JOHN MARK

Choreographer

Director, Choreographer, & Producer

Starring Max Malanaphy (RuPauls Drag Race S7) 

"This has been one of the biggest challenges and the biggest joys of my career. A mini series for web in three parts, I can't even begin to express my gratitude to my production family in Minneapolis that helped bring this project to life.  I look forward to scaling this project, with many more seasons to come! The first episode premieres on March 11th!" 

Casting Director, Choreographer, & 2nd Unit Director

Directed by Dan Huiting

"This shoot was insane. I had a blast casting interesting looks and choreographing pandemonium through the hallways of a soon to be demolished high school building.  Casting dancers and movement inclined talent was key to making sure the performers had the physical awareness to execute the action safely and intelligently." 

Choreographer & Casting Director

"All my dreams came true with the opportunity to choreography this video.  Pulling inspirations from Michael Jackson, Road House, Patrick Swayze, and my own childhood fantasies, Directors, Isaac Gale and David Jensen created an exploratory set environment that was a blast to be on."

Choreographer & Director

A career highlight in 2016 was having the opportunity to set choreography as part of a commission for the Eaux Claires festival. This project was a dream come true and greatly owed to my beautiful dancers, who put in so much hard work, and to Bon Iver for his endless inspiration.

Art Direction

Photography by Taylor Hall O'Brien

Using a knitwear collection by CVSTINGS as an anchor, I had fun Art Directing and Producing this beautiful editorial by the grace of Taylor Hall O'Brien's photographic genius! 

Choreographer

"Dan Huiting and Harry Reynolds put a great team together for this video.  I had fun creating movement that fit into the world that Dan and Laurel created." 

Choreographer & Director

"Had fun playing around at Sidecar Studios with an original Years & years remix by my friend Monsieur Adi."  

Choreographer

"I love working with kids and I'm a huge fan of Polica, so this job was truly a dream come true." 

Casting Director

Commercial for Banc De Binary, Running Holidays 2015. 

"I had a blast casting Santas, Elves, and talking heads in this colorful and comedic commercial for a Cyprus-based trading company.  My third time working freelance for Sinema Films in New York City."  

Producer & Choreographer

"It was nice to scale down and focus on a video that was intimate, gestural, and ethereal.  Alex Munro did an amazing job shooting with practical effects and I really enjoyed casting and working with age diverse talent. "

Director & Choreographer

A Weary One Production

"I feel so fortunate to have had the opportunity to direct and choreograph some of the strongest dancers in the business! Mette and I were lucky to get Pharrell's principal dancers together on an off weekend to shoot this playful and energetic dance video. The four women in this video have traveled thousands of miles together. They have toured the globe, held each other in confidence and homesickness, in heartbreak and incandescent happiness." 

Co-Director + Producer + Choreographer

"Family Unit was a high energy original ensemble work based in the not too distant future. After years in seclusion, a family must navigate a new and unfamiliar crisis ridden world. Loyalties are tested, bonds are made, limits are broken as we discovered what it means to be family, and explore the balance between our values and our survival. 

Working with the Main Street School of Performing Arts on an original devised work was a huge challenge, but this project was a something I had wanted to create for years.  Collaborating with Co-Director and Playwright, Todd Bruse, this very physical theater piece was made in eight weeks and put onstage for a ten show run at the Southern Theater in February of 2016. In addition to putting the show together, I also produced an advertising campaign that included a sizzler video trailer. This was a terrific opportunity to work with some awesome kids and create an action/adventure that kept audiences on the edge of their seats!" 

Producer & Co-Choreographer

Filmed at Public Functionary

"Aaron de la Cruz's art installation made for a fantastic set and was the impetus for this dance video collaboration with Gigi Zirbes." 

Casting Director

Producer & Writer

I had fun producing this features piece on one of my favorite recording artists during his tour stop in Minneapolis.  Photographed by Erin Pederson. 

Wardrobe Stylist

"Tearing' Up My Heart" Editorial - JÓN MAGAZINE Issue #11   

"I had a blast working with photographer, Taylor Hall O'Brien to create a boy band for a day!  We came up with common boy band tropes/personalities for each of the models that helped dictate their styling and performance on camera.  The editorial was printed in conjuction with JÓN MAGAZINE's cover feature, Lance Bass." 

Event Producer

10/17/14 (189 Guests) & 3/13/15 (260 Guests)

"In addition to a pop-up shop of local designers, curated by HOTROCITY, booking acts like Crunchy Kids, Party Science, Garrison Grouse, Buddakao, Hiponymous, and Dancebums, resulted in a cathartic bonding experience for the community present.  Public Functionary's affinity to visual artists that work in installation and large formats, makes the venue an artfully immersive backdrop to any party. A total blast."

