Mark Pennell

Mark is a creative, strategic and performance focused executive with 25+ years of innovative, energetic global leadership. He has helmed projects in Australia, USA, Japan, Europe and UK. Mark is an expert in creating teams, developing projects, sourcing and securing finance, leveraging relationships and presenting complex large-scale productions. Mark is a motivational leader, known for calm and clear delivery of mission objectives, aligning people and resources and delivering results that exceed expectations.

• Successfully conceptualized, financed and rolled out a production company completing 6 films in 2 years.
• Successfully developed a slate of films and television shows with delivering both production and casting solutions.
• Successfully innovated the film and television distribution industry to create and operate a new Distribution company
• Successfully initiated, secured funding and managed production for several large-scale stage-shows and films.
• Successfully developed and produced several large-scale musicals and motion pictures delivering them on time and on budget.
• Successfully delivered the operations for Government on the $65m Australian Pavilion at world expo (Japan) and turned an operating profit for the commercial stakeholders.
• Holds a Bachelor of Economics from Monash University with graduate major in Law & Business Management.

Catalyst Studios CEO 2022 - Present

• Domestic and international Distribution & Production company
• Oversaw the production, delivery and marketing of 6 feature films Undercard, Switch & Bait, Alix, Follow Me, Broken Bird, Verified Target, As ‘hands on’ Producer, Mark oversaw all elements of the productions on a day-to-day basis.
• Successfully executed the production solutions delivering high quality films on time and on budget
• Formulated, managed and executed the sales/distribution and marketing strategy on all productions. Including theatrical release and platform distribution.

Head Special Projects and New Business - Beacon Pictures 2011 - 2025

• International Film & TV Production Company
• Reported directly to the Owner & Chairman.
• Worked with a team to formulate and implement a business plan to build a bigger media company through identifying and acquiring under-utilized existing linear and digital companies in addition to creating more mainstream content.
• Executive on the TV show ‘Castle’
• Established relationships in China. Sourcing investment, Co-production partnerships and Distribution.
• Successfully established a relationship with Executive Management at eOne Entertainment and leveraged that into an operating Television joint venture between Beacon Pictures and eOne.
• Involved in strategic development of new business and company expansion.
• Attend international film festivals and liaise with sales agents and distributors.
• Developed and wrote the TV projects: Scablands (HBO), The Stone Protocol, HODL (The first Crypto Series financed by Crypto currency)
• Developed and wrote the Film Projects: ‘The Sea Hawk’, ‘The Rescuers & the Catchers Curse’, ‘Our Man from Monaco’, The Righteous, ‘The Sacred Jade’.
• Developed the non scripted projects: ‘Celebrity best in show’, ‘Wedding Wish’,
• Structured and marketed an Australian Production fund for independent films.
• Understands and leverages ‘soft money’ jurisdictions and production territories.