Founders
David Merritt
Creator & Co-Founder
David Merritt is a writer, director, and producer from Durham, North Carolina and now lives in Tarzana, California. He is a passionate storyteller who delves into multiple mediums. His writing accomplishments span the spectrum from awkward comedy to compelling drama.
At the beginning of his film career, David wrote and directed the dramatic short, The Rain Dance, which depicts the horror of domestic violence. As quoted by New York film critic Godfrey Cheshire “Rain Dance…is harrowing and believable yet also poetic and non sensational…mounted with considerable technical polish and visual sophistication.”
David also served as a writer and director for WWE RAW on the USA Network and Smack Down on the CW network. He directed action sequences and impromptu monologues, and he served as a writer and story editor on the video game Smack Down vs. Raw 2007.
In 2008, David started his production company, King David Films. In 2009, his horror script, Hangman, placed in the finals of the Screamfest LA screenwriting competition. In 2010, Hangman placed in the 2nd round of the Page Awards.
In 2013, David founded, the Brave New World Program (BNWP). This non-profit program empowers minorities, ages 18-24, selected from the communities of Los Angeles, California and gives them access to current film technology and teaches them the art of filmmaking and the sitcom pilot presentation. With this introduction to the latest in digital/film technology, David sparks interest in television production and post –production careers by giving students access to the Hollywood sound stage of SONY Electronics Limited on the SONY Pictures Entertainment lot for a 5-week hands-on program while being mentored by members of the Hollywood elite, including filmmaker Keenan Ivory Wayans, Toni Judkins, formally head of Original programming of TV- One, and Lena Waithe, Producer of Dear White People.
In 2014, David executive produced two dramatic shorts, Remember, and Remnants with Sony Electronics and his non-profit company, The Brave New World Program and King David Films.
Most recently in 2015, David wrote, directed, and produced a feature film titled Mouthpiece, an urban Swingers meets The Hangover. Steve Mason, the DP of Mad Men, served as the Director of Photography. David Merritt is also developing Mouthpiece as a television series.
In March 2015, David Merritt has executive produced /produced two comedy spec pilots, The New Rules and What Now? Through his non-profit, the BNWP, Sony Electronics and King David Films. This year, the program focused on the art of the spec pilot presentation.
Currently, David is in the early stages of writing and directing an original 1-hour action adventure pilot and a mind bending, psychological thriller short for his company King David Films.
DHANENDRA PATEL
Co-Founder
Professional with over 30 Years of experience in both Television broadcast industry and Hollywood Cinema as a Studio and Digital Cinema System specialist.
Patel received his BSEE in London 1978 and worked at BBC Television as Studio Engineer in Drama, Comedy and Live production. Since coming to US, Patel worked for Ikegami Electronics as Senior Camera Engineer supporting both Sports and ENG cameras. In 1996, Patel joined Sony Electronics as Support Engineer and then became Sr. Product Manager for cameras such as F23, F35 and most recently F65.
Interested in creating a program that advanced interest in film as well as provided a unique opportunity to minorities who otherwise might not get such an opportunity, Patel joined with David Merritt to make The Brave New World a reality.
