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Mark: Well, talk about easy questions, on the first one out, huh? I guess it's my own individuality. I think that every actor has something unique to offer and I'm hoping that I do too. I was born in Hawaii, raised in Germany, my father is a Kung Fu teacher, and I guess my lifestyle has been very eclectic. I try to bring my experience and my martial arts reality and understanding to the acting world. 

Mark: I went to school in Germany so I speak fluent German and French was the third language. We had German, everything was in German, English was mandatory, then you had a choice of either French or Latin. I chose French. However, it's been many years since I've been in High School, so I had to go back and take some language courses and just freshen up on that. My French is not fluent but I understand and speak enough to get myself in trouble. 

Mark: See, that's a good question because in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, I always get that mixed up, is it Crouching Dragon, Hidden Tiger, or is it Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon? Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon! I loved the movie. That was like a fantasy (illogical fashion). Ours was actually based on reality, the Beast of Gevaudan, that was actually something reported in history. And, of course our story embellishes that whole story. But will the American audience embrace it as in France, that's a good question because the sensibility is different. The film pacing is a little bit slower than I think what most of the American audience is used to. However it's deep in story, personality and character. And it's political it's spiritual, it has a lot of action and romance, and it has a beast. So, on the other hand it has a lot to offer. I'm hoping they will. I hope they'll be open to take something mew in at the movies. 

Mark: Oh, I had a great time. The thing is my character is Mani, a Mohawk Indian from North America. Mani's tribe was basically all killed off. And he became friends with Fronsac, who is the lead in the movie. He goes back to France because he's the blood brother, that's the only family he has. I had a blast, the thing is I had never really learned to ride a horse before which means **(he had to go to a horse trainer in France, Mario  Luraschi)** So, I learned how to ride a horse played around with a tomahawk. Lot of really cool things. And just living in France was just a blast. 

Mark: I offered them a lot of money. (laughing) The thing is I had worked with one of the producers, Samuel Hadida, the French producer. I was in a movie called Only the Strong about 8 or 9 years ago and that was the first movie I did with Samuel. Crying Freeman is another movie I did with the director and I think the relationship that I had with Samuel and Christophe definitely had a factor. I mean, we got along well. Christophe, for whatever it was saw in me what he wanted to bring out in Mani and basically I think that's what it was--in addition to my check. That's a joke! ha ha. 

Tyler: You feel intimidated at all by making it into super large films, like blockbuster stuff? 

Mark: Another good question, I suppose if I were to think of it in terms of the budget it would be a little frightening, but I guess I was so into bringing out my character and giving him on screen what the writers, what Christophe gave to him on the paper, I didn't really think about that too much. Of course we had a really nice trailer on set and lunchtime was amazing. Eating in France was amazing!  Oh boy, it was great! Great wine. But as far as being nervous because of how large the movie was I always threw most of my thought into what I was doing. 

Tyler: So it wasn't that difficult for you to make that adjustment? Just waded into it? 

Mark: No absolutely, just dove right into it. 

Absolutely, I absolutely would love to do something like that. But it is difficult because when they see you in one light, producers and directors, it's hard to show yourself in another. A lot of directors and producers don't want to take risks. However, Christophe and Samuel and so forth, people like that, you know, they do take a chance, so I'm very grateful to them for giving me the opportunity. 

For me, about finding time to breathe and that may sound very simplistic, very simple, but the thing is n the movies, you know, as an actor then send you in the trailer you spend time learning your lines, and then all of a sudden it's "OK, we got the new chapter right now,“ so you rush out there and then maybe you're still not ready for it, but the whole time your heart's pumping because you're thinking "OK we're gonna go on camera!" But the whole thing is with experience you realize that, you know, if you know your lines, if you know what you're doing it's OK just to be relaxed, slow your heartbeat down, breathe, enjoy the process and then when they say, Action, bam, to focus, and to go there. And so, I think that all the years I've put into it and experienced I've kind of learned how to relax, and then concentrate, focus, put the energy when I need it, not, not, lose it while I'm worried about "Oh my gosh it's almost time to work" you know, relax, boom, you hit.

