We're so thankful to have met Mark Garbett and to read his Gauntlet Endorsed script THESE DARK PLACES. This isn't his first rodeo, either. Mark has had multiple projects made, and it's not surprising as he knows how to craft an incredible thriller.
What made you want to become a screenwriter?
My dad was a professional soccer player, and after realizing at a young age I lacked the
physical ability to follow in his footsteps, I was determined to pursue a profession that
would be equally cool yet required significantly less cardio.
Many of my favorite memories aren't birthday parties or playing catch; it's seeing Han
Solo roar in to save the day by messing up Vader's shot. It's my eyes widening in terror
when a Dalek screeches "Exterminate!," the unthinkable psychological horror of Peter
driving home with his sister's headless corpse in Hereditary, and on and on. When I
found out someone actually writes everything that happens down before they film it, I
thought that must be like releasing some mad God's power.
Up until now, what have been your screenwriting "wins?"
I've had some independent horror features produced in the $1 million range that aired
on Showtime, Syfy, and streamers such as Prime Video. Wrote and produced a short
thriller that garnered a few accolades on the festival circuit. A few options/shopping
agreements, awards etc.
Every once in a while someone I knew in high school will reach out saying they had
insomnia and caught my name on a forgotten horror flick; they usually tell me they have
an absolutely terrific movie idea about a dentist, because they are a dentist.
What is your favorite film or TV show?
Depending on the day it could be Alien, Jaws, Game of Thrones (Season Two, Episode Nine), Cinema Paradiso, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid or something else that's brimming with awesome. I'm fickle.
Who is your favorite screenwriter/filmmaker?
Too many to mention but anything James Cameron does, I'm there. His films are dreams (and often nightmares) brought to life and I love how he uses technology in his storytelling while retaining the human angle. Also Villeneuve, Del Toro, Lean, Carpenter, Peter Jackson. Love Zach Cregger and Robert Eggers as vibrant newer voices in horror.
Do you have a screenwriting hot take?
If you really love it, don't stop. It's cathartic, gratifying, horrifying, exciting, intimidating, and a bunch of other -ing type words, but for me personally, life is much more interesting when I'm making shit up.
How many screenplays have you written?
25ish. Less than that number are good.
What is your favorite genre to write?
Genre fan here. Horror, thriller, sci-fi, fantasy or some wonderful genre mashup, love them all.
What is your process?
Typically I'll have an outline w/main story beats and will work up a rough draft, then refine until my inner narrator tells me to get eyes on it. Wash, rinse, repeat.
Do you have any tips on starting a new screenplay? What about finishing one?
Write fast. Spit out a rough draft without worrying about quality just yet, then let it sit for a couple of weeks. I'll take a look with fresh eyes, and the real work can commence. I mean, that's how I try to do it. Your results may vary — mine certainly do.