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Mark Locki

@marklocki.bsky.social
68 followers 208 following 59 posts

Documentary Filmmaker with a side of cities and politics Films: #MoCrazyStrong (2023), The Will to Change (2022), New Roots (2021) In Progress: Los Sotoleros, Movement Calgary, AB/Chihuahua, MX

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Mark Locki @marklocki.bsky.social · 11/04/2025
There's so many nuggets in this podcast, from the fallacy of perfectionism in activism, how to work with those you disagree with (on some matters), the importance of your integrity and the blaming immigrants rather than the 1% for our societies issues. music.youtube.com/watch?v=PxXz...
music.youtube.com
‘They're Coming After All of Us. So You Might As Well Tell the Truth.’
YouTube video by New York Times Podcasts
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Mark Locki @marklocki.bsky.social · 08/04/2025
Great POV on the importance of building an audience for your documentary films - to let broadcasters know there's demand for your story. realscreen.com/2025/04/08/v... #documentaryfilmmaking #documentary #filmsky #documentaryfilm
realscreen.com
Viewpoint: It’s time to explore new platforms to support our storytelling
If we thought the last couple of years were a rollercoaster when it came to the commissioning climate, the current economic chaos (or “uncertainty,” to put a gentler spin on ...
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Reposted by Mark Locki
Naheed Nenshi @naheednenshi.bsky.social · 08/04/2025
The Premier is celebrating a “big win” while thousands of people are losing their jobs and energy prices are plummeting. We need a plan to protect workers and strengthen our industries, but she is more interested in securing her next appearance on Fox News than in addressing Albertans' needs.
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Mark Locki @marklocki.bsky.social · 28/03/2025
For many producers, making Sotol isn't just a trade — it’s their legacy they put into every bottle, their way of keeping the tradition alive. Los Sotoleros, an upcoming documentary about Mexico's lesser known spirit, Sotol, and the legendary producers that have kept the tradition alive.
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Mark Locki @marklocki.bsky.social · 28/03/2025
"Consider that despite huge backing with 80% to 90% support across party lines in opinion polling, implementing a wealth tax on the super-rich is nowhere to be found on the federal policy agenda. " Great article on wealth inequality in Canada
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Mark Locki @marklocki.bsky.social · 25/03/2025
This is an interesting finding. I'd love to know the data for the Beltline neighbourhood in Calgary
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Mark Locki @marklocki.bsky.social · 25/03/2025
In Calgary and Chihuahua, i live in a similarily situated community, just inside the outer ring road of town. In Chihuhaua, I counted 51 restaurants within a 15 minute walk from me. Not including food trucks, of which there's at least another 10. In Calgary, there are 0.
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Mark Locki @marklocki.bsky.social · 24/03/2025
This is absolutely terrible news
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Mark Locki @marklocki.bsky.social · 24/03/2025
And here I thought Participant Media's shuttering last year was due to the troubling financial uncertainty in the doc world. Nope, apparently it's because it's founder went MAGA. variety.com/2025/film/ne...
variety.com
Liberal Documentarians Panic as Industry Goes Trump-Friendly, but Conservatives Say ‘They’re Getting a Taste’ of Censorship and It’s ‘Satisfying’
The normally liberal documentary world is panicking over the MAGA-ification of the pro-Donald Trump gatekeepers
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Reposted by Mark Locki
Save the CBC 🇨🇦✌️ @savethecbc.bsky.social · 24/03/2025
Let’s set the record straight on CBC executive pay. Some critics want you to believe CBC execs are raking it in—but here’s the truth: 🔍 CBC salaries are public and modest. Sources in the comments.
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Mark Locki @marklocki.bsky.social · 24/03/2025
Paco prepares locally caught fish while waiting for the distillation process to finish at their vinata in Chorreras, Mexico. The current drought throughout the State of Chihuahua has hit rural communities especially hard, and the local fishers have been especially impacted by low water levels.
