Name: Mark Jonas SatterthwaiteFrom: Toronto, OntarioBest known for: YTV’s ALMOST NAKED ANIMALS
What TV shows/films are you working on now?
ALMOST NAKED ANIMALS is in its third season. I’m producing that and developing a bunch of new comedy shows, including a new animated series called GROJBAND for Teletoon and a sitcom for a foreign network (But that one’s a secret. Shhhh.)
What is you advice to people who want to get into the TV business?
Best advice – If someone has a better idea than you, embrace it. Work with them. Good collaboration is the key to producing great stuff. Being competitive with creativity is a dead-end street and that street is called ‘Snooze Avenue’. And warty people live on it. And they sigh and whine all day and their umbrellas poke my eyes. (Also, learn the basic “math” of storytelling. Get that and then you bring the fun and the colour. Just takes practice.)Is it hard to get into the entertainment world when you come from Canada?
I got into TV by entering a creative contest at MuchMusic. Second place, but they hired me. That was my break. Real key – Go for it! If you wanna be in TV, get a dumpy camera and make a short series with your chums. Put it on the interweb and send it to places. Google: Production companies, Canada. Everyone wants ideas. TV needs you! Make stuff! Everything seems hard until you do it… Then it seems kinda easy? Ha.What are your fave TV shows? What shows inspired you?
I really dig Adventure Time and a lot of the stuff on Adult Swim. Super creative and fun (often silly). I’m really inspired by Ricky Gervais and a comedy troupe called ‘Stella’. Good shtuff. My main inspiration comes from hanging with my friends – We like to make-a-the-joke-a. Favourite Canadian band (current):
We have so much to be proud of. I love Feist, Doug Paisley, Metric, Bry Webb and my current fave is this awesome/weird album by a guy named Chuck Erlichman called ‘Look Alive’.Favourite Canadian band (historical):
My all-time fave musician ever is Neil Young. He has me heart.Favourite member of One Direction:
Harry is cool but Louis is my guy. He just gets me, man.Favourite movie of 2012 (so far):
I love ‘Robot and Frank’. Very different.Best thing about autumn is…
Being in Canada in the leaves. Best fall in the world. Sorry, Spain!Do you think the world will end on December 12, Mayan style?
I think a new world will pull up reeeaal close to us on December 11th, like 2 feet away, and we’ll just jump on and bail to a cool new part of the universe where we’ll all have waterbeds and perfect teeth. Animals will stay on earth (which will end up being fine). I’d like to take this opportunity to say: I love you animals! Sorry for everything! Have a nice time! Burn the barns and don’t drink aspertame! Smooch!