Screenwriting
I enjoy writing for the screen.
As a visual person, I am attracted to the emotional possibilities of screenwriting, the challenge of representing subtext, and the need for brevity.
Light Bringer (2009)
Note: logline and summary not written by Mark
A woman's suffering compels a good man to commit evil deeds.
In the 18th century, when witches and demons are ever present, there are battles between the ever-diminishing line between good and evil. Miranda, a recent widow, is kidnapped and imprisoned by a forest hunter. She is imprisoned along with Beatrice, an older lady from a neighbouring estate. The bond formed from their predicament is itself a fault - only to aid one of them. Miranda's plan to escape is plagued with underlying deception and the old adage that everything is not as it seems.
My first screenplay, Light Bringer was co-written with director Claire Forgie, who also developed the original concept. Starring Cameron Box, Hayley Marie Brown, and Sally McLean.
Light Bringer was shown at two film festivals outside of Australia.
Eyes of Another (2024)
A reckless man with the ability to temporarily possess others is blackmailed by a secret government agency to infiltrate a terrorist cell. As he unravels a conspiracy reaching the highest levels of power, he must confront his estranged father's dark legacy and the ethical limits of his own abilities to prevent a catastrophic attack on London.
James Hunter possesses an extraordinary ability to inhabit other people's bodies, but his reckless use of this power has left him isolated and aimless. When a covert government organization known as the Sentinel Program blackmails him into infiltrating a dangerous terrorist group, James is thrust into a world of high-stakes espionage and moral ambiguity. As he delves deeper into the terrorists' plans, he uncovers a shocking connection to his long-lost father and a far-reaching conspiracy within the British government. Torn between his growing feelings for Zara, a tenacious journalist co-incidentally investigating the same conspiracy, and the weight of his mission, James must navigate treacherous waters where every body he inhabits could be his last. With time running out and London's fate hanging in the balance, James is forced to confront the true nature of his abilities and decide what he's willing to sacrifice to save a city – and perhaps redeem himself in the process.
Cmd + Opt + Love (2024)
When a prestigious Melbourne university pilots an AI-driven personalised learning system, five diverse students uncover a web of data exploitation and corporate corruption that threatens their futures. As the AI's influence grows, they must expose the truth and reclaim their autonomy, risking their health, relationships and academic careers to challenge the institution they once trusted.
In "Cmd+Opt+Love," the cutting-edge world of AI collides with the raw, messy reality of young adulthood, creating a gripping narrative that's as timely as it is deeply human. At a prestigious Melbourne university, five students from diverse backgrounds find themselves at the epicentre of a technological revolution that promises to optimise their academic lives but gradually undermines their autonomy and personal growth.. As the AI system infiltrates every aspect of campus life, Zoe grapples with her sexuality in the face of algorithmic predictions, Liam's mental health spirals under the AI's relentless push for perfection, Amber's activism is systematically undermined, Raj's cultural values clash with the system's Western bias, and Wei's sense of self erodes in the pursuit of linguistic assimilation. Together, they unravel a sinister web of corporate greed and academic corruption, risking everything – their relationships, health, and futures – to reclaim their autonomy. This character-driven thriller, set against the backdrop of Melbourne's vibrant inner city, explores the price of progress and the power of human connection in an increasingly digital world. With its blend of intimate personal drama and high-stakes institutional conflict, "Cmd+Opt+Love" offers a fresh, compelling take on the coming-of-age story for the AI generation.