Tony Mark is available for lectures and teaching roles
Letters of Recommendation
To Whom it May Concern,
I first met Tony Mark at the 2015 CayFilm Festival in Grand Cayman. I was impressed by his organization of the festival and how problems were quickly solved. After attending the 2016 and 2017 CayFilm Festival - I saw it grow into one of the best festivals I had ever attended.
As Chair of the TV/Film Department at DeSales University, it was my responsibility to find adjunct faculty and guest speakers for our classes to better educate our students with “real world” filmmaking professionals to offer an enhanced insight to what happens within the Industry. These “Master Classes” (taught by guest filmmakers) are the highlight of our students’ learning experience. Realizing that I knew the perfect person, I invited Tony to speak to my Producing class about the importance of film festivals and what happens behind the scenes. His arrival perfectly illustrated the concepts I taught.
In my 17 years at DeSales, I have never had a guest lecturer bring so much to my classes or be so well received by my students. His one hour and fifteen-minute lecture lasted over two hours because of the fifty-minute question and answer session. Rarely do my students ask questions from a guest, but my class of 18 students had grown to over 50 because of Tony’s announced arrival. His PowerPoint presentation was well constructed, his examples of films perfectly suited, and his explanation of what a festival coordinator looks for in a submitted film - outstanding.
Our school’s philosophy is that real-world hands-on experience is far more valuable to the students than just lectures and book learning. Having a terminal degree doesn’t offer any more significance than someone who is currently working in a constantly changing field. As a festival coordinator, organizer and filmmaker, Tony understands what is needed in the classroom and he is the complete fit.
He was a natural with my students, was willing to work with them, and watched their work in progress to help make each the best possible filmmaker he or she could be.
If you have any questions or need additional information on Tony’s teaching skills, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Chuck Gloman
Associate Professor TV/Film Department
DeSales University
2755 Station Avenue
Center Valley, PA 18034
610.282.1100 extension 1683 (office)
Carolina Muniz Ferreira
January 15, 2021
Ref: Tony Mark
To Whom It May Concern,
I have known Mr. Tony Mark for nearly a decade, as we met in 2013 when he working to get CayFilm,
the Cayman Islands International Film Festival, off the ground here in Grand Cayman.
As I have a personal passion for film, I volunteered to assist with this undertaking, and as such had
ample opportunity to interact with Tony directly. I found Tony to be an easy-going, thoughtful, kind,
and helpful person.
Tony’s management style is one that allows personal growth and development as
he fosters the feeling of “ownership” among those involved in a project in such a way that builds
commitment and shared accountability among the team. As the Deputy Director of the Cayman
Islands Red Cross, I have worked for over 20 years with volunteer management and development and I
was very impressed by how well he engaged and communicated with, empowered and treated the
volunteers.
My experience with the CayFilm endeavour was so positive that, while serving as the Student Services
Counsellor for the University College of the Cayman Islands (UCCI), I engaged Tony to assist in
delivering a couple of 6-8 week Digitial film making classes with a very special group of students. Our
Pre-College Programme catered to students with potential who had not been able to secure admission
into the Associate’s or Bachelor’s Degree programmes, but who wanted to work towards that
placement as a goal.
Most of these students faced numerous challenges and barriers to their
education, and as such required a great deal of patience, structure, engagement and consistency.
Tony’s classes were one of the most well received in the programme as it helped to not only give these
students the opportunity to learn a new skill and express themselves, but also because they found in
Tony someone who was passionate and caring about a craft that until then had not been a possibility
for these young people.
Tony brings with him a great deal of experience and knowledge, but also a signature positive outlook
and demeanour which is refreshing and energising. He makes a real effort to share his passion and
connect with people, and that makes all of the difference both outside and inside the classroom.
Should you have any questions or need to reach me, please feel free to contact me directly on the
email and/or phone number above.
Sincerely,
Carolina Muniz Ferreira