Mark dives deep into his creative process, sharing why he believes writing must come from the heart rather than trying to please an audience. He’s currently hard at work on the third draft of a deeply personal project now titled The Spirit of ’76. Originally called Lame Duck, the script explores a unique political paradox through the eyes of a down-and-out actor and amateur historian who, following a bout of amnesia, begins to believe he is Thomas Jefferson.
Developing the script with the guidance of mentor Paul Guay (the writer behind the Jim Carrey hit Liar Liar), Mark uses the modern election cycle as a backdrop to address the complexities of Jefferson’s legacy. He aims to tackle the difficult contradictions of a man who authored the concepts of American liberty while remaining a slaveholder—all while presenting a candidate who speaks the “truths” Mark feels are missing from today’s political discourse.
After a six-month hiatus due to his busy filming schedule, Mark has finally returned to the keyboard. The project has already received a major vote of confidence from his wife, Tracy Pellegrino, a director and acting coach who told him the first ten pages were “good.” Coming from her, that’s high praise: Tracy is a seasoned filmmaker whose recent mockumentary, Je Suis Hamlet (in which Mark also stars), is a success on the festival circuit, recently taking home Best Comedy honors.
