Biografia
Mark Vicente, an author, speaker, and award-winning Writer/Director/Cinematographer, played a key role in the creative team behind the cult hit "What The Bleep Do We Know?!" The film's extraordinary grassroots marketing campaign, which contributed to its remarkable success, has been the subject of several books.
Born in Johannesburg, South Africa in 1965, Mark took his first photograph at age four and quickly developed a passion for being behind the camera. At 16, he secretly entered TV studios, pretending to be a seasoned Camera Operator. He later attended Film and Drama school, focusing on Directing, Cinematography, and Theater Lighting Design. After graduating, he progressed through the camera department ranks, starting as a Camera Assistant, then Operator, and Steadicam® Operator, before moving on to shoot music videos and commercials, honing his skills as a Cinematographer.
His breakthrough came as Director of Photography on the musical "SARAFINA," starring Whoopi Goldberg. In 1992, Mark moved to Los Angeles to work on his first studio film for Disney, "FATHERHOOD," featuring Patrick Swayze and Halle Berry. At 26, he became one of the youngest cinematographers to helm a big-budget studio film. Over the next 12 years, he shot 14 more feature films, along with numerous documentaries and commercials.
Driven by a desire to tell untold stories as a Director, Mark believed that narratives of greatness, nobility, and introspection could be both captivating and commercially successful. Growing up amid the atrocities in South Africa, he was compelled to question core beliefs about human behavior, morality, cosmology, existentialism, and mysticism. Combining his interests in science, philosophy, and filmmaking, Mark’s vision for inspiring and thought-provoking cinema came to life with "What the BLEEP Do We Know?!"
Moved by the severe violence in Mexico, Mark completed 'Encender el Corazon,' a film addressing the rampant kidnapping crisis and a community's efforts to resist the cartels. Suspecting the film was being exploited to support an alleged criminal enterprise, he withdrew it from distribution and worked to expose the purported illicit activities. This experience sparked his deep interest in understanding the coercive and deceptive dynamics of high-control groups.
Constantly seeking innovative ways to raise awareness through film, Mark is developing new projects under Luminosity Films, including "Bending Time," a sci-fi series integrated with a VR and biofeedback video game; the sci-fi drama "Terra Antiquis"; and the period ghost story "The Settlers." He remains eager to collaborate with others who share his passion for storytelling, exploring the human condition, and exposing injustice worldwide.