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Mark Locki @marklocki.bsky.social · 24/03/2025
A great look at the impact of Congestion Pricing from the first month's in New York. Basically, congestion down, transit use up (big-time!), safety increased and business is booming. bettercities.substack.com/p/congestion...
bettercities.substack.com
Congestion Pricing is a Policy Miracle
Which is exactly why Trump wants to get rid of it
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Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 23/03/2025
My semi-regular reminder of a really important reality about cities, density, services and taxes. Any questions? Graphic recently cleaned up by @kathrynmathias.bsky.social. #CityMakingMath
Venn diagram of low taxes, low density and stable services. The overlap in the centre is a scenario that doesn’t exist
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Mark Locki @marklocki.bsky.social · 22/03/2025
City I like: Montreal City I love: Vancouver City I think is overrated: Toronto City I think is underrated: Mexico City City I feel most myself in: Vancouver City I still need to visit: New York City I dream of living in: Munich Most inspiring city today: Paris Favorite city of all time: Vancouver
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Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 20/03/2025
“One mile on a bike is a $.42 economic gain to society, one mile driving is a $.20 loss.” “Which means that Copenhagen, a city of 1.2 million people, saves $357 million a year on health costs because something like 80% of its population commutes by bike.” #CityMakingMath Some costs aren’t costs.
grist.org
One mile on a bike is a $.42 economic gain to society, one mile driving is a $.20 loss
Copenhagen, the bicycle-friendliest place on the planet, publishes a biannual Bicycle Account, and buried in its pages is a rather astonishing fact.
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Reposted by Mark Locki
Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 15/03/2025
Last year, US lawmakers argued that a social media platform owned by someone close to an autocratic leader can be used as propaganda. They were talking about TikTok. For Canada, these concerns apply equally to the app formerly known as Twitter. “That’s why it’s time to ban Twitter/X in Canada.”
thetyee.ca
X Threatens Our Democracy. Canada Should Ban It | The Tyee
The risks of election interference, misinformation and attempts to support a US takeover are too great.
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Mark Locki @marklocki.bsky.social · 14/03/2025
What makes a good Sotol? Sotolero Paco in Chorreras, Chihuahua gives his thoughts. Scenes from my upcoming film, Los Sotoleros #documentaryfilm #documental #lossotolerosfilm #sotol #Mezcal
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Mark Locki @marklocki.bsky.social · 11/03/2025
As a Canadian who's been in Mexico for the last few years, I'd love for Canada and Mexico to develop closer relationships. We once again share a mutual "frenemy". I enjoyed this podcast on Mexico's views of the realignment of US trade policy. youtu.be/cOaX5iREV0A?...
youtu.be
Trade war: The view from Mexico | Front Burner
YouTube video by CBC News
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Reposted by Mark Locki
Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 09/03/2025
IMPORTANT: The Dutch invested €595 million annually on urban biking, resulting in €19 BILLION saved in public health care costs alone. That’s how smart govts do math on investing in better mobility. Let’s be clear — it wastes public money to NOT do it. #CityMakingMath HT @modacitylife.com
Images of Dutch urban biking infrastructure
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Mark Locki @marklocki.bsky.social · 09/03/2025
"The apparent lesson here—heaping economic pressure on U.S. adversaries often fails but bullying allies can yield results—seems to animate Trump’s current push to rein in partners who are still tied to the U.S. market." www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...
foreignaffairs.com
The Paradox of Trump’s Economic Weapon
Why short-term success will hasten long-term decline.
