Meet Lyndal Marks

We recently connected with Lyndal Marks and have shared our conversation below.

Lyndal, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?

Resilience comes from necessity. The need to bounce back, not to dwell on the negative and to move forward in a way that doesn’t let negative and destructive situations or people stand in your way.
I was 19 years of age and up until that point I had been a huge success and the source of pride for my parents. I was School Captain (Valedictorian) of a selective girls private school in Sydney, I was in my sophomore year of college when the unthinkable happened. My ex-boyfriend, in a drunken stupor, attacked me. My face was smashed in, my nose broken and I was rushed to hospital. My life was momentarily not only put on hold but also precariously positioned to either wallow in sadness and pity or redirect my emotions. Thankfully I did the latter. A negative situation is a crossroads and in my case this helped build my resilience and my sensitivity and empathy for others, for victims of crime. I found my voice and gave a voice to others. My role as a producer for shows like 60 MINUTES meant that I was able to connect with people, offer a vehicle for others to tell their story.
Then a few years later I was able to solve the murder of a young girl who was also attacked by a man she trusted, but tragically she lost her life. Resilience? It also goes hand in hand with tenacity – don’t accept the opinion of others when you really feel something strongly. I was told this girl is missing, the police had lost interest and my tenacity and resilience led to putting a killer behind bars for life.

Being resilient has also helped me become a stronger woman and mother. I am a single mom to two girls and the journey is hard but beyond rewarding. I am proud that I have raised and been a role model for two incredibly strong, clever, and emotionally mature women who are not afraid of the challenges that life throws at us.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I am a documentary producer and film maker. I love real stories and I have created and produced hundreds of hours of television which is aired around the world. I have produced a lot of follow docs with law enforcement and true crime documentaries and series. Television shows like Border Security, Manhunt, Motorbike Cops and dozens of shows in the law enforcement and medical world as well as fun factual shows like Yummy Mummies and Extreme Weddings. I have always loved investigative journalism and my passion is diving down rabbit holes and finding information which I feel should be shared in a responsible, informative and entertaining way.
I am passionate about my work, and finding extraordinary people with stories that need to be told. I love the variety that my work offers in terms of ways to tell these stories whether documentaries, series or scripted films based on a true story.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

I believe honesty and transparency is key to success. In my world, the trust I build with people leads to access which in turn allows me to film indepth and accurate interviews and narrative. I also believe that a quality we all have but we don’t engage with enough is our ‘gut feeling’, our instinct. There are times when societal norms or expectations dictate how we work and communicate but often when we depart from those expectations and listen to our inner voice, our gut, we often circumvent problems or potential issues. So reach out, have conversations and don’t be afraid of speaking up. I have always told my girls: ‘the squeaky wheel gets the grease’ so find your voice and use it.

Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?

The film and television industry is currently experiencing massive change which has resulted in thousands losing their jobs worldwide and a smaller pool of buyers for content. This is beyond frustrating and challenging and means that the goal posts have shifted on what streamers and networks will buy. It has also put fear into potential investors for independent scripted films. While it’s hard to navigate this current situation, my resolve is to make sure I have undeniable projects on my slate which will resonate with buyers. Never lose hope or faith in the stories that are meaningful and should be told.

Contact Info:

• Website: MarksMediaCo
• Instagram: @lyndalmarks
• Facebook: Lyndal Marks
• Linkedin: Lyndal Marks
• Other: Email: Lyndal@marksmediaco.com