Hidden Gems: Meet Mark Marabate of Marabate Studios

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mark Marabate.

Hi Mark, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
One day, around the age of twelve, I was helping my family with spring cleaning. We had a two-story, modest size home, in the suburbs of Michigan. A typical home, like ours, always had a basement, mainly where spiders could live rent free. While digging around I unearthed a magical device called a Video Camera (VHS to be specific). It was about the size of a Buick and just as easy to handle but it opened up a brand new world for me, that of movie-making. From that day on I have always had some sort of camera in my hand.

Through the years I turned a hobby into a passion, making upward of about thirty independent shorts and feature films, many before the age of thirty. Along the way I studied the history, art, and techniques of Filmmaking at the University of Michigan and with a variety of mentors. It was this education and guidance that gave me the confidence to take what I love, which is storytelling, and turn it into a career.

Now, as I approach ten years of running my own video production company, Marabate Studios, I am proud of the steps that led me to be an artist in my field. Whether I am telling the story of a couple’s wedding, a company rolling out their new product, or a non-profit trying to raise money, I take the skills, education, and experience with me into each video as I tell their story. I often tell my daughter, who loves to practice with her own camera, that there are thousands of stories to be told and it’s up to you to decide how best to tell them.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
An artist’s road is always bumpy.

When I was younger the bumps were mainly mental. I knew very early on what I wanted to do with my life, which was storytelling and movie-making. While some see that as a blessing, as I knew many people who felt directionless, I felt this became a frustration. So often where I wanted to be and where I was were never the same place. While I wanted to be outside filming a new short film, I was inside learning algebra. While I wanted to be learning about Orson Welles and Steven Spielberg, I was learning about Christopher Columbus and John F. Kennedy. When I was older I wanted to be where the action was in my profession, Los Angeles or New York, and not a small town in Michigan. It was a mental challenge to be patient and to understand that often you can not jump from A to C without going through B first. Eventually, the bumps started to smooth out and I am happy for the journey that led me to where I am now.

Running a business, especially as a Videographer, is filled with bumps. Although I had plenty of experience, when I opened up my own company, Marabate Studios, it still felt like a start-up. Building a new website, designing a logo and business cards, and getting your name out to the people that matter is stressful, time-consuming, and filled with setbacks. But one of the reasons I put my last name in the name of my company, which was a bump into itself as it’s not the easiest name to pronounce, was because I always wanted to be held accountable for what I was creating. By my clients, my peers, and by myself. That way, when the bumps arrive, and they always do, my only option was to face them down and push through, which, ultimately, gives me a lot of work satisfaction.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Established in 2016, Marabate Studios is a boutique video production company that handles wedding and event Videography as well as corporate and commercial projects. We are a team of video professionals, led by myself, with over 30 years of combined experience in storytelling.

As a boutique studio, and with a lot of competition in Southern California, I think it’s our customer service that really sets us apart. We bring the same creative energy to every video project, big or small, and every client is a new opportunity to tell a new story. We cherish their trust in our services so much that we truly do go that extra hundred miles every time.

What I am most proud of, as the owner of Marabate Studios, is the diverse amount of work we have helped create over the years. From weddings and Bar/Bat Mitzvah’s to a commercial for Quicken’s WillMaker software, we have established ourselves as a trusted service brand for any and every type of video project. The feedback we generally get is that our clients feel their vision was met or exceeded by the time they receive a completed product. Whether it’s creating a lasting memory of a couple’s wedding or helping a small business promote their latest products, we approach each project as a chance to tell a story, and our only agenda, as I often tell new clients, is that we tell the story the best possible way for their needs.

Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
There are always changes, in every industry, but currently the biggest shift for video production has been the introduction of A.I. software. As I am writing this I am positive another tool is being developed that will effectively enhance or replace certain parts of the video production industry. It is still too early to tell how effective it will be in our marketplace but, like anyone who wants their business to survive and thrive, it’s not about burying ones head in the sand but, rather, seeing it as another opportunity to learn and grow. There have been plenty of times I have had to pivot my business model, such as during the COVID pandemic, when I invested in and grew my Live Streaming capabilities when meeting in person was no longer possible. I feel that A.I. involves another pivot. With this shift, especially for those who see it is as potential threat, there is always great opportunity to challenge ourselves. To think outside the box. To push our creative energies towards the type of end result that a computer, no matter how smart, could only mimic, not create.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.marabatestudios.com
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MarkMarabateStudios
• Other: https://www.marabatestudios.com/portfolio