Mark: Ye-es, I'm trying to think of something...as far as the action..a-a-n-d fighting..about ninety-eight-point-seven percent I did myself, yes. 

Jeff: Sounds good. 

Mark: Thank you 

Jeff: Would you say that this has been your hardest role so far? 

Mark: I would say, so far, that this was probably all around my hardest role, because I shot...I was in France for six months. So, other films, I kind of equate it to a sprint, you know, it's short, fast, intense. This was like a marathon sprint, I mean, imagine shooting one movie for six months. I was there for six months, and they continued shooting about month and a half after I left. Now, so to keep that intensity up, to stay in character for so long to wear hair extensions that give you headaches every day for such a long time and makeup and the tattoos...definitely, all around it was the hardest!

Mark: Oh. I get to meet so many interesting and exciting and different people..learn about different cultures...travel...just life experience, it's amazing. I've been fortunate enough to work in Israel, in Africa, Australia, Asia, Europe, all over the place. And to really get inside the cultures. You know, not just be a tourist. Being a tourist is great, but I like going deeper into the possibilities there as an actor working in those countries to be able to do that. 

Mark: Yes 

Tyler: Did you worry when you first made the move into films, into action films, that, do you have any feelings that it might, uh, cheapen your art? 

Mark: Actually I did not, I thought that if I were lucky enough to be able to act and fight in one movie that hopefully I'd be able to entertain people and maybe inspire someone like Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan and jet li have done for me. I mean those guys as far as action films are still you know, the highest. 

Tyler: Do you fell like it's kind of a struggle because of with your film work you don't have as much time as you might like to devote to Martial Arts? 

Mark: Sure, I mean when you're working 12 to 16, 18 hour days you don't have time to go back to some Martial Arts but I think the martial arts is a means to help your mind, body and spirit to live, you know, a healthier stronger better life. So, you know, if I can only work out 15 minutes in martial arts or 10 minutes, that's OK as long as it's helping me. You don't want to take away from your life just so that you can practice martial arts, you want martial arts to help you in everything. And so far, for me, it has. 

Mark: First movie, uhh....actually it was San Francisco's Chinatown I was nineteen years old, almost 19 years old, and a director and one of the hairstylists/makeup artists approached me for this movie asked me if I wanted to try out. I didn't know what to say because I had never taken any acting classes before. I talked it over with my mom, she said sure, try it, you know, maybe it's something fun. So a couple of weeks later, I called I got into the audition got called back and ended up the first day on the set, after getting the role having the great fortune to be making out with the lovely and talented Joan Chen. You know her from The Last Emperor? So, imagine, your first movie role and you're kissing this beautiful girl and you're getting paid for it. This is a good life, you know, I like this.

Tyler: Off and running. 

Mark: Off and running, haven't stopped since. 

Mark: Wait a minute, did you say Sonny Chiba? 

Tyler: Sonny Chiba 

Mark: You know Sonny Chiba?

 Tyler: Oh yeah! 

Jeff: Yeah! 

Mark: (to Jeff) You too? 

Tyler: Sure, Street Fighter 

Jeff: Of course 

Mark: Of course, he went, of course, like Yes. 

Tyler: Street Fighter, first movie rated X solely for violence. 

Mark: Yeah, yeah, I know, I really enjoy Sonny Chiba and I like Seven Samurai, Toshiro Mifune and then I absolutely adore Jet Li, Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan. Those guys. As far as my Kung Fu training, I learned so much from them just watching and trying to do what they did in films. 

Tyler: What would you say is your favorite martial arts film is? 

Mark: All around, all time, I would still have to say....Enter the Dragon. Enter the Dragon is probably the number one. And then as far as beautiful movement I think that Jet Li's Shaolin Temple was extraordinary. And then, Snake in the Eagle's Shadow, Jackie Chan still love that one. 

Tyler: I think always that Enter the Dragon was a big jump because it was one of the few that Bruce Lee actually had done in English. He actually took that step forward. 

Mark: Yes, I agree. 

