Mark Haapala

Mark Thomas Casey Haapala is an American producer, screenwriter, and director. He directed the award-winning short film Dog It Down, winner of the 2012 Hollywood Reel Independent Film Festival (HRIFF). Haapala also served as executive producer and head writer for the TV pilots Off The Record, The Groom Whisperer, and Pinky and the Fan Girls, which was optioned by the Lifetime channel and was a winner at the New York Television Festival as "Best Unscripted TV show" in 2014.
Early life
Haapala was born in Irvine, California to parents Susan (née Casey) and Thomas Haapala, a VP at Black & Decker Corporation. He graduated from Loyola Marymount University with a degree in theatre
Career
Crafty is an original web series created in 2009 by writer and director Mark Haapala. The series starred comedian Andrew Santino in one of his earliest on-screen roles. Set behind the scenes of a fictional film set, Crafty offered a comedic glimpse into the world of craft services and the often-chaotic production environment.
The show garnered attention for its celebrity cameos, featuring appearances by Keith Coogan, Adrian Grenier, Kevin Connolly, and Jerry Ferrara. The series was noted for its satirical tone and served as an early showcase for Haapala’s comedic voice as well as Santino's talent before his rise to mainstream success.
, Haapala's first short film was based on the true story of three US Navy Sailors who were trapped under water for 17 days in an airtight compartment aboard the USS West Virginia during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Dog It Down was partially funded and executive produced by Entourage actor Kevin Connolly. The short film would go on to win the 2012 Hollywood Reel Independent Film Festival, and was screened and received accolades at: the GI Film Festival, The Newport Beach Film Festival, and would later air on both PBS and the Military channel.
He appeared as "The Clapper" in the Season 5 episode 11 of Entourage entitled "Play’n With Fire". for Larry Levinson Productions in 2013. The duo also created the reality show Pinky and the Fangirls which was optioned by the Lifetime Channel in 2014.
Haapala co-wrote and directed the 2014 Independent TV pilot Off The Record. This was screened at Tribeca Cinemas as part of the 2014 New York Television Festival.
Awards and nominations
;Awards
* (2012) - Best Short Film - Dog It Down
*New York Television Festival (2014) - a Lifetime Unscripted Development Pipeline Finalist - Pinky and the Fangirls

Main Menu

See Also

Main Menu