Mark J Blackman
Narrative

Mark J. Blackman is a Director, DOP and Editor of emotionally-fuelled, deeply cinematic drama, creating films driven by naturalistic performances, rich visuals and an obsessive attention to mood, tone and texture.

His work has won numerous international awards, including Grand Prix and Gold awards from the New York Film & TV Awards, EVCOM Film Awards and Cannes Corporate & Media Awards amongst others.

Mark is drawn to stories that wear their heart on a bloodstained sleeve — films with real emotional stakes that explore difficult, human territory, often touching on subjects such as sexual harassment, domestic abuse and psychological trauma.

Alongside his narrative work, Mark has directed projects across Europe, the United States, Asia and the Middle East, developing a reputation as a calm, focused and reassuring presence within complex production environments. He is equally comfortable working with established performers, non-actors, large crews or intimate teams, always chasing the same thing: something that feels truthful.

A keen visual stylist and ferocious lens-junkie, Mark self-DOPs the majority of his work and owns an arsenal of cameras and glass, including a custom-built set of 1977 Leica primes — sometimes referred to as his other nine children. He favours operating whenever possible, allowing him an exploratory proximity with talent, and believes faces are the greatest special effect of all.

That said, he’s no stranger to actual special effects. Over the years he’s shot time-frozen exploded heads, gunned-down priests at 200fps, dog-walkers decimated by trains and blown the bloody doors off via eye-glowing telekinesis.

While Mark’s work often ventures into the darker climes of human experience, he also directs and DOPs bright, bouncy and playful commercials — proving that, occasionally, he does do nice.