Mark: Well, you know, when I was actually competing, which is a long time ago, they didn't really have that. They had some Thai Kickboxing, they had point sparring, full contact, but the Ultimate Fighting Challenge, really wasn't around yet so it wasn't really an option. But, even if it had been I don't think I don't think I would have gone that way. I would have liked maybe to train with some of the guys, but as far as dedicating my whole day to that, no. No, I like the more art aspect of this. 

Tyler: Do you feel that contests like the Ultimate Fighting Championship really cheapen martial arts? Many people do because they feel that the aspect of martial arts--self defense and also the art of mind, body, and soul--gets lost in the competition for money. 

Mark: That's a good question, and it's a difficult one to answer because I think, when you look at it, when it's a competition for money, you have to look at it as a sport, like, it has now become a sport. This is my opinion, that it's a sport and I think it's not necessarily the competition that cheapens it, if it does, I think it's all on an individual basis. Because I saw recently an interview on with one of the fighters, and he just seemed to me like he was--I can't remember his name, I wish I could--he seemed like a stellar human being. And guy's like that you know, seemingly good people, in touch with his life, and a great martial artist, and then other people don't really portray, you know, that spirit of mind, body, spirit, more of a body thing. So I think it's definitely on an individual basis. 

Mark: Thank you. 

Jeff: And the acting on your part, and the whole cast for that matter, was superb. 

Mark: I appreciate that--how much is that, uh.

Tyler: Hey we charge by the hour 

Mark: **(laughing)** Charge by the hour!! Ha ha, excellent! 

Jeff: Just, would you care to comment on the sound? 

Mark: Thank you 

Jeff: You know, the quality? 

Mark: You know it's funny because I hadn't seen any of the--well, actually I saw a little bit of the dailies while I was in Paris--but I didn't get to see bits and pieces of the finished product until I went to Paris for the premiere in January. And what blew me away, actually was that opening--well, I won't give it away if you people that haven't seen it-- **(Tyler hasn’t seen it, Jeff has)** 

Mark: OK, but there's a scene in there, you know which one I'm talking about, reminiscent of---JAWS--I think--and I--the sound, I mean you could have closed your eyes and the sound alone would have scared you, so I'm glad you mentioned that. I think the sound was amazing. Absolutely. 

Mark: Yes 

Tyler: I was going to ask, what uh, what music really rocks your world? 

Mark: What rocks my world, rocks my world. Oh, man! Let's see, I enjoy Lenny Kravitz, Lauren Hill, I still really dig Average White Band, Earth Wind and Fire, 

Tyler: Good call. Several soul ...

Mark: Yeah, and you know there's a lot of good musicians nowadays, but I don't listen to the radio so much just because there are so many commercials. So I can say "Oh wow I like that song" but I wouldn't know the names of the bands, unfortunately. 

Tyler: Right 

Mark: Yeah. But you know, I like Al Green, George Benson, you know, I'm an older guy. 

Tyler: Now come on, hey. I do a soul radio show. 

Mark: Oh, do you? 

Tyler: So I know exactly where you're coming from. 

Mark: Yeah, OK, so... 

Tyler: I put on Al Green every morning. 

Mark: Yeah! No comment.

Mark: Well, uh, we have a movie called Shaman, with Euzhan Palcy. I don't know if you ever saw a film called Sugar Cane Alley? 

Tyler: No, but I know it was violent. 

Mark: OK, what about a Dry White Season? With Donald Sutherland, Marlon Brando, um, it's about the Apartheid in South Africa. 

Tyler: I think I know what you're talking about. 

Mark: OK. Anyway, that director. We have a movie down in South America, I think, beginning of next year, I hope. Up until then I'm just gonna try to enjoy my time with my son. He's eight months old right now. 

Tyler: Is he really? Gonna sit back and let the (time) roll? 

Mark: That's right, being with the wife, enjoy the baby. 

Tyler: All right. Well, we appreciate you doing the interview with us. 

Mark: Thanks gentlemen. I appreciate it. You did good, relaxed.... 

Tyler: Yeah, we do what we can. 

Mark: It's good, it's good.