- Considers Dazed and Confused (1993), 28 Days Later (2002), Reservoir Dogs (1992), The Mummy (1999) & Dracula (1931) were the movies that got Mark interested in filmmaking.
- When Mark attended Thomas S. Wootton High School, he took a film studies class where he met Eric B. Fleischman. Also joined The League of Independent Filmmaker's Club alongside Fleischman.
- March 2013, Mark had a rare opportunity to talk to one of his influences, Bryan Singer (The Usual Suspects (1995), X-Men (2000)). Singer & Steven Spielberg are the reasons why Mark wanted to become a storyteller. in 2019, Schoonmaker became friends with Singer through his friendship with Michelle Clunie.
- Considers Leonardo DiCaprio his all-time favorite actor.
- Mark grew up in the same area of San Jose, California as Oscar-winning film editor & composer, John Ottman.
- Frequently casts Steve Wilcox, and Scott Speedman.
- In late 2016 Schoonmaker was working on a script rewrite on a sci-fi post-apocalyptic adventure drama to pitch the lead antagonist role to actor Bill Paxton (Titanic (1997), Aliens (1986)) through the support of writer/producer, Tom Huckabee (Frailty (2001)) & producer Amy Soto. Huckabee gave Schoonmaker 35 pages of screenplay notes on the script.
- Mark was a graduate of Thomas Sprigg Wootton High School (2009). The same high school actor, Thomas Jane (The Punisher (2004), The Mist (2007)) attended.
- Became buddies with Jack Quaid in college. When Schoonmaker was making student-made short films, Quaid would contact him about ideas for his comedy shorts he'd post on his YouTube channel.
- Close friends with actor Steve Wilcox since 2014.
- Friends with actress, Katherine Waterston (Fantastic Beasts, Alien: Covenant), and Graham Waterston.
- Never had a mentor. But considers actor, Ryan Carnes (Desperate Housewives, General Hospital) a mentor. Carnes' has given Mark helpful guidance & advice over the years. The two met at Marc Cherry's 4th of July party in 2015.
- Frequently collaborates with film editor & composer, Matt Cunningham.
- Interested in collaborating with Billy Crudup. Crudup is Mark's hero.
- Became friends with Emmy winning production designer, Julie Berghoff. Berghoff has recently done work on The Handmaid's Tale (2017) I am the Night (2019), and several projects with director, James Wan (Saw (2004), The Conjuring (2013)).
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