We were lucky to catch up with Mark Vegas recently and have shared our conversation below.
Mark, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?
For a creative, no matter how many people you ask, ultimately the path you take will be riddled with uncertainties.
I decided I wanted to direct films my freshman year of high school, but I was at a loss for how to go about it. I could sit and watch every film ever, but that leaves me with more questions than answers. “How did they get this scene to be colored in such a way?” “Why does Sidney Poitier seem to glide across the screen when he’s performing” I wanted to solve these questions but had no idea where I’d even begin to do so. I started at film school and while that was a good foundation, there were still fundamental things about the industry I didn’t understand until I got on actual sets. Film school empowers everyone to be a well-rounded filmmaker, exposing you to every one of its facets and you’ll wear each one of those hats while making your way through school. However, there’s a disconnect between film students, and actual work in the industry.
Simply put, film school doesn’t teach you how to recognize the value you bring to a film set. Unless you’re an independent filmmaker, or John Singleton you will not direct a professional project your first day out of school. You’re going to start from the bottom again, as a PA or an assistant to any department, and you must prove your value. This was a lesson the Marine Corps taught me first. When I got to my squad, I was just another guy with a rifle right out of recruit training. The mission was going to be complete if I just did what I was told. However, my thought process was, “What’s something I can do and home in on that can be valuable to my team?” For the next couple months, I dedicated myself to becoming the navigation marine, knowing how to read maps, tread tricky terrain, and get our squad wherever it needed to go no matter the time of the day.
I’d say treat film the same way. I’d come to a set, and ask myself, “how can I go above the expectations of my job and make an impression?” Hard work is often unrecognized and at times, you won’t even be correctly compensated for how hard pushed yourself. Despite all that, you perform your role to the best of your ability. In the meantime, I could observe and ask questions whenever I got the opportunity. Stay a student every step of the way, there’s mentors everywhere.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I got into filmmaking from a young age, out of a love for storytelling and the power it has when accompanied by the many elements of film. The industry itself became accessible when I moved to New York, and began hunting for internships. My strength is in editing, as I’ve taught myself to use Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, and Final Cut Pro. I’ve edited for films, comedy specials, and for social media as well. My work was featured on Paramounts Veterans Network and NFL Network. While in the editing bay, the film can tell a story in endless ways. Maintaining immersion is the ultimate goal for me, and while working I make decisions that keep audiences the most engaged.
When it comes to standup comedy, I started it on a hunch. When I stepped on stage, everything clicked and I felt like I was home for the first time ever. The nerves tasted like candy and my body felt like I was struck by lighting. From then on I had a way to directly relate with others over my family, life, love stress and setbacks. It also gave me a way to bridge the gap as a US Marine veteran and speak to my experiences in a positivity way. I pride myself on storytelling, and I always got something for everybody.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
I once heard that you should make the film that you’ve never seen before. With that idea in mind it pilots this passion project I have called, “Boom Bap” and it’s the story of rhythm that lives within all of us. It’s not the only story I want to tell but it’s the one I want to tell the most. Every experience and lesson in my life has gone toward making this film a reality one day.
Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?
Opportunities can come from the most unlikely places. Even if you don’t think a person or event can help you, go anyways. Practice your pitch and introduce yourself more than you want to because someone might need your service or vice versa. Connect with everyone you can, and don’t leave without adding someone on social media, or grabbing contact info. Be relentless with your networking and be on top of your calendar as that’s vital to keeping everything organized.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @MarkVegas_
- Facebook: @MarkVegas
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marco-griegoduarte/
- Twitter: @vegasdagoat
