Andrew Meikle is an actor and director, known for My Fake Boyfriend (2022) and Inside the Whale (2014) His new and captivating series Two Brothers follows the very real struggles of brothers Aaron and Aiden as they strive to fit in a small-town community. Andrew was kind enough to take time out of his schedule to discuss the origins of the project and its relevance in modern-day society.
Thank you for agreeing to catch up with Occhi Magazine. Congratulations on your career to date. How did you get into the film and TV industry?
Thank you so much for wanting to interview me and thank you for the congratulations!! I’ve always liked entertaining people and putting on performances ever since I was a kid. Then I started acting and modeling when I was 9 and I loved it! When I got into my teenage/young adult years I took a break and eventually started creating my own stuff.
Who are your biggest industry influences?
I love Wes Craven and Kevin Williamson. Wes directed Scream 1-4 and Kevin Williamson is a screenwriter that I aspire to be like. He wrote the original scream along with Vampire Diaries, Dawson Creek, and The Following. All shows that I was obsessed with. I would love to get into a room with him.
Working in the industry since the age of eight, was there a particular moment when you decided to form your own film company, Meikle Productions?
When I started writing my own stuff and discovered that I was actually good at it. Once I created my first feature I just had to keep going. That was the birth of Meikle Productions.
You have written, directed, and produced three features, a short film, and most recently the series Two Brothers. We’ll discuss Two Brothers in a moment. For readers unfamiliar with your work, are your projects underpinned by a particular theme?
I am huge horror and thriller fan, so a lot of the stuff I wrote before Two Brothers, are horror films. Which I definitely want to go back to for my next project.
Please tell us more about Two Brothers, what audiences can expect, and the origins of the script.
I originally wrote the script because the thought came to me that I’ve never seen a show that focuses on a set of twin brothers that have a different sexual orientation. I thought it would be interesting to show the different dynamics between the two. Then I added the fact that they are visible minorities and that allowed me to touch on my own experience and highlight topics that aren’t always talked about.
Do you think the stigma of being both black and part of the LGBTQ community is just as prevalent now as they were a decade ago?
I think it’s gotten a lot better, but there’s still work to be done. It is still illegal in some Caribbean countries to be gay. So, it’s tough for people who identify as LGBTQ2+ community to come out. I was terrified and with reason. Since I came out, I have not spoken to my dad. He has wanted nothing to do with me and it’s been 8 years already.
Your projects have garnered over 1.4 million views on YouTube. Congratulations on this achievement! Whilst many have historically used YouTube as a platform, do you think it’s becoming a preferred medium for independent filmmakers to showcase projects?
I definitely think so. It’s a great way for creators to get their work and ideas out there. All you need is for one person to see it who has some sort of influence and you’re set!
What other projects are you currently working on?
I am currently working on a pilot for another series that I’d like to pitch. I can’t say too much about it right now, but I’m extremely excited to get started on it. I’ve never seen this story told before and I think it’ll be interesting to see how people react. Also working on finishing the scripts for season two of Two Brothers! I can’t keep the audiences waiting too long, especially with those cliffhangers at the end of season one.
Q9. Where can our readers find out more about you and your projects?
They can follow me on Instagram @andrew.meikle
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