Today we’d like to introduce you to Marques Mallare.
Hi Marques, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Before filmmaking, I got an early taste of the entertainment world being in front of an audience while I was a young martial artist. I traveled and performed all over the world in places like Texas, Florida, Vegas, Toronto, and Istanbul.
When I was 17, I got an unexpected call from one of my martial arts instructors asking me if I was able to hop on the next flight to Los Angeles to be an actor and stuntman on an action drama feature film, Money Fight. I hopped on the first flight out and got to experience how a movie is made.
Fast forward to a year before graduating college, I started to work on the other side of the camera with my martial arts friends and Directors of Photography, Isiah Flores and Deangelo Harding. I quickly fell in love with the production side of filmmaking and tried to get on as many projects as I could.
Along the way, I directed my first short film, Palm Swings, and I earned accolades from the Independent Shorts Awards and IndieX Film Fest. Since then, I’ve continued to direct independent narrative films, commercials, and music videos while creating opportunities to work with my friends.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The road hasn’t been smooth, and it’s probably never going to be. The paths that artists choose are unfortunately bumpy. Even after more than a decade of being a filmmaker, there always seems to be some potholes that appear that we have to navigate.
Along the way, life happens: COVID-19 was a thing, uncertainty wondering when the next job is coming, hoping that Net 30 pay will magically hit your bank account sooner, work-life balance, or surviving LA. Is filmmaking easy? Not at all. It continues to break my heart over and over again. All you can do is continue to put in the work, roll with the punches, and don’t quit. Just keep going.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I wear many hats in the film industry, but my main focus is directing narrative films, music videos, and commercials. My role is to take an idea or script and create a vision that brings the story to life. I help create the environment that allows the cast and crew to come and do what they came to do, share their talents, and perform.
I work closely with actors to develop their characters, block scenes, rehearse, and deliver performances that make me cry happy tears. I also collaborate with department heads from pre-production through post-production, making sure that creative decisions align with the overall vision we started with. Beyond directing, you’ll often find me producing narrative projects or working in the camera department.
What I’m most proud of are the connections I’ve built over the years. It feels like being part of a unique, creative fraternity of crazy talented people who come together and create.
What sets me apart is my ability to show up with hella heart, hustle, and have fun. I’m not afraid to get my hands dirty and offer a helping hand if it’s needed. If you’re a part of the squad, I’m with you until the end. And we’re going to laugh.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
Every artist that makes a career out of their creativity is a risk taker. To get out of your comfort zone and evolve in your profession, it’s necessary to take those steps that you haven’t before. I take risks when I really believe in a piece of work, meet an inspiring collaborator, or want to challenge myself with something new and interesting. Sometimes, I don’t even really know what I’m getting myself into, but I know that the next step will get me closer to where I want to be.
My most recent risk involved personally financing a proof of concept that I directed with the hope that it will lead to someone helping us make the feature film. I fully invested myself into this project not knowing if it will lead to anything or just live online. Yes it’s risky, but I believe in myself and my team, and it’s worth the risk. If nothing comes of it, that’s film for you. On to the next winning idea.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://marquesmallare.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/marquesvmallare
