Mark Borchardt
Encyclopedia
Mark Borchardt is an American independent filmmaker. He is best known as the subject of the 1999 film American Movie: The Making of Northwestern
, which documented two years he spent writing, shooting and editing his horror short, Coven (1997).
. His mother Monica is Swedish
. He started making films at the age of fourteen with a super-8 camera that was given to him by a guy that lived down the street from him. After serving three years in the military, he continued his cinematic endeavors at the local university. In the mid-nineties, he wrote and produced Halloween radio dramas which were broadcast annually and won a fellowship from the Milwaukee Art Futures Board.
and Sarah Price
began filming Borchardt while he was attempting to put together funding for his unfinished
feature Northwestern. After the project collapsed, Borchardt decided instead to finish Coven, which he had started years earlier. After Coven was completed, Smith and Price compiled their footage into American Movie, which was picked up by Sony Classics and won the Grand Jury Prize at the 1999 Sundance Film Festival
.
Since then Borchardt has been active appearing on television and in movies. Borchardt has made five appearances on Late Show with David Letterman
, including serving as Letterman's 2000 election correspondent. He made several TV appearances on The Show with No Name
, a show in Austin, TX, between 2000 and 2003. In 2004, he played himself in a cameo appearance
on the television cartoon series Family Guy
, along with friend and American Movie co-star Mike Schank. He and Mike also have their own series on Zero TV, Mark and Mike and in, 2006, Mark and Mike hosted a national television special called Night of the Living Dead: LIVE from Wisconsin on Halloween
night.
Borchardt has appeared in several movies, including, but not limited to, The One (2001), The Tunnel (2001), Abby Singer
, & The Godfather of Green Bay
(2005). Borchardt also starred in Modus Operandi
(2009), played a gravedigger in the partially animated comedy Hamlet A.D.D.
(2009) and had a leading role in the horror feature The Hagstone Demon
(2011). In addition, Borchardt also made a cameo in the music video for the Leslie and the Ly's
song "Zombie Killer" featuring Elvira, Mistress of the Dark on guest vocals.
He has contributed to Kevin Lindenmuth's 2001 book, The Independent Film Experience (ISBN 0786410752 ) and had his short stories published in magazines.
In 2004, he announced he would direct Scare Me and sent out casting calls. In 2008, he announced a 2009 release date, which was originally slated for a 2005 release. As of Summer 2010 the movie was still in production.
Actor/subject
Music Videos
American Movie
American Movie: The Making of Northwestern is a 1999 documentary directed by Chris Smith. The film chronicles the real 1996-1997 making of Coven, an independent horror film directed by an independent filmmaker named Mark Borchardt...
, which documented two years he spent writing, shooting and editing his horror short, Coven (1997).
Early life
Borchardt was born and raised in Menomonee Falls, WisconsinMenomonee Falls, Wisconsin
Menomonee Falls is a village in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, United States, and is part of the Greater Milwaukee area. The population was 35,626 at the 2010 census, making it the most populous village in Wisconsin. It is the fourth largest community in Waukesha County...
. His mother Monica is Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
. He started making films at the age of fourteen with a super-8 camera that was given to him by a guy that lived down the street from him. After serving three years in the military, he continued his cinematic endeavors at the local university. In the mid-nineties, he wrote and produced Halloween radio dramas which were broadcast annually and won a fellowship from the Milwaukee Art Futures Board.
Career
Filmmakers Chris SmithChris Smith (filmmaker)
Chris Smith is an American film director, cameraman, producer, writer, and editor. He is best known for directing American Movie, which was awarded the Grand Jury Prize for Documentary at the 1999 Sundance Film Festival....
and Sarah Price
Sarah Price (filmmaker)
Sarah Price is a filmmaker whose films include American Movie , Caesar's Park , The Yes Men , and Summercamp! . She grew up around the world, attending high school in Germany and Kenya...
