Mark Burg

Last updated
Mark Burg
Mark Burg 2010.jpg
Burg at the Saw 3D premiere on October 28, 2010
Occupation(s) Film producer, manager, actor
Years active1986–present
SpouseShainaz Donnelly [1]

Mark Burg is an American film producer, manager and actor. He is the co-founder of Evolution Entertainment and produced the Saw film series as well as the CBS television series Two and a Half Men .

Contents

Biography

Burg graduated from the Roy H. Park School of Communications at Ithaca College in 1981. [2]

In the 1990s, Burg worked for Island Pictures and Palm Pictures, producing such films as Basketball Diaries (1995), The Sandlot , The Cure , and Strictly Business (1991). [3] In 1998, Burg founded Evolution Entertainment along with his producing partner Oren Koules. [4]

In 2003, Burg and Oren Koules saw a seven-minute teaser of a film written by Australian screenwriters, Leigh Whannell and James Wan, and agreed to produce the film. The film would later become the original Saw film that was released in 2004. [5] The budget for the film was $1.2 million with $1 million of the funding coming direct from Burg and Koules. Production was done under a newly formed subsidiary of Evolution Entertainment called Twisted Pictures. The film turned in the Saw franchise with the sequel released in 2005 and the franchise making $420 million at the box office by 2007. [6] Evolution Entertainment was also responsible for the production of Two and a Half Men starting in 2003. [5]

Burg became the sole-owner of Evolution Entertainment in 2011, buying out co-founder Oren Koules. [7] He also became an advisor for Forest Road, a special-purpose acquisition company, in 2020. [8] Burg also co-produced Spiral, the ninth installment from the Saw Franchise. The franchise has grossed more than $1 billion from box office and retail sales as of 2021. [9]

Filmography

He was a producer in all films unless otherwise noted.

Film

YearFilmCreditNotes
1987 Can't Buy Me Love Co-producer [10]
1988 Bull Durham [11]
1991 Toy Soldiers Executive producer [12]
Strictly Business Executive producer
1993 The Sandlot Executive producer
1994 Airheads
1995 The Cure
1996 Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood Executive producer
The Little DeathExecutive producer
Eddie
1997 B.A.P.S.
How to Be a Player
1998 The Gingerbread Man Executive producer
Body Count
1999 Black and White Executive producer
2000 Lockdown
2001 Good Advice
Diary of a Sex Addict Direct-to-video
2002 Run Ronnie Run!
John Q.
MalevolentExecutive producer
2003 Love Don't Cost a Thing
Dude... We're Going to RioExecutive producerDirect-to-video
2004 Saw
2005 Saw II
2006 Saw III
2007 Dead Silence
Catacombs
Saw IV
2008 Repo! The Genetic Opera
Saw V
VlogExecutive producer
2009 Saw VI
2010 Lottery Ticket
The Tortured
Saw 3D
2013 Texas Chainsaw 3D Executive producer
Ain't Them Bodies Saints Executive producer
Grace Unplugged Executive producer
2014 Catch Hell Executive producer
2016 Havenhurst Executive producer [13]
2017 9/11 Executive producer
Jigsaw
2018 Traffik Executive producer
2019 The Intruder
American Skin
2021 Spiral: From the Book of Saw
2023 Saw X
TBA
End of the Road
As an actor
YearFilmRoleNotes
1991 Toy Soldiers Himself
'Mouthwash' Buyer
Uncredited
Miscellaneous crew
YearFilmRole
1988 Waxwork Production consultant
Thanks
YearFilmRole
1993 Boxing Helena The producer wishes to thank
1995 The Basketball Diaries Special thanks
1998 Let's Talk About Sex Very special thanks
2017 Atomic Blonde The producers wish to thank
TBA
He Helped Me: A Fan Film from the Book of SawSpecial thanks

Television

YearTitleCreditNotes
2003The Three AmigosDocumentary
2004 The Casino
2005−06 Love, Inc. Executive producer
2008VlogExecutive producer
2011 Comedy Central Roast of Charlie Sheen Co-executive producerTelevision special
2003−12 Two and a Half Men Executive producer
2012−14 Anger Management Executive producer
2017 Hit the Road Executive producer
2017−20 Loudermilk Executive producer

Awards and recognition

Burg has been nominated and won numerous awards. He received three Primetime Emmy Award nominations for his work on Two and a Half Men and won both a TV Land Award for his work on the same and a ShoWest Award for his work on the Saw film series .

