Arzen Rose Dulzura

Meryll Soriano to venture into directing next year: ‘This concept has been with me for 20 years’

Article (news)

Rhea Manila Santos

Push Team

<p>As part of the roster of talents of CreaZion Studios this year, Meryll Soriano revealed her plans to finally get behind the camera and direct her first short film and full-length film projects starting next year. She broke the news at the CreaZion Studios Artists presscon held last October 9 at the Midnight Dream Studio in Glorietta 4, Makati City. </p><p>“Right now, CreaZion is helping me with achieving my dreams at becoming a director. We’re slowly getting there. It’s been long overdue pero sabi ko nga, it’s all in the right time. The short film that I’m directing is something that has been brewing for 20 years na. This concept has been with me for 20 years, and it came full circle na rin kasi ‘yung mga makakakatrabaho ko dito ay kasama noong nabuo ko ‘yung istorya sa utak ko. So I’m looking foward to that,” she shared. </p><p>“It’s about mental health because advocacy ko ‘yun. And it’s very important for me for that to be my first film,” she added. “But sa full-length, I’m working on something na very exciting for me kasi it’s very, very personal.”</p><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-24" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DPl-9e4EhyD/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=675&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A24%2C%22os%22%3A3102071%2C%22ls%22%3A284661%2C%22le%22%3A285088%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="746" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-24" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/2019/12/6/fresh-scoops/meryll-soriano-on-working-with-john-lloyd-cruz-aga-40982"><strong><u>READ: Meryll Soriano on working with John Lloyd Cruz again: ‘I would like to apologize kung nasaktan siya’</u></strong></a></div><p>When asked how she felt about joining the same talent management company as Dolly De Leon, Gabby Padilla, and Chai Fonacier, Meryll said she felt right at home. “I love it. Kasi alam niyo, hindi talaga ako into big management. I’ve always had a personal manager na one lang, so to be able to find my tribe that will really understand and support my passion and understand kung gaano ako kabaliw na hindi ako ija-judge o pipilitin gawin ‘yung mga ayaw ko. So I found this family na I feel is home. So I’m very happy. I’m very honored to be part of CSA,” she explained. </p><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-22" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DPogwAOCeO_/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=675&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A22%2C%22os%22%3A3063050%2C%22ls%22%3A284661%2C%22le%22%3A285088%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="925" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-22" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><p>Having been in showbiz since she was a child, Meryll shared that there are perks to growing up on the set as she explained her approach to acting in different mediums. “I think ‘pag movie, mas locked-in ka sa character. ’Pag TV kasi of course, may formula; ‘pag theater, mas disciplined. Kumbaga, iba iba naman dapat. I always have a good support system when it comes sa set. Siguro dahil lumaki na ako sa set, so parang family ko na. Bawat set na mapuntahan ko, parang pamilya ko na rin. Okay naman,” she added. </p><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-20" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DNSyab8pZVX/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=675&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A20%2C%22os%22%3A3046629%2C%22ls%22%3A284661%2C%22le%22%3A285088%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="611" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-20" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/celebrities/2025/5/18/exclusive-meryll-soriano-reveals-why-she-doesn-t-want-more-kids-grabe-ang-sacrifice-2057"><strong><u>READ: EXCLUSIVE: Meryll Soriano reveals why she doesn’t want more kids: ‘Grabe ang sacrifice’</u></strong></a></div><p>Even though she has an acting career that has already spanned more than three decades, the <em>It’s Okay To Not Be Okay </em>actress revealed why she is not picky when it comes to roles on television. “I think ‘pag dating sa TV, lagi ko sinasabi na alipin tayo ng pera, ‘di ba? (laughs). But ‘pag dating sa film, ‘yan talaga ‘yung pinaka para kang may boses. So that’s where I get to choose kung ano talaga ‘yung gusto ko, kung ano ‘yung pinaniniwalaan ko. So I don’t just take on kung ano ‘yung mga inquiry, but I really have to read the script so that it’s aligned with my values and sa beliefs ko,” she said.  </p><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-18" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DPl-SbjkmTw/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=675&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A18%2C%22os%22%3A3012857%2C%22ls%22%3A284661%2C%22le%22%3A285088%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="747" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-18" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/celebrities/2025/5/7/exclusive-meryll-soriano-on-getting-back-into-sports-mama-needs-it-for-herself-1012"><strong><u>READ: EXCLUSIVE: Meryll Soriano on getting back into sports: ‘Mama needs it for herself’</u></strong></a></div><p>The CreaZion Studio artist also shared tips for the younger batch of actors that are currently still navigating their way through showbiz. “Iba na kasi ‘yung panahon ngayon at noon eh. There’s really a big gap on how you handle your personal life and your wok life. Ngayon kasi when you go home, may social media. You also have to work in your own space. So I think maganda kung magkaroon sila ng line or boundary sa sarili nila on what to do and scheduling na hindi naman nila ginagawa all of the time, because ma-bu-burnout ka talaga. So I think it’s important to have ‘yung safe space mo and to be offline pagka meron kang certain time na tapos na ang social media kasi sabi nga nila brain rot nga ang social media ngayon,” she explained. </p><p>As a personal rule, Meryll said she does not entertain any more messages from outside her family late at night so she can give her full attention to her children at home. “Alam mo meron akong junakis na four (years old), ‘yung mga nakikita kong pinapanuod nila, sabi ko, ‘Ano ‘to? Parang sunugan ng utak!’ (laughs). Parang ganun. So I think it’s important to have boundaries. Kasi papaano mo nga naman iba-balance ang work-life ngayon kasi parang ‘pag nasa bahay ka na, dala mo pa rin ’yung trabaho mo. Kunwari ako, 11 o’clock bawal na ako maka-receive ng notifications sa phone. ‘Yung mga important na lang like for family kasi pag may emergency. Pero ‘yung mga tungkol sa work, wala na. Tapos na ang 11 o’clock (laughs). Kasi may time ka pa with your kids and mahirap i-balance ‘yan pagka siyempre addict ka din sa phone minsan, so you have to have self-awareness pagdating niyan. So it’s important,” she added.</p>

<p>CreaZion Studios artist Meryll Soriano talks about her plans to finally direct her first short film and full-length film scheduled for next year.</p>

CreaZion Studios artist Meryll Soriano talks about her plans to finally direct her first short film and full-length film scheduled for next year.