began filming Borchardt while he was attempting to put together funding for his unfinished
Unfinished work
An unfinished work is creative work that has not been finished. Its creator may have chosen never to finish it or may have been prevented from doing so by circumstances outside of their control such as death. Such pieces are often the subject of speculation as to what the finished piece would have...
feature Northwestern. After the project collapsed, Borchardt decided instead to finish Coven, which he had started years earlier. After Coven was completed, Smith and Price compiled their footage into American Movie, which was picked up by Sony Classics and won the Grand Jury Prize at the 1999 Sundance Film Festival
Sundance Film Festival
The Sundance Film Festival is a film festival that takes place annually in Utah, in the United States. It is the largest independent cinema festival in the United States. Held in January in Park City, Salt Lake City, and Ogden, as well as at the Sundance Resort, the festival is a showcase for new...
.
Since then Borchardt has been active appearing on television and in movies. Borchardt has made five appearances on Late Show with David Letterman
Late Show with David Letterman
Late Show with David Letterman is a U.S. late-night talk show hosted by David Letterman on CBS. The show debuted on August 30, 1993, and is produced by Letterman's production company, Worldwide Pants Incorporated. The show's music director and band-leader of the house band, the CBS Orchestra, is...
, including serving as Letterman's 2000 election correspondent. He made several TV appearances on The Show with No Name
The Show with No Name
The Show With No Name was a long-running and highly popular Public-access television cable TV show in Austin, Texas, hosted by Charlie Sotelo and the mysterious "Cinco." Each show featured clips of TV, film and music ephemera along with commentary by the hosts and calls from a predictably unruly...
, a show in Austin, TX, between 2000 and 2003. In 2004, he played himself in a cameo appearance
Cameo appearance
A cameo role or cameo appearance is a brief appearance of a known person in a work of the performing arts, such as plays, films, video games and television...
on the television cartoon series Family Guy
Family Guy
Family Guy is an American animated television series created by Seth MacFarlane for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series centers on the Griffins, a dysfunctional family consisting of parents Peter and Lois; their children Meg, Chris, and Stewie; and their anthropomorphic pet dog Brian...
, along with friend and American Movie co-star Mike Schank. He and Mike also have their own series on Zero TV, Mark and Mike and in, 2006, Mark and Mike hosted a national television special called Night of the Living Dead: LIVE from Wisconsin on Halloween
Halloween
Hallowe'en , also known as Halloween or All Hallows' Eve, is a yearly holiday observed around the world on October 31, the night before All Saints' Day...
night.
Borchardt has appeared in several movies, including, but not limited to, The One (2001), The Tunnel (2001), Abby Singer
Abby Singer (film)
Abby Singer is a darkly comic tale that chronicles the life of Curtis Clemins, who is torn between the love of his life and accomplishing his dream. Originally released in 2003, there was a different version released in 2006 and a limited DVD release in 2007. The film had some film festival...
, & The Godfather of Green Bay
The Godfather of Green Bay
The Godfather of Green Bay is a fictional comedic movie released in 2005. It follows the tale of stand-up comedian Joe Keegan...
(2005). Borchardt also starred in Modus Operandi
Modus Operandi (film)
Modus Operandi, directed by Frankie Latina, is an independent feature film shot in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Tokyo, Japan. Latina examines the Exploitation film genre through a revenge tale about a desperate C.I.A...
(2009), played a gravedigger in the partially animated comedy Hamlet A.D.D.
Hamlet A.D.D.
Hamlet A.D.D., directed by Bobby Ciraldo & Andrew Swant and produced by Special Entertainment, is an upcoming independent feature film and web series which re-imagines Shakespeare’s play as a bizarre and comical tour through the ages....
(2009) and had a leading role in the horror feature The Hagstone Demon
The Hagstone Demon
The Hagstone Demon is an American horror film directed by Jon Springer and starring Mark Borchardt as a drunken ex-reporter plagued by demonic forces...