Primetime Emmy Awards

YearCategoryNominated workResultRef.
2006 Outstanding Comedy Series Two and a Half Men Nominated [14]
2007 Nominated [15]
2008 Nominated [16]

TV Land Awards

YearCategoryNominated workResultRef.
2009 TV Land Future Classic Award Two and a Half Men Won [17]

ShowWest Awards

YearCategoryNominated workResultRef.
2007 ShoWest Award of Excellence in Producing Saw film series Won [18]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walt Disney Pictures</span> American film studio and a subsidiary of Walt Disney Studios

Walt Disney Pictures is an American film production company and subsidiary of Walt Disney Studios, a division of Disney Entertainment, which is owned by The Walt Disney Company. The studio is the flagship producer of live-action feature films within the Walt Disney Studios unit, and is based at the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California. Animated films produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios are also released under the studio banner. Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures distributes and markets the films produced by Walt Disney Pictures.

Orion Releasing, LLC is an American film production and distribution company owned by the Amazon MGM Studios subsidiary of Amazon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jerry Bruckheimer</span> American film and television producer (born 1943)

Jerome Leon Bruckheimer is an American film and television producer. He has been active in the genres of action, drama, comedy, fantasy, horror and science fiction. After working in advertising out of college, Bruckheimer moved into film production in the 1970s. In the 1980s and 1990s, he partnered with fellow producer Don Simpson. Bruckheimer and Simpson's partnership continued until Simpson's death in 1996. Bruckheimer has produced films including Flashdance, The Rock, Crimson Tide, Dangerous Minds, Con Air, Armageddon, Enemy of the State, Pearl Harbor, Black Hawk Down, as well as the Beverly Hills Cop, Top Gun, Bad Boys, Pirates of the Caribbean, and National Treasure franchises.

<i>Saw</i> (film) 2004 film by James Wan

Saw is a 2004 American horror film directed by James Wan, in his feature directorial debut, and written by Leigh Whannell, from a story by Wan and Whannell. It is the first installment in the Saw film series, and stars Whannell alongside Cary Elwes, Danny Glover, Monica Potter, Michael Emerson, and Ken Leung.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brian Grazer</span> American film producer (b. 1951)

Brian Thomas Grazer is an American film and television producer. He founded Imagine Entertainment in 1986 with Ron Howard. The films they produced have grossed over $15 billion. Grazer was personally nominated for four Academy Awards for Splash (1984), Apollo 13 (1995), A Beautiful Mind (2001), and Frost/Nixon (2008). His films and TV series have been nominated for 47 Academy Awards and 217 Emmy Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter Guber</span> American businessman, educator and author

Howard Peter Guber is an American film producer, business executive, entrepreneur, educator, and author. He is chairman and CEO of Mandalay Entertainment. Guber's most recent films from Mandalay Entertainment include The Kids Are All Right, Soul Surfer and Bernie. He has also produced Rain Man, Batman, The Color Purple, Midnight Express, Gorillas in the Mist, The Witches of Eastwick, Missing, and Flashdance. Guber's films have grossed over $3 billion worldwide and received 50 Academy Award nominations.

John Andrew Davis is an American film producer and founder of Davis Entertainment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert Simonds</span> American film producer

Robert Bruce Simonds Jr. is an American film producer, entrepreneur, and the founder & chairman of STX Entertainment, which creates, produces, distributes, finances, and markets film, television, digital media, and live events as well as virtual reality. According to The Wall Street Journal in its first four years, Simonds more than tripled the company's valuation to an estimated US$3.5 billion. In September 2017, it was reported that STX was close to an initial public offering on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (SEHK), and in April 2018, the company announced it had filed for an IPO. In October 2018, it was announced that STX would not go through with the IPO, as political and market conditions had changed. Prior to working at STX, Simonds was an independent film producer whose over 30 films have generated more than $6 billion in worldwide box office revenue. Simonds is reported to have a net worth of $800 million.

