markashtonlund

[markashtonlund]

An Illusion

Every so often a booking comes along that is just pure fun. In this case, it was for the Museum of Illusions new location in Boston. Like most actors, on any given week, I submit to a variety of projects. Aside from what they are looking for in their listing, I honestly don’t spend that much time researching the client or agency. It’s only when the booking comes through that the research begins.…

[markashtonlund]

The Staircase

The Grand Staircase – Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition As 2024 begins to wind down, I could not be prouder of the film festival results for First Launch. Earlier this year the sequel to First Signal began its journey through the festival market at the script stage. Over the last two weeks, First Launch has been accepted into The Macoproject Film Festival and the Asian Film Festival. This brings…

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Market Faith

Ralph Fiennes in Conclave. Friday night, I saw a movie I had been waiting for since I first became aware of it in the trades: Conclave. It did not disappoint. From the richness of the locations to the twists and turns of the story, to an Oscar-worthy performance by Raph Fiennes as Thomas Cardinal Lawrence, Conclave delivered on all fronts against an industry slowdown. Conclave’s ending was…

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America's Heritage

Yesterday I attended my favorite event of the year – The American Heritage Museum’s production of World War II Battle for the Airfield. I’ve written about this event in past blog posts, but for some reason, this year’s had a particular resonance. World War II veterans at the Veterans Roundtable. When three veterans of World War II spoke at the Veterans Roundtable, I was reminded how few of the…

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The Manuscript

An AI-generated scene in SOS United States. Last week a publisher formally requested the complete manuscript to SOS United States for review. This request came after I sent an initial query introducing the project along with some additional information. I was particularly pleased with this request, as this publisher was specifically looking for political thrillers. Will they like the SOS United…

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Stonegate Spirit

Between takes on the set of Stonegate. (l-r) Brian Rukstalis, Mark Lund and Patrick McAvoy. This past Saturday principal photography wrapped on Dan Groom’s second feature film Stonegate. Thus, my role as Father Clayton has come to an end. For those of us who work in this industry, these moments are always bittersweet. While all are happy that the project concluded successfully, we know no more…

[markashtonlund]

Memory Trust

In Mind We Trust, the sequel to Justice Is Mind, primarily takes place in Washington, D.C. It has been some time since I read In Mind We Trust, the sequel to Justice Is Mind. As Justice Is Mind was the first feature film I wrote, produced and directed, I couldn’t help but be proud of the accomplishment. But even more interesting today than when I wrote it, is how much I enjoy the story…

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The United States

The SS United States in her prime. No, the title of this blog post isn’t about the United States as a country—but maybe it is—it’s about the storied ocean liner SS United States that is currently moored in Philadelphia. The landlord that owns the pier where this majestic, American-built, ocean liner is docked has a court order to remove her by mid-September.  The article title from one newspaper…

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Stonegate Institute

Stonegate stars Patrick McAvoy (l) as Marshall. Mark Lund (r) as Father Clayton. It was about two years ago when my friend and fellow filmmaker, Dan Groom, asked me to accompany him on a site tour for a possible psychological thriller/drama he wanted to direct. The original location was quite impressive, and things seemed to be moving along smoothly. However, as often happens in this industry,…

[markashtonlund]

In Time

Dinosaur State Park Yesterday I met with a friend to see the movie Twisters. I met this friend when we worked together on First Signal. Among the numerous conversation topics, one was the speed at which time flies by. Neither one of us could believe that we filmed First Signal in 2019 (it was released in 2021) nor that the last time we saw each other was exactly a year ago at this same theatre…

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The Seaport

Mystic Seaport Museum Two weeks ago, I traveled to Mystic, CT to visit the Mystic Seaport Museum. This was my second visit to the largest maritime museum in the United States which is also home to the last wooden whaleship—the Charles W. Morgan.  As Old Sturbridge Village accomplishes so well with its recreation of life in New England in the early 1800s, the Mystic Seaport Museum recreates a…

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Next Selection

Patterns (1956) Last week I received notice that First Launch, the sequel to First Signal, was an Official Selection of The Flight Deck Film Festival. When I decided to submit First Launch into the festival circuit, it was my hope that festivals would keep the “First World Universe” in conversation. I use the word conversation as it is every filmmakers goal to get their project recognized. As…

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The Pequot

Pequot Museum on X In what has become a personal tradition of mine, on my birthday I spend the day at a museum. I often seek a museum I’ve never visited to mark the occasion and to learn something new. With my 59th birthday this past Thursday (I know, I still can’t believe it!), I visited the Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center in Mashantucket, CT. To quote from their website, “The…

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Memorial Event

Credit: Getty Images On Saturday, I visited the American Heritage Museum for their Tank Demonstration event. Seeing these machines, primarily from World War II, in operation is truly a wonder. A conflict that started over 80 years ago and claimed the lives of more than 70 million is forever memorialized in museums like the American Heritage, Battleship Cove, and countless others across the…

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Latest Read

A few years ago I discovered a book titled Operation Paperclip by Annie Jacobsen. That book chronicled “The Secret Intelligence Program that Brought Nazi Scientists to America.” I learned about this secret operation from researching First Signal in 2018. Jacobsen’s book, however, detailed the complexities and issues surrounding the program that ultimately led to Apollo 11’s manned landing on the…

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Concept Trailer

A still from the concept trailer for SOS United States. Developing SOS United States as both a screenplay and novel has been an all-encompassing experience in writing. While a screenplay is written to create something visual a novel requires an explanation of the visuals for the reader to create in their own mind. Having now written both versions of this story, it’s a writing experience I will…

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First Eclipse