MEN IN THEIR CRAFT - MARK LAHOOD

When Mark Lahood was a teenager all his friends were into surfing and skateboarding, so naturally he decided to buy a camera and document the action - thus began his impressive film making career. @marklahoodfilms

Mark went on to make his first film, about skateboarding, titled 'Momento Mori’ at age 21 which played at the TSB Showplace. 

“After that I moved to Australia and started working for a surf and skate company over there and made a few more films. Then around the age of 26 a good friend of mine told me I should start filming commercially so I went to film school.”

After acing film school, Mark went back and forward between Auckland, Australia and America, filming.

“I was doing a variety of stuff, including Trade Me’s first ever film and shooting at Google’s head office. I learnt how to interview people and create a story, I was always asking questions from friends, even in different fields and getting inspired by them.” 

A couple years ago Mark found himself back home in New Plymouth and has been here ever since, working for himself doing mostly content creation out of the Front Room office. 

Mark’s content varies, including work for hair dressers, florists, artists, honey makers and weddings - which he still gets nervous for, because there’s no chance of a do over. 

As for inspiration, Mark draws from those around him, even those who aren’t creatives themselves all influence and motivate his passion for what he does.

“Jeremy Moa who I work closely with, the girls at The Virtue, friends overseas who are film makers, Charlotte Curd, Ben D'Ath and Sofie my friend from Petal and Prickle, their work inspires me.” 

“My favourite thing to shoot is when I get to work with other artists or start-up company’s, helping them grow and hearing their story, I get a real kick out of that.” 

Mark’s style includes lots of movement, storytelling and emotional expressions. “I love shooting profiles on people, the common theme I always have is people walking and reaction shots.” 

Mark is carefree, blunt and to the point. He doesn’t like putting himself out there too much, loves good lighting, the NBA, poker, cooking and film making. He can turn his hand to almost everything thrown his way and wants to continue growing and learning. 

In the long-term, Mark would love to work on a blockbuster film, probably as an editor, and has a parting piece of advice for readers – support local businesses and don’t ask for discounts.