Movie Geeks United Interview: MARK BORCHARDT

[@moviegeeksunited]

It was a great pleasure to speak with Mark. Thanks for listening to the interview and for your kind words.

[@slaction]

I think Mark was really disappointed in himself and the way he came off in the documentary. Whether it was the excessive drinking, or just the way that the general public perceived him on the surface, either way, he doesn't seem happy about the exposure he gained and seems to appreciate it even less. I've heard lots of rumors about the big directing jobs he turned down, and likely did so to evade the same type of publicity he gained from American Movie. I respect him as an artist, but I think his ideas have really ruined his chance to show who he really is. It's sad that someone with his contagious passion isn't more public, he would certainly be a great teacher or role model for filmmakers if he was willing to accept his own fame.

[@moviegeeksunited]

Thank you for listening!

[@kendrasdreams]

Thank you so much for posting this! Mark Borchardt (as well as Mike Shank, Ken Keen and the whole crew) is a HUGE inspiration. This interview was very entertaining and informative! I hope he completes Scare Me someday. It's nice to hear his perspective that in essense its about learning and the journey and that he'll do things at HIS pace. I can respect that. I always assumed he'd been offered some bigtime stuff and turned it down. Fuckin A right on Mark Borchardt you are the man! Moviegeeks!

[@RodneyAllanPoe]

Yeah thanks for this. I'm a big fan of AMERICAN MOVIE and everyone involved, Mark most of all.

[@FulgoreTrout]

He had his chance when American Movie thrust him into the limelight. He has done nothing but limited acting (decent acting, but limited nonetheless) since that doc's release. If he hasn't had a fire lit under his ass by this point, with American Movie's success, with his uncle leaving him a sizable inheritance to realize his dreams, and the networking with prominent movie people, he's never going to do it. Northwestern and Scare Me are just pipe dreams. He has no pace.

[@brianm2881]

It's not true to say he's produced nothing since American Movie. He has made a few shorts in the time. But it is an awfully short return in 20 years for a man of his apparent enthusiasm. Mark Borchardt seems to see himself as a director first and foremost, but looking back on his career, his legacy is really in front of the camera as an actor.

[@wiseauserious8750]

It's a bit of a wonder that he doesn't have a podcast or something, he could be incredibly successful with that platform. It seems as though he's being pretty genuine about not caring about success

[@simonperry8569]

Spot on. I went on his Twitter feed the other day and he's selling personalised video messages to people, similar to the Cameo website. Pretty sad. Over the past 22 years, anytime someone has asked him about projects on the go he gets defensive and almost aggressive. It remains a mystery why he didn't capitalise on the fame from American Movie and at least make one independent feature film. He was appearing on Letterman etc at one point and that kind of exposure would have guaranteed substantial interest in an indie movie. Maybe one day we'll find out why he didn't actually finish anything.

[@FulgoreTrout]

I understand where you're coming from about him working at his pace, but you have to admit, that everything but Coven has been a work in progress for going on ten years and maybe twenty with Northwestern. I don't think he'll ever finish anything at this rate, and worst of all, Uncle Bill's money has probably been blown through by now.

[@wiseauserious8750]

14 years later and you weren't wrong

[@DIEGOSHAY]

TV is better art than movies nowadays, especially on HBO and AMC.

[@wiseauserious8750]

7 years later and still true