Paris Chong sits down with acclaimed photographer and director Mark de Paola to discuss his diverse career and upcoming projects. Mark, known for his fashion photography and commercial directing, reveals he is currently focusing on motion pictures, with two films, A Stab at Heaven (starring Ema McKie) and Better Than Dead, in development for release, plus a third big film. He also shares insights into his unique teaching philosophy at Leica, where he encourages students to be "brave" and find their individual artistic voice rather than simply replicating others' work.
The conversation delves into Mark’s personal history and influences, including his strong feminist perspective, which he attributes to his mother's involvement in the women's rights movement. He recounts a pivotal early career experience photographing Henry Fonda and Sammy Davis Jr., which teaches him a valuable lesson about intellectual property rights. Mark also discusses his upcoming photography exhibitions in Tokyo and San Francisco, highlighting his continued passion for photography alongside his ventures into filmmaking.
Later in the episode, Ema joins the discussion to talk about her starring role in Mark’s film, A Stab at Heaven. Ema shares the deeply personal and challenging story behind the film, which is based on her real-life experience with the suicide of a loved one. Both Mark and Ema emphasize the film's artistic and impactful nature, aiming to portray a universal truth about loss and grief without dictating audience emotions. The film also features Emma's daughter, Ona, whom Mark describes as a natural on set.
Episode Timestamps
(00:00:00) Intro
(00:00:25) Mark de Paola
(00:05:11) The New Film
(00:08:48) Mark's First Assignment
(00:14:25) Encyclopedia
(00:17:08) Shows Coming Up
(00:18:53) How often do you photograph?
(00:22:27) When are the movies coming out?
(00:30:33) Photgraphy Advice
(00:34:07) Philosophies
(00:37:18) Paris the Rockstar
(00:40:19) Ema McKie
(00:41:40) The Movie
(00:45:41) Ona's Movie Role
(00:47:32) A way to Heal
(00:50:15) Private Screening
(00:54:47) What was his name?
(00:57:50) What's next?
(01:01:11) Ona
(01:03:13) Outro
Links to Mark de Paola
- Mark de Paola's Website
- Mark de Paola's Instagram
- Mark de Paola's IMDB
- A Stab At Heaven - IMDB
- Mark's Print Available at Leica
🎵 Music by Andrew Raiher
📸 Shot & Edited at Visible Audio Studios