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Mark Locki @marklocki.bsky.social · 03/03/2025
Congrats to the team behind No Other Land on the Documentary Feature Oscar win. Stunning film well deserving of the Oscar. #documentaryfilm #documentaryfilmmaking #filmsky www.theguardian.com/film/2025/ma...
theguardian.com
No Other Land directors criticise US as they accept documentary Oscar: ‘US foreign policy is helping block the path’ to peace
Self-distributed film about Israeli displacement of a Palestinian community beat out Porcelain War and Sugarcane
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Mark Locki @marklocki.bsky.social · 28/02/2025
Inside Casa Sotol Fernandez, in the heart of Cuidad Madera, Chihuahua. I'm hoping to make it out to Madera in the next few weeks for some more filming! #lossotolerosfilm #sotol #mezcal #documentaryfilm #documentary #documental
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Mark Locki @marklocki.bsky.social · 28/02/2025
"Releasing an early festival trailer—despite industry warnings—taught me that getting our film in front of audiences sooner helped build momentum, engage viewers, and ultimately helped shape a stronger, more impactful release strategy." tedhope.substack.com/p/stand-behi...
tedhope.substack.com
"Stand behind your art, nobody will represent it like you."
5 Questions for YOU ME & HER's Director, Dan Levy Dagerman
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Jake @jake.sooscreek.productions · 26/02/2025
So far the hardest part about documentary filmmaking is just convincing people that they have something to say. I think we go through life thinking nobody cares about our stories. I think it’s because they don’t know the story is there to care about. People love to connect and relate, just be you
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Mark Locki @marklocki.bsky.social · 26/02/2025
Thom Powers, Programmer at TIFF and co-founder of DOC NYC, on programming docs for festivals: "Thom thinks about programming in these buckets. Audience: Will local audiences buy tickets to this film? Context: Will a film fit into the overall vibe and goals of a festival?
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Mark Locki @marklocki.bsky.social · 25/02/2025
"Misinformation thrives in an age of short attention spans. When people lack the time or patience to engage deeply, they become more susceptible to manipulation." realscreen.com/2025/02/25/v...
realscreen.com
Viewpoint: Big Media’s Jon Loew on the case for long-form docs in the scrolling era
Scroll, click, like, share, repeat. This is the rhythm of modern media consumption, where headlines flash across screens at breakneck speed and entire news cycles are reduced to digestible, algorithm-...
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Mark Locki @marklocki.bsky.social · 24/02/2025
A little bit of background on the Dasylirion plant - the plant from which Sotol is derived. Follow for more updates on my upcoming documentary, Los Sotoleros. 📽️ #lossotolerosfilm #sotol #Chihuahua #Mexico #documentaryfilm #documentary #documental
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Mark Locki @marklocki.bsky.social · 24/02/2025
"'Professional' is perhaps my least favorite style or narrative approach. Okay, I’m wrong about that… "Safe" is my least favorite approach to cinema. In my book, both safe and professional are insults."
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Mark Locki @marklocki.bsky.social · 21/02/2025
Recent thoughts on making the jump from short documentaries to features, as I work on my first feature documentary bit.ly/41tea2N #documentaryfilmmaking #filmmaking #documentary #filmsky #lossotolerosfilm
marklocki.com
Making the Jump from Short Docs to Features — Mark Locki
What I've learned from moving from short documentary films to making my first feature documentary so far
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Mark Locki @marklocki.bsky.social · 21/02/2025
What is Sotol? It's not tequila, nor Mezcal. It's the spirit of Northern Mexico, derived from the Dasylirion plant that grows wild in the local deserts and mountains. Los Sotoleros, an upcoming documentary film #lossotolerosfilm #sotol #mezcal #chihuahua #mexico #documentaryfilm #documental
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Save the CBC 🇨🇦✌️ @savethecbc.bsky.social · 21/02/2025
this is what it's all aboot, eh buds ?! Let's goo Canada 🇨🇦 (citation: snipped from SPORTSNET's highlight reel on YouTube)
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Mark Locki @marklocki.bsky.social · 21/02/2025
If it's possible to have a favourite economist (what a nerdy thing to have a favourite of!) Paul Krugman might be mine. When MAGA Meets Minsky open.substack.com/pub/paulkrug...
