Mark Willis(1964-2023)
- Special Effects
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
- Director
Mark Willis was born in Dunedin, New Zealand. He discovered his love for films while working in a video store in the 1980s. A few years later, he became the FX creator/supervisor for Robert Sarkies' Nightmare Productions, showing off his creative streak on such award-winning short films as Dreammakers, Flames from the Heart and Signing Off. In 1999, he wrote 13 short horror episodes entitled 'From Under the Bed' for the children's show, What Now?
That same year, while working on Robert Sarkies' first feature film Scarfies, Mark conceived the idea for his first short film Splinter, and after re-locating to Wellington, New Zealand, he was able to secure funding from Creative NZ. Splinter played in New Zealand's Show Me Shorts Film Festival in 2008. Mark then dedicated himself to furthering his skills as a scriptwriter and director while embarking on his first feature film, Blind Panic.
Mark was tragically killed by his partner in May 2023. Fortunately, he signed off a cut of Blind Panic before his passing. Right up to his death, he was writing - in his later years, focussing on children's horror stories.
That same year, while working on Robert Sarkies' first feature film Scarfies, Mark conceived the idea for his first short film Splinter, and after re-locating to Wellington, New Zealand, he was able to secure funding from Creative NZ. Splinter played in New Zealand's Show Me Shorts Film Festival in 2008. Mark then dedicated himself to furthering his skills as a scriptwriter and director while embarking on his first feature film, Blind Panic.
Mark was tragically killed by his partner in May 2023. Fortunately, he signed off a cut of Blind Panic before his passing. Right up to his death, he was writing - in his later years, focussing on children's horror stories.
