the streaming platform Redcoral.
https://redcoraluniverse.com/en/love-struck
And Grand Line Creations and Dementophobia on Instagram: @grandlinecreations and @dementophobia_movie
If you’re interested in information, business inquiries, castings, collaborations, or just to see what we’re up to, feel free to reach out at: info@trashmouthproductions.com and casting@trashmouthproductions.com
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
Luck is what you make of it. I believe bad luck continues to prepare me for the future’s good fortune. If it wasn’t for my hardships, I wouldn’t have learned to be quick on my feet, adapt, and overcome. I see my good luck as being provided in the form of the community I hold dear. I feel very lucky to have supportive parents and family; I feel very lucky to have supportive friends, and I feel very lucky to pursue my passion with people I love.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.trashmouthproductions.com/
- Instagram: @christian_blaque @trashmouthproductions @grandlinecreations @dementophobia_movie
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/trashmouthprod
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-t3CC1EJRw
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/trash-mouth-productions-atlanta
- Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4963536/
Image Credits
Lola Scott Art, BTS from Single Drunk Female, BTS from Lifetime, BTS from Dementophobia, BTS from The Murder on Cape Melancholy
