mark fantasia
Actor • Writer • Director
ACTOR
Mark studied acting at Flinders University Drama Centre in South Australia. Since graduating, he has worked on stage and in both film and television. In 2008 he was named the Helpmann Academy’s Most Outstanding Arts Graduate for his work both on stage and screen. He was a founding member of award winning Adelaide based theatre company Accidental Productions. The company won Best Ensemble in the 2009 season for their Australian Premiere of Worlds End, in which Mark played the lead.
In 2012 Mark moved to Los Angeles and studied with renowned acting coach Ivana Chubbuck. He also trained at UCB and with numerous casting professionals. In the US he has worked in film and television and now divides his time between both Australia and the United States. Between jobs, Mark is actively involved in an ensemble of LA based professional actors that meet weekly and perform staged readings of film and television scripts currently in development. These works are often created by some of the most successful and credited writers and producers in Hollywood, and many films and television pilots have been incubated and developed via this ensemble.
Most recently Mark filmed “One For The Road” in Spain and Mexico. An Anthony Bourdain style look at the world from the bartender’s perspective. He will soon be seen as ‘Dustin’ in Ursula Dabrowsky’s ‘The Devil’s Work’.
WRITER
Mark has also been screen writing professionally since 2006. That year he was funded by Screen Australia to produce his first short film, “Destinations” which went on to garner five nominations in the South Australian Short Screen Awards, including Best Writer.
His first full length feature screenplay was submitted to a South Australian Film Corperation script incubator, and won Mark a place in a screen-writing intensive workshop with writer/producer Stephen Cleary. That feature “First Timers” was later optioned by South Australian film company Spinning Mirror.
Mark wrote and produced two online New Media series “Shakespeare’s - The Villains” and “Villiosophy” which earned him his WGA membership.
In 2018 Mark wrote a spec feature “The Beautiful Game” which was a second round consideration for the Sundance Feature Film Development Track. It has been well received by many industry professionals and is currently being shopped for production.
DIRECTOR
Mark’s directorial debut was the above mentioned short film “Destinations”. Along with his Best Writer nomination was a nomination for Best Director at the 2006 South Australian Short Screen Awards. He was also a finalist for his film “Creative Man” produced for the Diet Coke Short Film Festival.
During the 2010 Adelaide Fringe, Mark directed a run of the Cohen Brother’s play “Almost an Evening” for Accidental Productions. He also oversaw the venue in which the company staged it’s entire 2010 Fringe Season, earning a Fringe Award Nomination for Best Venue.
Mark has most recently been the resident Creative Director of Drama at Adelaide Artist Management where he heads the Acting program. Teaching classes in audition technique, script analysis, character creation, and voice and body technique. He has also tutored students privately focusing on individual creative expression and skill development. He also coaches actors privately for auditions and helps actors prepare self-tapes for casting.
Mark has also taught acting workshops both in Australia and the United States, with some of his clients being St. Peter’s Girls College, Los Angeles High School, and Marion Swim Club. These holistic workshops help improve confidence, self-esteem and communication skills for both actors and non-actors alike. For more information contact manager@markfantasia.com
CREDITS
Name: Role: Director: Production Company:
FILM:
The Devil’s Work Lead Ursula Dabrowsky Saylavee Productions
One For The Road Lead Amanda Connolly Anchored Minds
Sunday Lead Nick Matthews Projector Films
Bread Story Lead Mark Fantasia Independent
Room 8 Lead Craig Behenna Independent
Creative Man Lead Mark Fantasia Diet Coke Films
Sex, Drugs & Hospitality Supporting Michael Connolly Anchored Minds
Western Religion Supporting James O'Brien 3rd Partner Productions
Real Love Supporting Dan Levy Dagerman AFI
Oranges and Sunshine Supporting Jim Loach SeeSaw Films
Death of a Bogan Supporting Nick Matthews Projector Films
Closed for Winter Supporting James Bogle Essential Pictures
Hey Hey It's Esther
Blue Burger Supporting Cathy Randall 120db Films
Destinations Writer Mark Fantasia Raw Nerve Films
TV:
The Tourist Recurring Daniel Nettheim Stan/BBC/HBO
Shakespeare's
The Villains Recurring Jen Kuhn Unmarked Films
Villiosophy Recurring Jen Kuhn Kulu Productions
Bloomers Guest Tim Russ Nikhedonia Ent.
THEATRE:
Almost An Evening Lead Dee Easton Accidental Productions
Worlds End Lead Joh Hartog Accidental Productions
The Shape of Things Lead Kerri Foulstone Accidental Productions
The God of Hell Lead Corey McMahon Drama Centre
BeckettWorks Lead John Green Drama Centre
Bred To Perfection Ensemble Joh Hartog Accidental Productions
Flight Ensemble Tim Maddock Drama Centre
Features of Blown Youth Ensemble Corey McMahon Drama Centre
Seven Seconds:
In God We Trust Ensemble Joh Hartog Accidental Productions
Lady From The Sea Ensemble Kerri Foulstone Drama Centre
Psycho Beach Party Ensemble Catherine Fitzgerald Drama Centre
Nabucco Supporting David Freeman State Opera of S.A.