We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Mark Hensley a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Mark, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

I’ve taken several risks om my career path.
I’m an American who grew up in the Netherlands. I always wanted to do something in entertainment, and started playing in bands in my teens, and started getting into recording our demos myself.
I moved out just before my 17th birthday, and got an apprenticeship and full-time job working at Fokker in the Netherlands, to build airplanes.After 2 years of schooling, I started working full-time on the assembly line.
I hated it.
About 9 months later, I quit.
I went on unemployment, and started volunteering at a small PA company, going on the road setting up sound systems.
I decided to really focus on audio engineering and recording. While on a trip to the US with my dad, I bought a copy of Mix Magazine, and saw a small add for “College of Recording Arts” in San Francisco.
I went home, started temping in warehouses for 2 years, saved my money and moved to San Francisco. Within 3 years I went from working at Guitar Center, to working at The plant Studios in Sausalito an assistant and recording bands in my free time. One being the 4 Non Blondes , for whom I recorded their hit single “What’s Up”

Then, on a trip to Vancouver, I met my wife, and decided to stay in Vancouver. That’s where I ended up moving into audio post. A field I had never even thought about and knew nothing about either. But I caught on prety quick. I ended up getting hired by one of Vancouvers top audio-post Facilities, Post Modern as a staff mixer. Where I stayed for 7 years, and won numerous Leo awards for my work there. I decided I wanted to work on bigger projects, and started taking trips to LA.
I quickly realized, if I wanted a job there, I was going to have to be there. So, we sold the house, packed everything up, and moved down right before the strike of 2008. I had to take a few steps back, and started mixing reality TV at Wildwooods. Derek Luff and his people were great. After about a year, I was able to move out of reality tv back into scripted.
Another 2 years later I was offered a gig with a guarantee by Joe Melody at Smartpost sound, where I’ve been ever since. In 2014 I received my first Emmy nomination for cosmos. I’d receive anothe rin 2017 and then in 2018 we won for best sound.

But none of that would have happened if I had satayed home in the Netherlands.
When my friends in Holland asked me back in the day what if I didn’t like it in America, I’d answer “I’ll come back”.

I don’t want to have to say at the end “I should have”

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I kind of answered that in my previous response.
But I think that what sets myself apart form others is that “can’t” does not exist in my vocabulary
5 years ago ant the age of 55, I got bit by the filmmaking bug. And spent the following 4 years teaching myself all disciplines of filmmaking, by making 11 short films. I am currently shooting my first feature. And am able to do it for almost nothing, because of training myself in those 4 years how to shoot with no or lmost no crew.
I would love to have a crew, but if I waited to get funding, I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing today.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding thing for me as afilmmaker now, is seeing actors I’ve worked with, get work because of footage in their reels that I shot with them.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

Unlike so many countries around the world, the US has an almost non-existing support system for artists and creatives. This really needs to change. At this point on;y the wealthy and well connected can make a career in the arts. And they don’t usually have the most interesting ideas to offer, due to their sheltered, privileged lives.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.markhensley.tv
• Other: https://vimeo.com/showcase/7303395