MARK A. ALTMAN (Writer/Executive Producer)

MARK A. ALTMAN is the writer/producer of "Free Enterprise," the award winning feature film, starring Eric McCormack ("Will & Grace") and William Shatner ("Star Trek"), which was released theatrically in 1999. He was awarded the Best New Writer award at the 1998 AFI Film Festival by the WGA where the film was also honored as Best Picture/New Directions by the festival. In addition, it has won numerous awards at film festivals across the globe.

Like journalist turned director Rod Lurie, Altman is a former entertainment writer. He served as editor-in-chief of Sci-Fi Universe, the most influential periodical devoted to genre motion pictures and television (which New Times called a magazine with a "smart, sci-fi edge."), for four years and has contributed to such newspapers and magazines as The Boston Globe, L'Cinefage, Film Threat, The Manchester Guardian, The Boston Edge, Cult TV, Cinefantastique, Computer Player and many others. He continues to write a regular column about the movies for Cinescape.

Altman has also written numerous comic books for DC and Malibu Comics and is author of several non-fiction books including "Twin Peaks: Behind the Scenes" and, more recently, the "Captains' Logs" series and the best-selling "Trek Navigator" from Little Brown & Company.

Altman also produced "The Specials," a feature film comedy about dysfunctional superheroes starring Rob Lowe, Jamie Kennedy, Melissa Joan Hart and Thomas Haden Church. The film, written by James Gunn ("Scooby-Doo"), theatrically premiered in Fall 2000 and was recently released on home video and special edition DVD.

He has spoken at numerous industry events and conventions including the 2000 ShowBiz Expo in Hollywood as well as the Variety/Final Draft Screenwriters Panel at the 1999 Cannes Film Festival.

In addition to writing "Free Enterprise," he is the co-writer of "Abducted," which was optioned by Dreamworks SKG and "True Lust," a sexy and sinister film noir set in the early 1930's, which will mark his directorial debut. He is also developing "Free Enterprise" as a TV sitcom.

Altman, who lives in Los Angeles, is currently Chief Operating Officer for Mindfire Entertainment where he oversees the development of numerous feature film and television projects.



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