{{Short description|Australian filmmaker}} {{Use Australian English|date=December 2015}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}} {{Infobox person | name = Martyn Park | image = Martyn Park January 2023.jpg | caption = | birth_place = England | occupation = Writer, Director, Health & Training Coach | years_active = 1957–present }}
'''Martyn Park''' is an Australian writer, director, and Health & Training Coach.
==Early life== {{BLP unreferenced section|date=March 2023}} Born in England, Park's family immigrated to Australia as Ten Pound Poms when he was six years old. After a short stint living in a Nissen hut at the Wacol Hostel in Wacol, Queensland, they moved to Cronulla Beach in New South Wales. He left school at fifteen and worked at the local Cronulla Cinema as an assistant projectionist. A year later he joined Hoyts Theatres in the city of Sydney, where he completed his apprenticeship. Working the suburban relief roster, he screened a double feature at a different cinema every night, ten different movies per week. He credits this with creating his passion for cinema.
==The gym years== When the work of projectionists became fully automated, Park changed careers by moving into the fitness industry. In 1975 he studied to be a Naturopath at the St Leonards College of Natural Therapies in Artarmon, NSW. After finishing his studies, between 1978 and 1982 he worked at City Gym, and the Squashlands Chain, as a fitness and aerobics instructor, and at the John Valentines Health Club, as a weight loss and diet consultant. In 1982 he worked as the manager and head trainer at the first Golds Gym in Australia located in Ashfield, NSW.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Archive-coaching- bio-short|url=https://martynpark.com/archive-coaching-bio-short/|access-date=2022-01-15|website=Martyn Park|language=en-US}}</ref>
In 1985, he took over a dilapidated building in Beverly Hills and opened the Leisuredome Gymnasium (The Natural Physique Centre) where he specialized in natural bodybuilding and weight loss. Over his term of ownership, Park built the gymnasium into one of Australia's premier natural bodybuilding gyms where at its peak, he had created five national champions, one world champion, and numerous state and regional title holders.<ref>{{cite web|title=Interlude Pictures :: archives-gym-torch-newspaper-2004|url=https://martynpark.com/interlude-pictures-archives-gym-torch-newspaper-2004/|website=www.martynpark.com}}</ref>
In 2005 he sold the gym (which is still operating as a natural bodybuilding gym after 37 years in business<ref>{{Cite web|title=Leisuredome Gym {{!}} Sydney {{!}} Australia|url=https://www.leisuredomegym.com/|access-date=2022-01-15|website=www.leisuredomegym.com|language=en}}</ref>) and moved into freelance coaching and teaching.
==Film career== Park's first feature film, ''Going Once Going Twice'', premiered at the Open City Film Festival in 1997 alongside ''The Castle''.<ref name="interludepictures_a">{{cite web|title=Interlude Pictures :: archives-g1g2-open-city-film-festival-1997|url=https://martynpark.com/interlude-pictures-archives-g1g2-open-city-film-festival-1997/|website=www.martynpark.com}}</ref> His second feature, ''Instant Karma'', premiered at the Melbourne Underground Film Festival in July 2001.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.muff.com.au/2001/new.html |title=New Australian and International Cinema |accessdate=2013-06-25 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130427000140/http://www.muff.com.au/2001/new.html |archivedate=27 April 2013}}</ref> He rewrote the screenplay of ''Instant Karma'' into a stage play and in September 2001 he screened the film alongside the world premiere of the play at the Bondi Pavilion Theatre.<ref>{{cite web|title=Interlude Pictures :: archives-instant-karma-press-2001|url=https://martynpark.com/interlude-pictures-archives-instant-karma-press-2001/|website=www.martynpark.com}}</ref> Unlike the film which was set in a modern contemporary setting, the play was staged as a black-and-white 1950s style cinema experience where the set and the actors (using makeup and costume) were completely devoid of colour.<ref>{{cite web|title=Interlude Pictures :: archives-instant-karma-colour-photo-2001|url=https://martynpark.com/interlude-pictures-archives-instant-karma-colour-photo-2001/|website=www.martynpark.com}}</ref>
Between 2001 and 2007, while waiting for digital film technology to improve, Park concentrated on writing screenplays and developing his filmmaking skills by working on other filmmakers' films.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/A147462|title=Martyn Park: (author/organisation) - AustLit: Discover Australian Stories|website=www.austlit.edu.au}}</ref> In 2008 Park created ''1 and 0 nly'',<ref>{{cite web|title=Interlude Pictures - Martyn Park - 1 and 0 nly|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1319553|website=www.imdb.com}}</ref> a science fiction film starring only one actor, Christopher Baker (who won best actor at the 2009 Fantastic Planet Film Festival for his portrayal of Lieutenant Frank James Morley).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fantasticplanetfilmfestival.com/2009_winners.htm|title=Fantastic Planet Film Festival|website=www.fantasticplanetfilmfestival.com|access-date=25 June 2013|archive-date=23 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111223122102/http://www.fantasticplanetfilmfestival.com/2009_winners.