November 19, 2016

Meet Westside Film Maker: Malik Marcell

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Malik Marcell.

Malik, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I’ve been into entertainment just about all my life honestly. It started in middle school when me and my brother, (Ellis Henry) would record comedic videos of ourselves to post on myspace. Our videos brought us a lot of attention in school which made us pursue acting. While acting in high school we also took up video broadcasting to learn how to film our skits better and get to use our high school’s equipment to create more content. From there my acting career and film career were beginning to conflict but I loved both. I entered the GHSA One Act Play Competition and placed second in state as a supporting actor but even with that film was offering more scholarships for college. Full Sail University had come to my high school, (South Cobb) and instantly they showed me how I could receive $18,000 in scholarships towards school. I received the scholarships and began school in Florida. College excelled my work and I was learning fast. While in college, I began filming music videos on the side to get extra money because I didn’t have a job. In filming these music videos, I began to form a team, whom I still work with today. Back then our company was called Mo’Spunk Ent but now we go by 730 Vision. Our main team consists of Ellis Henry, M. Dank, Daniel St. John, and Trent Walker. We all moved to Atlanta after college and began doing freelance work wherever we could if it involved a camera. I started off filming in the clubs, meeting the celebrities and directors of the city every night. I would try and get their contact information so I could get on set and do their behind the scenes. Whenever I could I would sneak on sets and start helping out giving my two cents until people started to acknowledge me and actually hire me on their sets. Once I got my foot in with a few directors in Atlanta I would always bring along my crew and we began filming and lighting for a lot of music video productions in the city. After a while, we saved up enough money to buy our first camera, the Red Epic and from there, business skyrocketed. We began shooting for almost every major artist in Atlanta and got our business off the ground. Now we are still filming music videos with a lot of well-known directors in Atlanta but we also do our own thing and aim to start doing more films and leave music videos behind.

Has it been a smooth road?
It has not been a smooth road at all. There are a lot of struggles being an entrepreneur, the main one being there are no guarantees of when your next job will be. You have to constantly network to remain busy and relevant. Also, you have to make sure all of your projects are great because one mess up can be the end of your career. Age has also been a factor that causes bumps in the road. A lot of people undermine our company because we are all young faces and the main people leading the film industry are well over 35. The oldest person in 730 Vision just turned 26 and the youngest person is 23.

What are some of the influences that have played the biggest role in your journey so far?
There are 2 people that have been pivotal to my career thus far. First is Marco Mall from Florida Film House in Miami, FL. He was the first producer to give me a big shot with a $10,000 budget for the “Check, Run It” video for T.I. That was my first time producing something of that caliber and introduced me to a lot of new business ventures. Second would have to be Director Cricket. If it wasn’t for him trusting in me with such big jobs that I am doing now I wouldn’t be excelling at the level that I am and working with half the clients I do.

Do you have a favorite type of client or project?
I am looking forward to working on films. I enjoy doing music videos for the freedom of creativity but I yearn to produce narratives to tell stories to the people.

What have been some of the most important lessons you’ve learned over the course of your career?
If I had to start over I wouldn’t change a thing in the route that I have taken. The lessons I have learned on my journey are essential to my success and I don’t think I would’ve learned those lessons any other way.

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