J’Adore Magazine Article

13 Oct J’Adore Magazine Article

By Laura Turner

What’s in a Name?   Marcus Aurelius

 The film industry is very competitive. Everyone wants to be the next hot producer, director or screenwriter. I admit to such aspirations myself. To be in a position to understand what it takes to not just be in this business but make it in this business is what makes this article so inspiring. Everyone knows how difficult it can be to make it in Hollywood as an actor, so one can only imagine what it’s like to make it as a director. With that being said, how does a seemingly obscure actor direct a film that gets into the Action on Film 2006 Film Festival at the last minute, literally, and win? Then go on to direct the next major action flick with an A-list cast including a cameo by Jackie Chan and his son, and backed by none other than Bey Logan and The Weinstein Company Asia (Dragon Dynasty)? One would assume he’s the son of someone famous. Nope! His name is Marcus Aurelius. And yes, before you ask, that is his birth name. He may not be a Roman Emperor, but it may be very possible he’s channeling the energy of one.

Moving to L.A. to begin a career in entertainment, Marcus knew that he wanted to do “something” in the entertainment industry. Born Marcus Aurelius Daniels, this burgeoning film producer was possessed with an unshakable desire to create without being held by boundaries or restrictions. At a young age, Marcus was around entertainment. He began frequenting the Capitol Theater in Miami every day after school from 3 to 11 p.m. where he would sit and just watch films.  Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho “scared him so bad” Marcus says. “I couldn’t wait to get back into the theater the next day to watch more movies.” He was so addicted to film that he worked a deal out with management that he would come in and sweep the floors in exchange for a free pass to watch movies. Mind you, Marcus was only 7 at the time and began acting while in the fifth grade.

He later learned about drama and decided he wanted to give it a try. “I took drama all through junior high and high school. I just had some real extraordinary things happen for me,” Marcus recalls. “I was invited to come to L.A. for the summer and stay with Flip Wilson and I told him I wasn’t sure if my mom was gonna let me go. I handed the phone to my mom and told her it was Flip Wilson. She told me, ‘Boy, stop playin’!’ and hung up the phone. Well, he called back and she answered the phone and realized it was really him.” After a series of events, he was raised by his grandmother, Grace Robinson. She was a very important person in his life. He was then later adopted by Flip. Being raised by the television icon further fueled Marcus’ love for wanting to make movies. When asked where the desire to direct came from, Marcus states, “I just wanted to be a working actor.

I didn’t want to direct. It started out with me just writing a project that could be a vehicle for me as an actor. Then I wrote and developed it and I was searching for a director for it. I had this one guy on board to direct it and at the 11th hour he backed out. So, in order to keep things going, I had to step up and direct it. That turned out to be a blessing for me. ”Marcus wrote, directed, and produced his latest film Almost Related in 2006. “Almost Related is an action packed, erotic comedy thriller that profiles the obscure intricacies of ancestral Japanese assassins,” states the synopsis on IMDb.com. Marcus had no budget for the film and did pretty much every- thing himself. When he finished the film, he took it to the Action in Film 2006 Film Festival. However, his wasn’t submitted like everyone else. Marcus went to the film festival, walked up to the doors and simply told them he had a film he wanted to enter.  Thinking he was just a late entry, they entered his film. The result? Marcus took home an award for 1st Runner Up for Best Director in the process. This feat from an unknown in the industry perked the attention of a very powerful entity–The Weinstein Group Asia(Dragon Dynasty).

Intrigued by the manner in which Marcus Aurelius has made his way through the industry, Bey Logan of The Weinstein Group Asia (Dragon Dynasty) asked Marcus if he could duplicate what he did with Almost Related under one of their new production companies. For those who don’t realize how major that is, The Weinstein Company has released such films as, The Legend of Fong Sai Yuk, The 5 Deadly Venoms, The 36th Chamber of Shaolin, Supercop and An Empress & The Warriors just to name a few. To be a seemingly unknown in the film industry, make high budget films on low budgets and suddenly become aligned with a partner that puts out $33M grossing films, is truly a significant advancement. The upcoming film project is still under development, but Marcus is in talks with the likes of Jackie Chan as well as his son to play parts in the movie. Being shot in China, the movie is sure to be a continuing showcase of Marcus’ passion to create great films.  According to the public relations firm, Executive 1 Media Group, Marcus consistently keeps them scrambling– he makes moves so fast we call it the ‘Aurelius Effect.’” His award-winning film Almost Related has brought him to the attention of Hollywood. So much so, Spike TV has agreed to air a world premier version of Almost Related on their network in the near future.  With all of his accomplishments it is safe to say that action film has a new director and Marcus Aurelius is his name.  For upcoming news, video clips, and links on Marcus Aurelius, The Weinstein Company Asia (Dragon Dynasty) and Bey Logan subscribe to J’Adore Magazine Online at www.jadoremag.com.