Photos by Joe and Jen Photography

Wardrobe Supervisor

"Working on this film was an incredible experience. Coming from a fashion background, styling "farm characters" was an interesting challenge, not to mention shooting on location in rural South Dakota for an entire month.  The dynamic cast and crew were 90% Los Angeles-based and were a total pleasure to work with. The Great Silence is set to release in 2016."

IMDB LINK

Director & Producer

Event Trailer for Ignite Models, Halloween 2015

"This brief, but potent party trailer was the result of a night of play with camera guru, Brendan Lauer, and hair & makeup artist, Kristine Loehrer."

Director & Producer

Main Street School of Performing Arts Web Spot, distributed via Comcast Spotlight for Youtube Advertising

"Thirty seconds is hardly long enough to demonstrate the incredible community that inhabits this High School, but these young actors gave us a lot of good energy to work and I'm pleased with how it came together." 

Choreographer

"Working as Lizzo's choreographer has been a tremendously formative joy in my life. My work with her began in January 2015, with some minimal choreography for her tour with Sleater Kinney. Since then, I have had the privilege of choreographing Lizzo's summer festival set, which toured June - August 2015 as well as the Red Bull Sound Select tour with SZA in September 2015."

Producer & Stylist

Christopher Straub feature for Lavender Magazine Issue #531

Photography by Michael Haug 

"Considering how much press Christopher Straub had done since appearing on Project Runway in 2009, I felt a bit of pressure to shoot him in a way that was unique and different.  I worked closely with Michael Haug to produce this striking image, a strong and smoldering departure from shoots past." 

Directed & Produced

Cinematography by Brendan Lauer

"A structured play day on a downtown roof did well to match the bold and lively energy of the HOTROCITY brand.  I also remember this fondly as my first collaboration with Brendan Lauer, who would become an incredible ally in many a project to come." 

Producer, Host & Editor

Content for Nu-ModeTV 

Directed by Daniel Rampulla

"Broad City was just barely off the ground when I put together this behind the scenes feature on the comedy duo for an editorial shoot I was also producing.  This was during a bite off more than I could chew stage of my life, so some finessed detail is missing from this project, but I am still very proud of it, and feel it's a good testament to the joy, energy, and truth that follow Abby and Illana wherever they go." 

Co-Director, Hangzhou No. 2 High School Dance Program

In 2013/2014 I spent ten months in China teaching, directing, and writing curriculum for a new dance & theatre program at Hangzhou's most prestigious high school school. With a priority on academics, the majority of the students in my dance program had less than two years of dance training, and for the ones that did, it was only in traditional Chinese dance forms. I was delighted to have a large group of male dancers in my program, which seemed to grow even larger as e begun working on a very physical contemporary concert work.  The language barrier was a huge hurdle as my Chinese language skills are very minimal, but it was incredible how much teaching and choreographing I was able to do without a lot of verbal communication, a true testament to the power of dance. I will remember these kids forever. 

Producer & Art Director

Producing Fashion & Features content since June 2015. 

Director & Producer

Cinematography by Brendan Lauer

"For Ignite Model's ENVISION Fall 2015, I was tasked with creating twelve 30-second videos that play live at the event to introduce each of the designer's runway segments. Brendan and I shot all twelve videos over two days with five models and an incredibly efficient creative team.  Here are four of my favorite." 

Producer, Stylist, & Art Director

Nu-Mode Issue #9

Photography by Ryan Pfluger 

"When I first sat down with Shaun to talk about the possibility of this shoot, he expressed a frustration with Magazines exotifying his look, and seeing him as an opportunity for extreme couture.  We agreed upon a concept that focused on what Shaun considered to be his simple pleasures in life, things like classic suits, instant photography, and a lovable pet named Kiki. No wild clothes. No wild makeup. Just Shaun Ross."   

Producer & Stylist 

Photography by Savanna Ruedy

"In the summer of 2014, I launched an online store with my friends at VON91. Our premiere look book still stands as one of my favorite.  Savanna Ruedy and I collaborated on the concept. HOTROCITY is a bold brand, so it was imporant to make a bold statement!" 

Producer & Art Director

Photography by Savanna Ruedy 

I had a great time pulling together peers and influencers of the Twin Cities to promote local and sustainable goods. Savanna Ruedy and I collaborated on a crisp and clean photo style that was well fit to the diverse group of personalities that sat in front of our camera.

Choreographer

Choreographed MSSPA's production of The Wedding Singer at the Illusion Theatre. 

Co-Director & Choreographer

This commission from the MSP Airport Foundation was a dream come true.  The airport was a fantastic playground for creating movement on camera.