To achieve success and popularity in a certain field of activity, it is necessary to show persistence. In addition to perseverance, appropriate abilities will be required. Natalia Merkulova came to the cinema, being a sought-after journalist.
Childhood and youth
You won’t become famous in a hatched nest. To succeed in the modern sense, one has to leave one's native places. Natalia Fedorovna Merkulova was born on September 19, 1979 in a family of rural intelligentsia. Parents at that time lived in the small town of Buzuluk, which is located in the vast Orenburg steppes. Father is a veterinarian by profession. Mother worked in a local clinic. The child was not even one year old when the head of the family was transferred to the remote village of Edogon, Tulunsky District, Irkutsk Region.
In the village, children from young nails are taught independence. Natasha helped her mother to housekeeping. Could ask hay and milk a cow. I went to the taiga, which began immediately behind the garden, by berries. At school, the girl studied well. I read a lot. Literature and the Russian language were her favorite subjects. In high school, she already knew that she would become a journalist. To realize her dream, Merkulova purposefully prepared for admission to the journalism department of Irkutsk State University.
Already in her student years, Merkulova was engaged in literary work. She wrote informational notes for local newspapers. I tried to record reports for television. In 2001, she received a diploma of specialized education and began working in the news program on one of the city television channels. The "news creation" process is interesting and fascinating. Even in a provincial city, which Irkutsk is considered to be in all respects, you can attract the attention of viewers with a non-standard presentation of information. Natalia did it well.
Director and screenwriter
At first, the career of a television journalist was quite successful. After some time, the video materials and comments prepared by the news anchor Merkulova for broadcast began to be subjected to strict censorship. The moment came when a talented and efficient journalist slammed the door and went for free bread. Using established contacts, she prepared informational videos for federal television companies. Scenes from the life of Irkutsk and its environs were shown on Channel One, RTR and REN TV. For several years, Natalya broadcast the “Special Opinion” program on the NTS.
After some time, the television routine began to tire and even annoy the experienced journalist Merkulova. She began to consistently and methodically look for herself another area of activity. In 2004, she quit TV journalism and began trying her hand at documentary films. By that time, many people had already realized the danger that drug addiction posed to society. Against the background of social degradation, drugs began to show interest in adolescents, and even children. The result of this hobby was the epidemic of HIV infection.
Merkulova wrote the script and made a documentary called "Cell" about HIV-infected children who live in the Irkutsk region. For this work, the author was awarded the prize of the International Press Club named after Artyom Borovik. Of course, Natalia sought to develop her success. However, she lacked experience and knowledge in this area. Then she makes a bold decision and enters the Higher Courses for Scriptwriters and Directors in Moscow. Everything would be fine, but in order to pay for his studies, he had to urgently seek ten thousand dollars.
A short period of time after completing Merkulov’s courses, as they say, filled her hand in the project “Engagement Ring”. She wrote texts for the series. At this moment, she met her future husband and colleague Alexei Chupov. From the first days of their acquaintance, they set about creating the script for the film "Intimate Places." As planned by the authors themselves, the picture was provocative. The film turned out like that. At the Kinotavr festival in Sochi in 2013, the tape received the prize "For Best Debut" and the award "Guilds of Film Critics and Film Critics."