<i>Saw</i> (franchise) Horror media franchise

Saw is an American horror media franchise created by Australian filmmakers James Wan and Leigh Whannell, which began with the eponymous 2004 film and quickly became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon. The franchise has expanded from films into other media, including a television series, video games, comic books, music, theme park attractions, and merchandising including toys, masks, and clothing. Saw is the seventh highest-grossing horror film franchise.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Twisted Pictures</span> American independent production company

Twisted Pictures is an American production company and a division of Evolution Entertainment that specializes in horror and thriller films. The company was founded by Evolution's Gregg Hoffman, Oren Koules and Mark Burg in 2004. The company is known for producing the Saw film franchise.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Darren Lynn Bousman</span> American film director and screenwriter

Darren Lynn Bousman is an American film director and screenwriter, best known for his work in horror films. He has directed four of the Saw films: Saw II, Saw III, Saw IV, and Spiral. He also directed the horror musicals Repo! The Genetic Opera and The Devil's Carnival movies. Bousman is co-creator and writer of alternate reality games (ARG) and immersive experiences, The Tension Experience (2016), The Lust Experience (2017), Theatre Macabre (2018), iConfidant (2020), and One Day Die (2020).

<i>Men in Black 3</i> 2012 science fiction action film directed by Barry Sonnenfeld

Men in Black 3 is a 2012 American science fiction action comedy film based on the Marvel Comics series of a similar name, in turn based on the conspiracy theory, which is the sequel to Men in Black II (2002), the third installment in the Men in Black film series and the final installment in the original trilogy. Directed by Barry Sonnenfeld and written by Etan Cohen, the film stars Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones and Josh Brolin, with Jemaine Clement, Michael Stuhlbarg, Bill Hader and Emma Thompson in supporting roles. In the film, James Darrell Edwards III / Agent J (Smith) is required to go back in time to prevent the assassination of his partner Kevin Brown / Agent K, the fallout of which threatens the safety of Earth.

Oren Koules is an American entrepreneur and film producer. He is the co-founder of Evolution Entertainment and produced the Saw film series as well as the CBS television series Two and a Half Men. Koules is also the former owner of the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Helena Bighorns.

Evolution Entertainment is an American independent entertainment management and film production company. The company was founded in 1998 by Mark Burg and Oren Koules and is best known for executive producing the Saw film series.

Todd Darren Lieberman is an American film and television producer. He founded Hidden Pictures Media in 2022 and won an Emmy for Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers in the same year. He co-founded Mandeville Films and Television with David Hoberman in 2002. Mandeville has produced several notable films, including The Fighter, which won two Academy Awards in 2010, and for which Lieberman was nominated for the Oscar for Best Picture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jason Blum</span> American film producer

Jason Ferus Blum is an American producer. He is founder and CEO of Blumhouse Productions, which has produced the horror franchises Paranormal Activity (2007–2021), Insidious (2010–2023), The Purge (2013–2021), and Halloween (2018–2022). Blum has also produced Sinister (2012), Oculus (2013), Whiplash (2014), The Gallows (2015), The Gift (2015), Hush (2016), Split (2016), Ouija: Origin of Evil (2016), Get Out (2017), Happy Death Day (2017), Upgrade (2018), Us (2019), The Invisible Man (2020), Freaky (2020), The Black Phone (2021), M3GAN (2022), Five Nights at Freddy's (2023), and Speak No Evil (2024).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">STX Entertainment</span> American media company

STX Entertainment is an American independent entertainment and media company. Founded in March 2014 by film producer Robert Simonds, the studio produces film, television, and digital media projects.