(2011). In addition, Borchardt also made a cameo in the music video for the Leslie and the Ly's
Leslie and the Ly's
Leslie & the LY's is a pop music band from Ames, Iowa that began as an open mike trio in 2004.Leslie & the LY's is made up of front-woman Leslie Hall, also known as Mother Gem, who composes all of the music herself generally using the Apple Computer program GarageBand. Other past and present...
song "Zombie Killer" featuring Elvira, Mistress of the Dark on guest vocals.
He has contributed to Kevin Lindenmuth's 2001 book, The Independent Film Experience (ISBN 0786410752 ) and had his short stories published in magazines.
In 2004, he announced he would direct Scare Me and sent out casting calls. In 2008, he announced a 2009 release date, which was originally slated for a 2005 release. As of Summer 2010 the movie was still in production.
Work
Writer/Director| Year | Film | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Coven | Writer/Director |
| 2000 | Northwestern (In-production) | "Dorkus the Dummy" |
| 2010 | Scare Me | Writer/Director |
Actor/subject
| Year | Film | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | American Movie American Movie American Movie: The Making of Northwestern is a 1999 documentary directed by Chris Smith. The film chronicles the real 1996-1997 making of Coven, an independent horror film directed by an independent filmmaker named Mark Borchardt... |
Self |
| 2000 | Coven | Mike |
| 2001 | The One | Cesar |
| 2001 | The Tunnel | Lincoln |
| 2002 | Britney Baby, One More Time | Dude Schmitz |
| 2003 | Living Dead Girl Living Dead Girl "Living Dead Girl" is the second single from Rob Zombie's solo debut Hellbilly Deluxe. It was named after Jean Rollin's 1982 film. The line, "Who is this irresistible creature who has an insatiable love for the dead?" in the beginning of the song is from the trailer of the film, Lady Frankenstein... |
Jesus |
| 2005 | The Godfather of Green Bay The Godfather of Green Bay The Godfather of Green Bay is a fictional comedic movie released in 2005. It follows the tale of stand-up comedian Joe Keegan... |
Skeeter |
| 2005 | Zombie Island | Al the drunk at the bar |
| 2007 | Confession Stand | Theatre Manager |
| 2007 | The Devil's Muse | Floyd |
| 2008 | First Bass | Principal Papalschmeck |
| 2009 | Living Arrangements | Paul |
| 2009 | Unholy Reunion | Douglas - Interviewee |
| 2009 | Tapioca | Harve |
| 2009 | Dozers | Gawker |
| 2009 | Modus Operandi Modus Operandi (film) Modus Operandi, directed by Frankie Latina, is an independent feature film shot in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Tokyo, Japan. Latina examines the Exploitation film genre through a revenge tale about a desperate C.I.A... |
Dallas Deacon |
| 2009 | Cabin Fever 2: Spring Fever Cabin Fever 2: Spring Fever Cabin Fever 2: Spring Fever is an American horror film directed by Ti West and starring Giuseppe Andrews and Noah Segan.-Plot:A very disfigured Paul escapes from the creek and wanders through the woods, leaving pieces of his own flesh in the way. When he finally makes it to the highway, his body... |
Herman |
| 2011 | Hamlet A.D.D. Hamlet A.D.D. Hamlet A.D.D., directed by Bobby Ciraldo & Andrew Swant and produced by Special Entertainment, is an upcoming independent feature film and web series which re-imagines Shakespeare’s play as a bizarre and comical tour through the ages.... |
Gravedigger |
| 2011 | The Hagstone Demon The Hagstone Demon The Hagstone Demon is an American horror film directed by Jon Springer and starring Mark Borchardt as a drunken ex-reporter plagued by demonic forces... |
Douglas Elmore |
| 2011 | Scare Me | Jeff Lavelle |
Music Videos
| Video | Band |
|---|---|
| "Dead Pan" | Big D and the Kids Table Big D and the Kids Table Big D and the Kids Table is a ska punk band formed in October 1995 in Allston, Massachusetts when its members converged in college. Their first release was on their own Fork In Hand Records label, but have since teamed with Springman Records and SideOneDummy... |
External links
- Northwestproductions.com Borchardt's former production website (Archive.org)