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> ''1 and 0 nly'' premiered at the Lausanne Underground Film Festival in Lausanne, Switzerland where it was awarded "Mention spéciale à”.<ref>{{cite web|title=Interlude Pictures :: archives-lausanne-film-festival-program-2008|url=https://martynpark.com/interlude-pictures-archives-lausanne-film-festival-program-2008/|website=www.martynpark.com}}</ref> It later went on to win Best Narrative Film at the 2009 Scinema Festival of Science Film.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.csiro.au/news/SCINEMA-film-festival-winners-2009 |title=Australian filmmakers are stars of science film awards | CSIRO |website=www.csiro.au |access-date=2 February 2022 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140518012206/http://www.csiro.au/news/SCINEMA-film-festival-winners-2009 |archive-date=18 May 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
In 2010 he teamed up with his brother Ray Park and they made the feature film ''1MC:Something of Vengeance''. The film was shot entirely in a condemned two-storey building just around the corner from where they grew up in Cronulla.<ref>{{cite web|title=Interlude Pictures - Martyn Park - 1MC:Something of Vengeance|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1745649|website=www.imdb.com}}</ref>
In 2012 he made his fourth feature as a Lonedog Production, ''iSOLATE''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Interlude Pictures - Martyn Park - iSOLATE|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2101509|website=www.imdb.com}}</ref> It premiered at the Los Angeles Fear and Fantasy Film Festival (where lead actress Jacinta John won the best actress award for her portrayal of Scout Taylor)<ref>{{cite web|title=Interlude Pictures :: Jacinta John Awards|url=https://martynpark.com/interlude-pictures-archives-jacinta-john-awards/|website=www.martynpark.com}}</ref> and later screened on the opening night of the 2012 CinefestOz film festival<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.watoday.com.au/entertainment/cinefestoz-20120824-24qk1.html|title=CinefestOZ|first=Jerrie|last=Demasi|date=24 August 2012|website=WAtoday}}</ref> alongside ''The Intouchables'', and ''33 Postcards''.
In 2014 he made his seventh feature film ''Under The Bridge'', an intimate film about family and the oft time struggles between siblings.
In 2018 he made his eight feature film ''1 + 1 = 11'', his second film in the avant-garde science fiction genre.
In 2019 he made his ninth feature film ''Spencer (2019 film)|Spencer'', which was opening night film at the Pride Queer Film Festival in Perth, where it won the audience award for best picture.<ref>{{Cite web|title=PRIDE Queer Film Festival Program Release|url=https://www.screenwest.com.au/news-and-events/latest-news/pride-queer-film-festival-program-release/|access-date=2022-01-15|website=Screenwest|language=en-AU}}</ref>
He has been described as being "possibly the most independent filmmaker in the world".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://vimeo.com/49641425|title=2012 Indie Gems Film Festival - Indie Film Production & Distribution Forum|first=Titan|last=View|date=17 September 2012|publisher=|via=Vimeo}}</ref>
==A Lonedog Production== In a similar production style as Shane Carruth<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://screengeeksuk.com/2013/04/sundance-london-review-upstream-color/ |title=Sundance London Review: Upstream Color | ScreenGeeks UK |access-date=25 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304095136/http://screengeeksuk.com/2013/04/sundance-london-review-upstream-color/ |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> (Primer) or an early career Robert Rodriguez (El Mariachi), when working as A Lonedog Production, Park takes on all the crewing roles, working entirely on his own. This solo method of filmmaking also continues through the post-production process.{{citation needed|date=March 2023}}
==Filmography== *(2019) – ''Spencer'' (feature film)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8933086/|title = Spencer|website = IMDb}}</ref> *(2018) – ''1 + 1 = 11'' (feature film) *(2014) – ''Under The Bridge'' (feature film) *(2013) – ''Mask'' (short) *(2012) – ''iSOLATE'' (feature film) *(2012) – ''Maiden'' (short) *(2010) – ''1MC:Something of Vengeance'' (feature film) *(2008) – ''1 and 0 nly'' (feature film) *(2001) – ''Instant Karma'' (feature film) *(2000) – ''Kelly's Thesis'' (feature film)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/the-screen-guide/t/kellys-thesis-2001/16675/|title=Kelly's Thesis (2001) - The Screen Guide - Screen Australia|website=www.screenaustralia.gov.au}}</ref> *(1997) – ''Going Once Going Twice'' (feature film)<ref name="interludepictures_a" />
==References== {{Reflist}}
== External links == *{{IMDb name|3167229}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Park, Martyn}} Category:Australian screenwriters Category:Australian film directors Category:Australian film producers Category:Australian cinematographers Category:Australian film editors Category:Australian dramatists and playwrights Category:Living people Category:People from the Sutherland Shire Category:Year of birth missing (living people)