open.substack.com
When MAGA Meets Minsky
Laying the foundations for the next financial crisis
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Mark Locki @marklocki.bsky.social · 20/02/2025
Chorreras, Mexico - a small village in the heart of the Chihuahuan desert, and home to numerous Sotoleros. #sotol #mezcal #lossotolerosfilm #documentaryfilm #documental #filmmaking
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Mark Locki @marklocki.bsky.social · 19/02/2025
Aerial view of the desert of Coyame del Sotol, a prominent region of Sotol production in Chihuahua, Mexico. Clip from my work in progress film, Los Sotoleros. #lossotolerosfilm #sotol #mezcal #tequila #documentaryfilm #documental #documentary
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Mark Locki @marklocki.bsky.social · 18/02/2025
Do you watch films while doing something else (on your phone)? If so, why? Is the lack of ability to focus on one thing at a time (yes, even a film) resulting in worse films being made? theconversation.com/too-distract... #documentaryfilmmaking #filmsky #filmmaking #netflix
theconversation.com
Too distracted to watch? Netflix has the perfect ‘second-screen’ show for you
Netflix knows you’re scrolling while you watch —and ‘second-screen shows’ are designed for the distracted viewer.
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Mark Locki @marklocki.bsky.social · 18/02/2025
Sotolero Paco stoking the fire as their batch of Sotol distills above. Frames from my upcoming documentary, Los Sotoleros. Learn more here: marklocki.com/portfolio/lo... #documentaryfilm #lossotoleros #documentaryfilmmaking #documental #sotol
man peering into outdoor ovenflames from an outdoor fire or ovenman throwing wood into an outdoor ovenman stoking fire with a stick
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Mark Locki @marklocki.bsky.social · 18/02/2025
"The reality is folks coming out of film schools or similar filmmaker incubators need to appreciate that the power to creative success and sustainability is through non-dependence (of traditional distributors)" #documentaryfilmmaking atelierformat.substack.com/p/bringing-d...
atelierformat.substack.com
Bringing distribution into the classroom
Catching up to 2025, looking ahead to the posts upcoming this year, and how I'm wrapping up my semester teaching with a sprinkle of distribution.
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Mark Locki @marklocki.bsky.social · 18/02/2025
Simple but powerful film on police brutality and violence. The silence in the film is almost haunting. #documentaryfilm #filmsky 📽️ letterboxd.com/film/inciden...
letterboxd.com
Incident (2023)
Chicago, 2018. A man is killed by police on the street. Through a composite montage of images from surveillance and security footage as well as police body-cams, Incident recreates the event and its c...
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Mark Locki @marklocki.bsky.social · 17/02/2025
"Many who watch No Other Land around the world are not as distant as they may think from this reality. In fact, they bear some responsibility for it. Without the support of their governments, Israel would not have been able to flout international law for decades". www.indiewire.com/features/com...
indiewire.com
‘No Other Land’ Is Nominated for an Oscar, but in Masafer Yatta, We’re Still Being Erased — Opinion
Oscar-nominated filmmaker and journalist Basel Adra shares how life has changed (and stayed the same) after Best Documentary Feature nomination.
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Mark Locki @marklocki.bsky.social · 17/02/2025
Why the future belongs to Storytellers www.cut-daily.com/436-why-the-... #documentaryfilm #filmmaking
cut-daily.com
#436 – Why the future belongs to storytellers
Why would someone who can have any job they want*, take a job at a film studio? That's the question I asked myself when I saw that Scott Belsky, who founded Behance, sold it (to Adobe), became an ang...
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Mark Locki @marklocki.bsky.social · 16/02/2025
Great podcast episode from Sprawlcast on the history of the Glenmore Landing site and the recent decision by city council to not allow high-density development there... yet again. www.sprawlcalgary.com/glenmore-lan... #urbanism #nimby #calgary #alberta
sprawlcalgary.com
The battle of Glenmore Landing | The Sprawl
A 60-year fight against density by the reservoir shores.