<i>Jigsaw</i> (2017 film) American film by the Spierig Brothers

Jigsaw is a 2017 American horror film directed by the Spierig Brothers and written by Josh Stolberg and Peter Goldfinger. It is the eighth installment in the Saw film series and stars Matt Passmore, Callum Keith Rennie, Clé Bennett, and Hannah Emily Anderson, with Tobin Bell returning to his role as John Kramer / Jigsaw. The plot follows a group of people who find themselves forced to participate in a series of deadly "games" inside a barn. Meanwhile, the police investigate a new series of murders that fit the modus operandi of the eponymous Jigsaw Killer (Bell), who has been dead for almost a decade.

<i>Spiral</i> (2021 film) American film by Darren Lynn Bousman

Spiral is a 2021 American horror thriller film directed by Darren Lynn Bousman and written by Josh Stolberg and Peter Goldfinger. It is a standalone sequel to Jigsaw (2017) and the ninth installment of the Saw film series. The film stars Chris Rock, Max Minghella, Marisol Nichols, and Samuel L. Jackson, and follows police efforts to stop a Jigsaw copycat killer. The original creators of the series, James Wan and Leigh Whannell, as well as Rock and series veteran Kevin Greutert, serve as executive producers.

<i>Saw X</i> 2023 film by Kevin Greutert

Saw X is a 2023 American horror film directed and edited by Kevin Greutert and written by Peter Goldfinger and Josh Stolberg. The film is the tenth installment in the Saw film series, serving as a direct interquel set between Saw (2004) and Saw II (2005). It stars Tobin Bell and Shawnee Smith, who reprise their roles from the previous films, alongside Synnøve Macody Lund, Steven Brand, Renata Vaca, and Michael Beach. The film sees John Kramer (Bell) travelling to Mexico in hopes that an experimental procedure may cure his terminal cancer. John later discovers that the operation is a scam, prompting him to kidnap those responsible and subject them to his trademark death traps as retribution, with Amanda Young (Smith) acting as his accomplice.

References

  1. Horn, John. "Horror film producer turns to Christian drama in 'Grace Unplugged'". Los Angeles Times.
  2. Pirani, Steven (April 11, 2014). "Accomplished producer discusses business in film industry". The Ithacan. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
  3. "On The Film Front". Billboard. 16 May 1998. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  4. Andreeva, Nellie (16 January 2013). "Evolution Entertainment Launches TV Division, Inks First Look Deal With Lionsgate". Deadline. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
  5. 1 2 Lidz, Franz (21 October 2009). "Limbs Pile Up, and Money, Too". The New York Times . Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  6. Barry, John (19 August 2007). "In Lightning trio, he's Mr. Hollywood". Tampa Bay Times . Archived from the original on May 20, 2014. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  7. Crowe, Deborah (23 June 2011). "Burg Buys Out Partner at Evolution Entertainment". Los Angeles Business Journal. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  8. Goldsmith, Jill (30 November 2020). "Showbiz SPAC Closes $300M IPO; Forest Road With Tom Staggs, Kevin Mayer, Shaquille O'Neal Eyes Media Deals". Deadline. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  9. Rubin, Rebecca (23 May 2021). "'Spiral' Pushes 'Saw' Franchise Past $1 Billion at Global Box Office". Variety. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
  10. "BUCKS DIRECTOR SAYS HOLLYWOOD 'CAN'T BUY ME LOVE'". The Morning Call.
  11. Nashawaty, Chris. "Bull Durham — 9 things you didn't know about the film". Entertainment Weekly.
  12. "MOVIE REVIEW : 'Toy Soldiers' as Ludicrous as Its Premise". Los Angeles Times.
  13. Beale, Lauren (6 April 2015). "Producer Mark Burg sells in Sherman Oaks". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  14. Weisman, John. "Comedy Series". Variety.
  15. "Emmys produces names". The Hollywood Reporter.
  16. Appelo, Tim. "'Two and a Half Men': 5 Reasons the Show Won't Try for a Best Comedy Emmy". The Hollywood Reporter.
  17. "The Seventh Annual TV Land Awards to Honor 'M*A*S*H,' 'Married with Children,' 'Home Improvement,' 'Magnum P.I.,' 'Knots Landing' and 'Two and a Half Men' Among Others". Paramount.
  18. Kilday, Gregg. "Burg and Koules to get ShoWest producing nod". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 15 April 2024.