"The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes 'awww!' "
-- Jack Kerouac
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Who • Photos • mark@treadmillproductions.com
Mark Finkelpearl is a non-fiction and documentary television executive, producer, and director with a background on the staff’s of Discovery Channel, Travel Channel, TLC, and National Geographic Television.
He’s currently launching a United States division for Eyeworks Cuatro Cabezas, Argentina’s largest independent television production company.
Finkelpearl's 2010 productions include "DC Cupcakes" for TLC.
His 2009 productions included Lock and Load with R. Lee Ermey for History, Car Czar for National Geographic Channel, and The Lottery Changed My Life for TLC.
For seven and a half years, Finkelpearl was on the staff of Discovery Communications where he was an executive producer and director of production responsible for millions upon millions of dollars worth of television. During his career, he’s worked on more than 750 hours of TV. At Discovery he was the executive in charge of such hits as American Chopper and American Hotrod. While on staff at Travel Channel, Finkelpearl was on the team that launched the World Poker Tour, creating a new vanguard in televised poker.
Prior to Discovery, Finkelpearl served as a supervising producer at National Geographic Television, where he oversaw, wrote, and produced on the award winning Explorer series.
Finkelpearl lived and freelanced in Hollywood for six years, producing on programming like Mysteries of the Bible and Ancient Mysteries with Leonard Nimoy for A&E and working on programming for FOX, USA, PBS, and Discovery Channel. He began his career in the National Programming department of WQED/Pittsburgh and their Los Angeles facility, QED/West, working on dozens of hours of PBS programming.
Finkelpearl is a native of Pittsburgh. He’s lived in Ketchum, Idaho; Santa Monica, California, and currently resides in Washington, DC.
Mark Finkelpearl is repped by the Abrams Artists Agency/NYC.
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Broadcast
Mark Finkelpearl develops, sells, and executive produces shows for clients up and down the television dial.
He’s been in the documentary and non-fiction world for 23 years and has contributed to programming on Discovery Channel, TLC, TBS, Travel Channel, planetgreen, National Geographic Channel, HGTV, USA Network, FOX, History, A&E, Lifetime, and PBS.
Finkelpearl’s commercial work places as much emphasis on components like ad sales integration needs, marketing, and branding, as it does with more traditional aspects like storytelling, character development, and a presentation geared for today's EPG, time shifting, & channel surfing environments.
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Music
Finkelpearl launched Treadmill Productions in 2006 as a way to combine his skill for documentary production with his love of rock and roll and create meaningful media for musicians. Say that three times fast. Since launching, Finkelpearl has completed productions for Jon Dee Graham, the Weepies, Peter Case, and Chuck Leavell of the Rolling Stones and Allman Brothers.
He’s directed a video for Richard Thompson, and consulted on a video for Sarah Lee Guthrie and Johnny Irion.
Finkelpearl is a long-time music fanatic. He’s played guitar since the age of 14, he attended 80 Grateful Dead shows (putting Garcia’s daughter through a LEAST a year of college!), and he has a particular interest in Americana, alt.country, and roots rock.
When it comes to capturing important rock and roll, his approach as a filmmaker is like yours as a musician: it’s about telling engaging stories. Finkelpearl is not content to simply point and shoot and watch you play. He wants to help you create media for your music that also develops you (and/or your band) as a personality, a character; media that allows your audience to directly connect with you above and beyond the songs and music that they love and which make you stand out.
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Watch
Jon Dee Graham: Swept Away: This feature-length documentary is an exploration into the unique character and music of this Austin legend, a three-time inductee to the Austin, TX Music Hall of Fame.
The film was called “Superb” by No Depression magazine, “Incredibly Special” by the Nashville City Paper, “Lovingly Produced” by Blogcritics.org and “Excellent” by popmatters.com.
Swept Away is available on DVD nationally at Amazon.com and other purveyors of fine music merchandise. Original Sizzle Reel.
Richard Thompson: Making of Cabaret of Souls: Every few years this prolific solo artist and founding member of Fairport Convention whips out another masterpiece. In 2009, it was Cabaret of Souls, a cycle of songs taking place in purgatory and all “performed” by newly departed souls. This film was made for Richard by Creative Differences. Finkelpearl directed.
Chuck Leavell and the AFF. Chuck Leavell is the long-time sideman in bands like the Rolling Stones and the Allman Brothers. He’s also a tree farmer. This short film was commissioned to document a special benefit concert Leavell performed on behalf of the American Forest Foundation. Watch here.
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Listen
Mark Finkelpearl also promotes concerts in one venue: the Mansion on O Street in the heart of Washington, DC's Dupont Circle neighborhood.
Past performers include JD Souther, Emmylou Harris, Buddy Miller, Joe Bonamassa, Jeff "Skunk" Baxter, Alejandro Escovedo, Jon Dee Graham and the Fighting Cocks, Lee Roy Parnell, Tom Freund, Mike Stinson, the Weepies, Peter Case, and Sarah Lee Guthrie & Johnny Irion.
The Mansion is an artist-friendly, non-profit venue owned and operated by a member of the board of trustees of the rock and roll hall of fame and museum.
Visit the mansion and book tickets at http://omansion.com
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Wow
Variety article on Mark's New Deal
Critical Praise for the DVD Release of Jon Dee Graham: Swept Away:
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Friends & Colleagues
http://marquisautorestorations.com
Mark's Agent:
Mark Turner
Abrams Artists Agency
275 Seventh Ave. 26th Floor
New York, NY 10001
646-486-4600
