Yet
another multi-talented merman in our midst, Merman Christian comes to us from
Baltimore Maryland. Christian is an active staple in the independent film
business and working his way into the major studios. It is no surprise that he
majored in Theater, what may come as a surprise was this young man’s passion
for the ocean and all the life within the deep blue. Merman Christian’s love
for sharks, rays, whales, dolphins and starfish began as a child and was
quickly followed by his new love…mermaids!
High School was the perfect time for him to major in his two passions,
Marine Biology and Theater. Now that our stage has been set, Merman Christian
has grown up and his dreams are being met. A couple years ago he started making
his own monofins and stumbled upon the Mermaid Community. Seeing how passionate
others were about mermaid life and seeing professional mermaids, it was time to
take the plunge. Merman Christian created his own tail with his own monofin,
but he also wanted to have a message…"Fighting for our Oceans on a much
deeper scale..."
Meridian:
Explain to me how you started making monofins and why?
Merman
Christian: Well it started about 2 years ago when I rediscovered my immense
love for the ocean. Since I was a kid everything was always about sharks, rays,
jellyfish, and MERMAIDS, but as I got older I started getting into new projects
like working and acting in film and television and I lost sight of my passion
for the ocean, however I DID study Marine biology in high school. Anyway, one
day I was online on Youtube and I happened to search for mermaids and that’s
how I discovered the woman who is now my biggest inspiration in the
mer-community and that is MERMAID MELISSA. I watched a lot of her videos and
was fascinated by her breath-holding skills, her presence, but especially her
awesome tail, which was made by the ever-talented MIKE VAN DAAL. It was then I
really discovered the Mer-community and what it was all about, as well as the
many tail makers out there. I decided that I would give it a try too! When I
first set out making them I decided I wasn't really going to make tails because
everyone else was making them and I was going to be different, so I was going
to just make the monofins, cause let's face it: the FIN/FLUKE is the best part
of having a mermaid tail. While a lot of tail makers’ offer beautiful, but
expensive tails, I made mine on a much cheaper scale. I don’t try to deny that
they can't tear or become damaged; they're more of a 'starter' fin.
Meridian:
Tell me more about your efforts with the Chesapeake Bay. (I used live in
Virginia near Chesapeake Bay, you have my full attention!)
Merman
Christian: I love Virginia Beach! Great Whale Watching, haha. Well when I set
out to be Merman Christian I didn't just want to be a professional Merman, I
wanted to take it to another level and give back to our waters. The Chesapeake
Bay is such a busy watershed, and while it offers beauty with its blue crabs,
tidal marshes, and many other birds and wildlife, it also has a dark side to it
when it comes to people dumping anything and everything into it, and that’s
what I'm trying to gain awareness for. I went on an Aquarium outing to go and
clean up the tidal marshes around Fort McHenry (home of the Star-Spangled
Banner), and it was just constant trash floating in from the bay, it was really
awful. We would get an area clean, and then within an hour it looked just as it
did when we started. I want to be a spokesperson for keeping the bay clean and
I picked the Merman symbol because it's something everyone can associate with,
especially children!
 |
The Winner of the First Merman of the Month Contest,
hosted by Merman Minerals on Facebook! |
Meridian:
What is it like being an aquatic performer?
Merman
Christian: Well I've done theatre and film work for many years, but I have
never done anything like THIS! It's quite the haul and can be exhausting at
times, I mean when you're strapped into a 40" wide fluke and skin-tight
tail it's definitely a workout! I have a breath-hold of 3 minutes but my goal
is to push it to 4. I get water up my nose, my eyes are blood-shot at the end
of the day, but when it really boils down to it, I love it. It's like the
ultimate connection with the water and the ocean, a form of escape. I'm pushing
very hard to get the National Aquarium here in Baltimore to allow Mers.
Mermaids are even bigger than ever now, and other aquariums are already
starting to get in on it. We provide educational services about the oceans and
who better than a Mermaid, or MERMAN to teach others about that. I've been
currently talking to some pretty big people, so it's looking more and more
positive each day.
Meridian:
Where can people view your film/print work?
Merman
Christian: Currently all my Merman work can be viewed on my Facebook page. But
I'm in the process of getting some videos together too which I will be putting
on Youtube, which is also where you can find some of my film work.
Meridian:
Are you currently working on any conservation programs?
Merman
Christian: I am currently a member of the ACT program at the aquarium, which is
where we go out and clean up the marshlands, beaches and other bodies of water
around the area.
Check out Merman
Christian and stay connected:
www.facebook/mermanchristian
www.imdb.com
(under CHRIS O'BROCKI)
Love,
Peace, & Mermaids,
Meridian
Things
to Look For this Month!
“The
Men behind the Mermaids: Tail Makers”
“Merman
Minerals Review” and more blogs by Merman Ryan
“A
Merman’s Guide to Preening”
Make
sure you stop by Merman Minerals.com to check out all the products from shave
creams to shampoos, this stuff isn’t for the Mermaids! Merman of the Month
Contest in now in full swing, swim on over to Merman Minerals Facebook page to
vote for your favorite Hunky Merman or Sultry Pirate.
Check
back with Mermaid Talk for more blogs, photos, and adventure!
Leave
a comment, stay connected and be sure to follow Meridian Mer-Gyver at:
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/meridian.mergyver
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/MeridianMerGyve
Our caravan of mermaids and pirate props descends on the main gates of CBS
studios, a quick check in and we are ushered off to our location for the day.
Set up began quickly, the trucks were unloaded and it was time for the
Landsmen to take over. The Mermaids were shown to our dress room which was
located in the same sound stage that filmed Roseanne
and Mary Taylor Moore.
