Interview with Artist Mark Yates
Better Parking, Better Perspective
by Jaden
You have a charming house near the famous Hollywood sign, great friends, and always seem happy.
Despite your hands and legs not functioning properly, you are an international traveler, accomplished sculptor, storyboard artist, and now director.
Considering how successful you are, using the words disabled or handicapped feels wrong when I am talking to you, but you do have one of those blue cards hanging from your mirror, don’t you?
Do you like getting rock star parking everywhere you go in Hollywood?
I get it everywhere I go on earth. I’d choose ‘flight’ over ‘invisibility’ in most cases but when it comes to being a rock star I would choose ‘invisibility’ every time.
What is the name of your physical condition?
It’s called being ‘Tetraplegic’ but I’m called ‘Incomplete’ because I had some nerve recovery. I broke C5 and C6, which are the 5th and 6th vertebrae in your neck. The nerves inside them were the damaged ones. They pretty much control everything from that point down.
How and when did it happen?
I was being a kid on a bike. I did the perfect half-somersault off of a ramp.
Have you ever felt defeated or have you always had a positive outlook?
I suppose I’ve always had a positive outlook. Everything is an adventure. I had a time when my self-confidence was pretty low. The best way to learn how to swim is to just leap in right. It’s just not like me to feel defeated.
While directing, have you encountered any prejudice or obstacles because of the wheelchair?
Everyone is reassuringly good about it. My faith in human nature is constantly given a little boost.
How about in Hollywood in general?
Even total assholes are cool about my chair. It does get a bit old though on a dance floor constantly being fondled.
When did you start drawing?
I remember now drawing a car in hospital and thinking it was actually quite amazing. 
I think that’s when I started to consider it as anything other than doodling. My grandfather taught the advanced life drawing students at the Royal College of Art in London. Both him and my Dad were very encouraging.
For what movies have you done storyboards?
I don’t generally draw movies unless it’s a friend I’m working with. I much prefer the one-day turn around of a 30 second commercial. The last movie I drew was Friday the 13th, the one before that was 300.
How do you storyboard? Working straight from the script alone or with a director’s guidance?
The director’s guidance is always good to hear. You have to hear the rules before you disregard them.
When storyboarding, do you notice anything screenwriters do with their scripts that annoys you?
I always find it amusing when a writer has to explain how the audience is feeling in a particular moment of their script. It generally means that they won’t be.
Is there anything a screenwriter should do that would enhance their script and facilitate storyboarding?
To get a story that is as clear in part as it is as a whole, what more could one ask?
Tell me about your experience of moving from storyboarding at a desk to the active world of directing.
I was a pretty active storyboard artist but after drawing 300 I realized that unless I made a drastic change I was going to die at my desk drawing someone else’s stuff. When I draw I am in the drawing, living out what was going on in the scene. It got to the stage where after a dozen years of that, that it was not enough anymore. As a music video director I could shoot my own ideas my own way. Also being surrounded by so many people who are there to help you is the opposite of the lonely drawing board. It feels like a natural progression and the right thing to be doing.
What projects have you directed?
Just the [Chicane] music video from last April and I just got back from 3 1/2 months in Austin shooting 2nd unit on Friday the 13th with director Marcus Nispel.
On what projects are you currently working, if you can say?
The next thing is helping Marcus with the edit on Friday the 13th. There are some re-shoots scheduled maybe for November. It’s released February 13, 2009, a Friday of course. I have been really taken back by the kindness, faith, opportunity and trust shown by my friend Marcus Nispel. He directed the Texas Chainsaw movie and also Pathfinder but I have worked on commercials for him for many years. What more could you be given by a friend than the freedom to create your art.
When a person once asked you why and how you are always in such good spirits, I heard you said, “I don’t wake up happy everyday, I choose to be happy.” Is that true?
I want to know what bastard has been spreading such nasty rumors about me! I am always happy damn it!
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3 Responses to “Interview with Artist Mark Yates”
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Great interview! I wonder if that’s a remake of the first Friday The 13th or a sequel to the numerous others.
A true inspiration. Thanks.
Jaden, you have a natural talent for interviews. This one was especially inspiring. Thanks for sharing it with us.