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Mark Locki @marklocki.bsky.social · 15/02/2025
"a feature film is not like a TV documentary. In journalism, we are trained to present both sides, but in filmmaking, it is okay to tell a story from one perspective.I know that truth can be seen from different angles, and this film portrays my own truth" open.substack.com/pub/tedhope/...
open.substack.com
"We were actually blessed to have no financial support in the beginning. It meant that all the filming was done by friends who were deeply passionate about telling this story."
5 Questions with Black Box Diaries' director Shiori Ito
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Sean Farnel @notfiction.bsky.social · 15/02/2025
“Boo hoo. The streamers broke the independent film financing and distribution systems by entering the market aggressively, shutting everyone else out – before retreating – leaving almost nothing behind...They’ve done so much damage, I think we need to move on.” - AMPAS Documentary Branch member.
variety.com
Why Some Filmmakers Think Oscars Doc Voters Should ‘Suck It’ for Ignoring Celebrity Subjects
Voters weigh in on why the most prominent and celebrity-focused documentaries on streamers like Netflix are not getting Oscar recognition.
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Mark Locki @marklocki.bsky.social · 15/02/2025
Yup!
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Mark Locki @marklocki.bsky.social · 14/02/2025
Catch our multi-award winning short documentary #MoCrazyStrong tomorrow at Banff-Sunshine Village Ski Resort! Former Professional Skier Jamie Mocrazy and professional skier Jeanee Crane-Mauzy will be there for a Q&A www.skibanff.com/play/events-... #documentaryfilm #albertafilm
skibanff.com
MoCrazy Strong (February 15th) :: Sunshine VillageCam Icon WhiteTrail Map icon White
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Westdoc Online @westdoc.bsky.social · 14/02/2025
Justice for Native Americans - Sugarcane a Documentary about the injustice done to Native Americans in Canada and the US. An interview with the Producers: www.westdoconline.com/post/document…  Subscribe: www.westdoc.net
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Mark Locki @marklocki.bsky.social · 14/02/2025
Rick Rubin's "The Creative Act" is one of my favourite books on being a creative. In my latest article, I break down how I implement the practice of submerging myself in the great works, with a focus on documentary films. marklocki.com/submerge-tho... #documentaryfilmmaking #filmsky #documentary
marklocki.com
Submerge - Thoughts on Rick Rubin's The Creative Act - Part 1 — Mark Locki
Curating and "consuming" the best of art in all genres will help you become a better creative
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Mark Locki @marklocki.bsky.social · 13/02/2025
This was an excellent event when I attended in 2023. I highly suggest attending if you're an #alberta based #filmproducer ampia.org/producer-pow... #filmmaking #documentaryfilm #albertafilm
ampia.org
Producer Power Up - AMPIA
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Mark Locki @marklocki.bsky.social · 13/02/2025
Loved this episode of CBC's Front Burner on the switch to Buy Canadian, including a bit about what it means for our cultural media sector. And another good point brought up - instead of listening to The Daily (NYT), listen to Front Burner! www.cbc.ca/listen/cbc-p...
cbc.ca
Buy Canadian, bye-bye America? | Front Burner | CBC Podcasts | CBC Listen
Even with the tariffs on U.S. goods mostly on pause for the rest of the month, many are still doing what they can to “Buy Canadian” and switch their buying habits away from anything American-made. But...
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Mark Locki @marklocki.bsky.social · 11/02/2025
How did I not know my favourite narrative director, Alfonso Cuaron and one of my favourite authors, Naomi Klein, teamed up in 2007 for a short on her book, The Shock Doctrine?! If you haven't read it, it's an absolute must read. www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7fW...
youtube.com
The Shock Doctrine - Naomi Klein and Alfonso Cuaron
YouTube video by Michael Price
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