Mark Hicks exemplifies the maxim that raw talent means little without tireless work ethic and an indomitable spirit driving you forward. Now, after over 28 years steadily climbing the rungs of the entertainment industry – learning everything from precision stunt work to the finer points of dramatic acting – he stands poised to cement his reputation as an action filmmaking tour de force with his latest directorial effort, “Retribution for Cory.”
This brooding action thriller encapsulates everything that has defined Hicks’ own extraordinary journey: athleticism honed through years of martial arts training, an eye for adrenaline-soaked spectacle, and underlying faith in the redemptive power of cinema.
Hicks’ obsession with action cinema stretches back to his childhood when he first discovered the transportive power of movies through fearsome yet charismatic heroes. Athletic prowess came naturally to him from a young age; he displayed a gymnast’s agility and was soon swept up into the world of competitive martial arts. Still, Hollywood felt like a distant dream without industry connections.
Undeterred, Hicks decided to gain experience however he could. He started with grueling work as an unpaid extra before gradually getting hired as a stunt performer. On set, he watched and learned from the best in the business while cementing a reputation for pulling off dangerous fight choreography. His athletic gifts were never in question; what set him apart was sheer grit – fighting through broken bones and torn ligaments to get the perfect take.
After a decade honing his physicality and drama skills in supporting acting roles, Hicks finally set up his own production company, Stunt Supreme. True to its name, the company specialized in crafting films centered on propulsive stunt action. But having witnessed discrimination against minorities in Hollywood first-hand, Hicks also prioritized showcasing diversity both in front of and behind the camera.
As he recalls of Stunt Supreme’s early ethos: “We will represent all people in all lights. Positive and negative because that is what the world is. There are good and bad of every color, race, creed and sex.”
Easier said than done. As with any dream project, Hicks struggled constantly over two decades to secure enough financing just to get cameras rolling. He embraced the wisdom of Orson Welles who once said of the business: “It’s 95% running around trying to raise money to make movies and 5% actually making them.”
But that five percent – those moments when the director yells action, and explosions ring out as actors dive fearlessly into the scene – made every setback worthwhile for Hicks. Because that was the moment his imagination came alive.
Now, with his upcoming film “Retribution for Cory,” Hicks stands ready to unleash his magnum opus as writer, director, producer and star – cementing him as an auteur in the style of John Woo or Robert Rodriguez.
The plot seems simple enough on its face: a brooding anti-hero (Hicks) driven by revenge after his loved one’s murder. But rather than tired genre tropes, Hicks infuses each frame with complexity and emotional truth as his lead navigates a moral quagmire on the path to salvation. Co-stars Phylicia Lloyd and Patrice Fisher each shine in roles that subvert stereotypes of women in action films.
As the credits finally rolled on set after a grueling final day, Hicks’ indefatigable key grip encapsulated the entire crew’s sense of awe: “You know you got a good one!”
For Hicks as director, this moment of validation from cast and crew represents the pinnacle after 30 years perfecting his filmmaking craft. Now he is ready for the next uphill battle in getting his uncompromising vision onto cinema screens into the hands of audiences hungry for authentic, original action films.
All that remains now is for audiences to experience the power of that vision for themselves. And if Hicks’ own epic journey tells us anything, it’s that he will stop at nothing until the world witnesses what decades of unbridled determination built: an action classic for the ages ready to inspire a generation of new filmmaking talent. After a lifetime consumed by cinema, Hicks is finally taking his place behind the camera as the indomitable action auteur he was destined to become.
Published by: Martin De Juan
