About Mark Cerulli

Professional History | Additional Creative Projects | Awards

PROFESSIONAL HISTORY

2003 - Present

Owner, Covert Operations, Inc.

  • Have continued Writing/Producing and Directing for a number of clients - HBO, Court TV, Spike!, Rainbow Media, The William Morris Agency and others.

  • Have field produced and conducted red carpet interviews for The Sundance Channel and HBO.

  • Interviewed singers Ben Harper and Rufus Wainwright at private Sundance concerts.

  • Produced/Directed Industrial Videos for clients like FedCap, The Chapin School and others.

  • Produced/Directed HALLOWEEN: Faces of Fear for Monsters HD. This docu got a limited Theatrical Release along with the Halloween double-feature, 2007.

    1994 – 2003

    Writer/Producer, Home Box Office, New York.

  • Create, write and produce movie trailers, teases and behind-the-scenes featurettes on a wide variety of product, including major titles like Titanic, Eyes Wide Shut and Fight Club. Also set up shoots, and covered junkets.

  • Interviewed the E Street Band for HBO’s Springsteen concert special. Have interviewed over 60 movie stars, celebrities and filmmakers.

  • Supervising Producer for Cinemax Black History Month, 1995, ’96 – oversaw production of over 60 IDs, movie intros, profiles and other interstitial pieces.

  • Interviewed prominent African American filmmakers including Gordon Parks, Carl Franklin, Ernest Dickerson and others.

  • Co-created two Cinemax franchises, Of the Month and Scenes We Love, and produced Of the Month shoots in Vegas, Boston, Denver, Detroit, NY, Houston, Dallas, Orlando, Phoenix and Atlanta. Program became a cornerstone of Cinemax’s national marketing effort, and reached 50,000 movie fans across America. Both programs were on-air from 1997-2000.

    1986 – 1994

    Freelance Copywriter, Staff Copywriter and Senior Copywriter, Home Box Office, New York.

  • Worked on the print campaigns of numerous shows, big events and movies. Was responsible for creating copy for a wide array of materials from counter cards and posters to marketing kits.

  • Created show titles including HBO One Night Stand, and original movie titles Dead Ahead and Tailspin.

  • Freelance Writer, MTV, New York.

  • Wrote marketing materials, kits and poster copy selling the concept of music television – when it needed selling!

    ADDITIONAL CREATIVE PROJECTS

    2002

  • Dark Origins - produced a 30 minute "mockumentary" on upcoming Revolution horror film.

  • THE NEW TNN James Bond Stunt - Scripted promo breaks for Halle Berry launching TNN's 007 movie marathon, tying in to release of Die Another Day.

  • Z100 Jingle Ball Concert - produced, directed two charity videos featuring Kelly Rowland (Destiny's Child), John Mayer and Avril Lavigne for Musicians On Call.
    * Played at sold-out Madison Square Garden.

    2001

  • Slim Shady DVD - was creative consultant on BTS Featurette on Eminem's web cartoon.

  • Musicians on Call - Produced and directed on a pro-bono basis, a fundraising tape for a youth charity which arranges music lessons and artist visits for critically ill children.

  • Halloween 4: Final Cut - Produced and directed DVD documentary featurette on the making of the film. Street Date: 10/09/01.

  • Wet Work - original movie screenplay in development with HBO and Lion's Gate Pictures.

    2000

  • Inside Halloween 5 - produced and directed DVD documentary, interviewed cast and crew members.
    * Boxed collector edition sold out.

  • The Kristen Ann Carr Fund - Produced and directed on a pro-bono basis, a fundraising tape for a youth cancer charity. Interviewed social workers, hospital administrators, and musical artists Bruce Springsteen and Nils Lofgren. Locations: New York and Maryland.

    1999

  • Halloween Unmasked - produced and directed DVD documentary on the horror classic. Interviewed director John Carpenter, Jamie Lee Curtis, producer Debra Hill and others. Chose graphics, supervised original music creation.
    * 40,000 units sold.
    * Reviewed in American Cinematographer.
    * Listed as one of the top 100 DVDs by.

  • Entertainment Weekly.

  • Return to Oz - produced and directed 12 minute docu featurette, released on DVD and VHS featuring Fairuza Balk.

    1995/96

  • Goldfinger and Thunderball - co-produced VHS and DVD documentary features on the 007 classics.
    * Worked out of Pinewood Studios in England, set up and covered 22 interviews of Bond personalities including Pierce Brosnan, Lois Maxwell (Moneypenny), Desmond Lewellyn (Q) and other filmmakers.
    * Goldfinger DVD listed as one of the top 100 DVDs by Entertainment Weekly magazine.

  • Trancas International Pictures -- scriptwriting finalist from a field of 12 writers for "HALLOWEEN 7" (aka "H20").

    1994

  • Blockbuster Video Guide - contributing writer/film reviewer, published by Dell Paperbacks.

    1993

  • Clarissa Explains It All - scripted Football Fever episode of popular Nickelodeon series starring Melissa Joan Hart.

    1992

  • Voices of Choice Awards - scripted Washington benefit gala, with Harry Belafonte, Ron Silver, Paula Poundstone and the Democratic Presidential Candidates.
    * Event was attended by over 60 members of Congress and Senate; and covered by national press.

    1989/90

  • Hey Dude! - scripted five episodes of live-action Nickelodeon comedy series, shot on location in Tucson, Arizona.

    AWARDS

  • 1997 - New York Festivals Gold (Video)
  • 1995 - New York Festivals Bronze (Video)
  • 1994 - New York Festivals Finalist (Video)
  • 1993 - Creativity (Print)
  • 1993 - PROMAX finalist (Print)
  • 1993 - CTAM “Mark” Award (Print)
  • 1990 - Advertising Ace Award (Print)

    Education:

    Syracuse University
    S. I. Newhouse School of Communications
    Syracuse, New York and London, England

    Member of WGA