Jackson received his MFA for Film Directing and Screenwriting, at New York University’s prestigious Tisch School for the Arts, Maurice Kanbar Institute for Film and Television. Prior to his film experience, Mark was an award winning project architect, working with the internationally renowned architectural firm of Kieran Timberlake Associates, in Philadelphia.

As a native southerner, Jackson learned the art of storytelling from his elders, and was later inspired by the films of Stanley Kubrick, Krystof Kieslowski, Satyatjat Ray, Ingmar Bergman, and Francois Truffault. While studying architecture at Mississippi State University, he dabbled in black and white photography . which eventually led to an interest in cinema.

While at NYU, Jackson has directed “Trajectory“ ( 1998: 4 minute, 16mm B/W Narrative Drama), “Thimbles and Pins“ ( 1998: an 8 minute, 16mm Color Documentary about a gay bowling team in NYC), and “Greene County“ ( 2001: 14 minute, 16mm Color, a coming-of-age narrative dramedy about a closeted 30 year old gay man in rural New York). He is an award-winning production designer, who garnered international acclaim at the 2002 San Sebastian International Film Festival, for his work on “Women on a Train” . a short film directed by the acclaimed Spanish director - Jorge Torregrossa. He also was awarded Best Art Direction at the 2003 and 2006 NYU First Run Film Festivals for his work on “All We Know of Heaven,” by Chris Dillon, and Etienne Kallos’ film: “Purge.” Other Production Design credits include the award winning short, St. Paul, “Zahar”, “Coming to Town”, and “Pressed”. Mark has also directed cinematography for “Lynette’s Stand”, “Babci”, “Roll of the Dice”, and “Live at Joe’s Pub” . starring Julee Cruise. He also produced Robert Alan Rackham’s 2002 festival favorite coming-of-age short film: “Violin Lesson.”

Jackson’s coursework at NYU allowed him to study under indie legends and heroes – the likes of Spike Lee, Lodge Kerrigan, Milcho Manchevski, Jay Anania, John Sayles, Ang Lee and Sydney Lumet. “Night Falls Fast” was workshopped under the guidance of Lodge Kerrigan, and is Jackson’s first major film release, for which he was the recipient of the 2006 Clive Davis Award for Film Excellence from NYU Tisch School of the Arts Graduate Film Department.