Today we’d like to introduce you to Mark O’Brien.
Hi Mark, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I grew up in Newfoundland. It’s a small province in Canada, in which there is a very strong artistic community. I began doing theater right out of high school, and then transitioned to short films and then a mini-series and then features. Before long, I got an agent and moved to Toronto and continued acting there for six or seven years. I then did a Canadian series for a number of years. That series allowed me to get my papers together to move to the LA, which I did in 2013. And I’ve been here ever since.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I don’t know if any road is smooth once you stretch it out. I’ve had many many ups and downs. I was very fortunate that when I moved to LA, there were a lot of opportunities. There was so much happening. And at that time, self-tape auditions were a rarity. You almost always auditioned in the room with a casting director. I believe that’s very beneficial if you’re a comfortable and prepared actor who’s willing to pivot on a dime and give them what they need. However, over the past 22 years in this business, there have been numerous disappointments and thousands of rejections. It never ends. And I suppose, that’s the game. The minute the rejections stop, what’s the point. I don’t want to shoot at an empty net! The most difficult are the classic actor rejections, but above that, as a filmmaker, you get pretty tested. You work and write a script over years and years and then no one reads it. Or they read it and don’t get back to you. That’s tough. No one wants to be the first one to say “yes.” And that’s happened to me probably more than anything. A script isn’t REAL to people. It’s not a movie in front of their face on a screen, with recognizable people. So how do you convince people that you can make that a reality? It takes perseverance and a stubborn belief in yourself that can make you feel crazy. You’re on an island oftentimes as an artist. Luckily, I come from an island, so I’m used to it.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m an actor/filmmaker. When it comes to what I’m most proud of, honestly, I’m proud that I can call myself a working artist who’s able to live off of my craft without compromising my art. That’s a privileged space to be in. The film business is unforgiving and if you can make it in that business and then still be able to have a life, that’s an achievement. I suppose, for me, that comes from a dogged obsession with what I do. I’m always in a stage of writing, directing, editing and acting in multiple things at once. But that all comes from a daily pursuit to excel in this work. When I decided to become an actor and filmmaker, I started reading two film books, simultaneously, and watching an average of two films a day, everyday. I’ve been doing that for over 20 years. That provides a discipline and a knowledge of what you’re doing that no amount of rejection can dislodge. It also creates a curiosity in you work ethic. I CHOOSE to write one script after another, out of joy and eagerness. But that productivity gives you versatility, because I always have a dozen irons in the fire.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
Hit me up on insta!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @markobrienforeal
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkQT9AZlPCI
