-Who is Reggie Austin?

My name is Reggie Austin. I am the director, writer, co-producer, and lead actor of the short film, The Marked, currently making the film festival circuit (www.themarkedshortfilm.com). We’ve been fortunate so far to be included in over a dozen festivals, winning awards for Best Director, Best Ensemble, and more.

-What inspired you to become a filmmaker?  

I joined the Screen Actors Guild in 1997. I have always enjoyed telling stories. But as an actor, you’re really a gun-for-hire. You are telling someone else’s story. As a writer and/or director, there’s more ownership over the story being told. Creating a story from scratch is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time (especially directing), so when I had the idea for The Marked, I was excited to finally take the plunge.

-Do you think that cinema can bring a change in the society?  

There is something powerful about the arts. Cinema continues the grand tradition of storytelling that’s as old as humanity. Any good art points to something greater than itself, to lift our eyes to higher things and inspire change.

-What would you change in the world?  

This is a tough question because the list is so long! There are so many things that need changing. But I think the most helpful thing that I can change is me. How can I grow? How can I improve? What can I learn? I think asking these questions is probably one of the most important things a person can do.

-Where do you see the film industry going in the next 100 years?  

Well, I can’t tell the future, but when you look back on the last hundred years of film history and see the changes there, both artistically (black and white to color, silent to talking) and technologically (digital, 8K, 3D, etc.), you know that art always adjusts to the times. So, no matter what the future holds, there will always be storytelling around to document, reflect, celebrate or challenge the world around it.