Today we’d like to introduce you to Marc Baron.
Hi Marc, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I have been in the film/entertainment industry for many years. I am currently a 17-year board member of SAG-AFTRA. For more than 30 years, I was in a leadership role (with 10 as president) of the oldest professional theatrical organization, The Lambs, and was recently honored with the title of Shepherd Emeritus, the third in 149 years.
I am an award-winning screenwriter with two projects in development. I was encouraged to write by Matthew Broderick and Dustin Hoffman while working with them on the set of FAMILY BUSINESS, where I was Matthew’s double.
The films in development are MEGABALL$, a comedy about computer geeks, the lottery, and the Mob, and COMEBACK IN VIENNA, where classic Hollywood meets classic Vienna in a modern romantic comedy for an older couple. Each of these screenplays has received recognition from more than 39 international film festivals. I am scheduled to direct both films. In my years of experience on sets, I have spent extended periods alongside top directors and cinematographers, including William Fraker, Woody Allen, and Sidney Lumet, and worked alongside actors including Dustin Hoffman, Matthew Broderick, Sean Connery, and Sean Penn, to name a few.
My family roots are in Vienna, and two years ago, I became a dual citizen. My mother was born and raised in Vienna and was a schoolmate of Hedy Lamar. My grandmother was a concert pianist and distant relative to both Gustav Mahler and Alma Schindler [Mahler]. My grandfather was a respected sculptor in Vienna who knew Egon Schiele, Oskar Kokoschka, Franz Lehar, and Emerich Kalman. They escaped Vienna in Sept 1939 and came to New York. I have been researching my grandfather’s work to create an illustrated biography of his work, and in the process found family thought to have been killed during World War II.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The hardest thing is finding ways to pay bills while pursuing art. For example, for many years, I was a tour guide and lecturer giving tours and talks about the filming of the HBO hit THE SOPRANOS. Not having extra funds living in the most expensive city in NY makes it hard to have a very social life, and many days are spent at my computer researching and writing. Like many, Covid interrupted our lives…
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I have spent many years as a double/stand-in on film sets. I began my career in musical theater, and my mentor was Gene Kelly’s brother, Fred, who taught Gene how to dance. Because of family responsibilities, it was often difficult to follow the artistic route, which is what led to the stand-in work. But it was on those sets where I learned filmmaking from the best.
I have freely given of my time support my fellow actors by serving on many committees of SAG-AFTRA since the early 1990’s and serving on its board now more than 17 years. During the strike last summer, I was a main strike captain here in Manhattan.
My volunteer work at The Lambs for more than 30 years has kept the organization alive. It is the oldest professional theater organization, founded in 1874. It was Lambs who founded the Actors Found, Actors Equity, Paramount Pictures, United Artist, Screen Actors Guild, AFTRA, and some were involved in the merger creating SAG-AFTRA. The body of members since 1874 is impressive, as is their accomplishments. I joing shortly after the organization emerged out of bankruptcy. It is primarily a social club for professionals of entertainment and art but has become a piece of American Theatrical History. It also has a Foundation which supports education in the arts, non-profit theater, new works, and maintains an important art collection. I had served on its Board (we call Council) for thirty years, including 10 as its Shepherd (president), the 8th longest serving Shepherd. It was a non-paying full-time position, and I stepped down to pursue my own creative projects,
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
Perseverance
Contact Info:
- Website: MarcBaron.com www.Oroloro.com www.MegaBallsMovie.com www.ComebackInVienna.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oroloroent/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarcBaron
