I'm Dean, a father, chef and hospitality trainer. Merak started as a simple urge to document the things I love. Food, music, fashion and the people who give culture its grit and beauty.

I grew up around kitchens, apprenticed as a chef, dropped out of screen and media, mix music and spend far too much time behind a camera. Merak is my way of trying to capture spirit. The unpolished, everyday moments that quietly reveal who people really are.

Beyond the kitchen, I've spent years teaching and working in hospitality, but my curiosity has always pulled me towards film, clothes, sound and the life happening in the streets around me.

This isn't a polished TV show or a perfectly curated feed. As you'll probably notice in my films and writing, I believe most of what we're looking for is already right in front of us. You just have to pay attention.

I’m always open to new ideas, and collaborations.
Email or DM always open.