BARK Director, Marc Schölermann

Marc Schölermann is an acclaimed German director who made his feature debut with Pathology, a psychological thriller produced by MGM/Lakeshore and starring Alyssa Milano. His latest film, Bark, is a horror thriller about a man who wakes up tied to a tree with no memory of how he got there. Remarkably, the entire story unfolds within a single 10-by-10-foot space—making Bark not just a gripping watch, but a masterclass in single-location filmmaking. Marc shot the film in just nine days. In this episode, he shares how he crafted a highly effective, technically simple film on a tight budget and schedule without compromising quality. He also offers insights on where to invest your resources when working within budget constraints. I’ll say there are some SLIGHT spoilers in this interview - I recommend watching Bark first but if you haven’t it won’t necessarily ruin the experience for you, but you should still try to see it anyway.Show Notes Movies DiscussedBarkPathologyBuriedIndiana Jones and the Temple of DoomRaiders of the Lost ArkCrankThe Blair Witch ProjectTremors Directors & Filmmakers ReferencedRobert RodriguezLex FridmanTim FerrissMark Neveldine & Brian TaylorMarc’s DP: Peter (longtime collaborator) Topics CoveredHow Marc discovered Bark via an online script forumThe story’s emotional and visual roots in a real-life animal abuse incidentThe creative constraints and opportunities of a one-location movieUsing long lenses and color desaturation to reflect the main character’s mental stateFilming in the Black Forest with a micro-crew of 12 peopleShooting 25 pages of dialogue in a single dayCrafting immersive sound design and environmental texture in postWriting a behind-the-scenes book: Making Bark: A Filmmaker’s JourneyWorking with SAG actors, sound teams, and editors who elevate low-budget filmmakingBuilding your career through commercials and staying agile Books & ProjectsMaking Bark: A Filmmaker’s Journey by Marc Schölermann (available on Amazon) Where to WatchBark is now streaming on Amazon, Apple TV, Google Play, and other major VOD platforms Follow Marc Schölermann at:IMBd: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0774340/?ref_=nmbio_ov_bkInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/marcschoelermann/?hl=enX (Twitter): https://x.com/therealschoeli?lang=enWebsite: https://www.marcschoelermann.com/