John Mark Robinson (born 19 July 1948) is an entrepreneur, director, and actor.[1][2] Films he directed have included Roadhouse 66, Kid, and All Tied Up.[3][4] He also directed the music videos for various musical artists including Bob Dylan, Tina Turner, Ramones, Pretenders, Bob Seger and Santana. Robinson is the founder and CEO of Tap&Go EV Ltd., owner operator of Vancouver Prop & Costume, and President of Boffi Los Angeles, having previously served as president of Modern Props. Robinson holds Patent No. 10,277,960 for his co-invention of a method and system for seeding video programs with episodic interactive items.

John Mark Robinson
Born (1948-07-19) July 19, 1948 (age 75)
Toronto, Ontario
NationalityCanadian
Alma materAmerican Academy of Dramatic Arts
Occupation(s)Entrepreneur, Director, Producer, Actor
Years active1973–present
SpouseLinda DeScenna
Children3

Early life edit

Robinson was born in Toronto, Ontario. He graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York.[5]

Music, television, and film career edit

Robinson founded the Modern Productions in 1980 to direct and produce music videos for artists under the banner. In 1983, he directed Roadhouse 66, starring Willem Dafoe, released by Universal Pictures. In 1990, he directed the movie Kid released by Focus Features.[6][7] Robinson directed the television show Martha Stewart Living in 1991. He also directed the movie Motowns Mustang in 1992 and All Tied Up in 1993.[8][9]

During his career, Robinson has directed and produced music videos for Bob Dylan ("Sweetheart Like You"), Bob Marley ("Redemption Song"),[5] Pretenders,[10] Tina Turner ("What's Love Got to Do with It?"),[11] Ramones ("Rock 'n' Roll High School"), Santana ("Hold On"),[12] Pat Benatar, and George Thorogood ("Bad to the Bone").[13]

Design career edit

Robinson is also a design professional, having served as president of Modern Props in both Los Angeles and Vancouver.[14] He is the owner and operator of Vancouver Prop & Costume in Vancouver, British Columbia, as well as a partner in the Milanese a kitchen and bath design company Boffi Los Angeles. [5] Vancouver Prop & Costume rents props and costumes for use in motion pictures, commercials, and television. Robinson has assembled tens of thousands of pieces that can be used. He purchased the selection of props from 20th Century Fox in 2005, and has continued to build the collection.[15] He later founded Tap Media Labs, a company that adds content information to online videos for viewers, based in Vancouver and Los Angeles.[5]

Personal life edit

Robinson married Linda DeScenna in 2017.[5]

Discography edit

Music videos edit

Year Track Artist Records
1983 Sweetheart Like You[16] Bob Dylan CBS Records
1980 Redemption Song Bob Marley Island Records
1982 Hold On / The Nile Carlos Santana CBS Records
1982 Makin' Thunderbirds Bob Seger Capitol Records
1980 Rock'n'Roll Radio Ramones Sire Records
1980 Rock'n'Roll High

School

Ramones Sire Records
1984 What's Love Got to Do with It Tina Turner Capitol Records
1982 Bad to the Bone George Thorogood EMI Records
1979

1980

1984

Brass in Pocket

Tattooed Love Boys

Show Me

The Pretenders Warner Bros. Records
1982 Think I'm In Love

Shakin

Eddie Money CBS Records
1987 Set Me Free Los Lobos Warner Bros. Records
1986 When You Love Someone

Back in Stride Again

Frankie Beverly and Maze Capitol Records
1984

1983

1983

Solid

Babies

High Rise

Ashford & Simpson Capitol Records

Credits edit

Year Television Role Notes
1981 The Facts of Life Actor
1979 In Search of Historic Jesus (Documentary) Actor
1979 Butch and Sundance: The Early Days Actor [17]
1978 The Bastard Actor [18]
1978 The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries Actor [19]
1978 Eight Is Enough Actor [20]
1977 The San Pedro Beach Bums Actor [21][22]
1977 The Love Boat Actor [23]
1976 One Day at a Time Actor
1976 Electra Woman and Dyna Girl Actor [24]
1976 Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman Actor
1975 Harry O Actor
1975 Insight Actor
1974 Chopper One Actor
1973 Chase Actor
1973 The Six Million Dollar Man Actor
1973 Mod Squad Actor

References edit

  1. ^ "John Mark Robinson". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2018-07-31.
  2. ^ "Linda DeScenna, Mark Robinson". Retrieved 2018-07-31.
  3. ^ "The Best Movies Directed by John Mark Robinson". Flickchart. Retrieved 2018-07-31.
  4. ^ "John Mark Robinson | Movies and Filmography | AllMovie". AllMovie. Retrieved 2018-07-31.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Linda DeScenna, Mark Robinson". 11 June 2017 – via NYTimes.com.
  6. ^ "Kid". Time Out London. Retrieved 2018-07-31.
  7. ^ Kid (1990), retrieved 2018-07-31
  8. ^ "John Mark Robinson". BFI. Archived from the original on July 31, 2018. Retrieved 2018-07-31.
  9. ^ All Tied Up (1994), retrieved 2018-07-31
  10. ^ Inc, Nielsen Business Media (24 October 1981). "Billboard". Nielsen Business Media, Inc. – via Google Books. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  11. ^ Inc, Nielsen Business Media (18 May 1985). "Billboard". Nielsen Business Media, Inc. – via Google Books. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  12. ^ Liggeri, Domenico (26 August 2013). Musica per i nostri occhi: Storie e segreti dei videoclip. Giunti. ISBN 9788858761106 – via Google Books.
  13. ^ "Dwight Twilley's "Girls" video was modeled on Bob Clark's horny teenager romp "Porky's"".
  14. ^ Anderton, Frances (7 August 2003). "CURRENTS: LOS ANGELES -- FURNISHINGS; Props for the Movie Set or Home, And Some That Are Comfy in Both". The New York Times – via NYTimes.com.
  15. ^ "Vancouver Prop and Costume: A cut above". Beyond the News. 30 October 2017.
  16. ^ Robinson, Mark (2009-10-25), Bob Dylan: Sweetheart Like You, Alan Clark, Lowell 'Sly' Dunbar, Bob Dylan, retrieved 2018-07-31
  17. ^ "Butch and Sundance: The Early Days (1979) - Overview - TCM.com". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved 2018-07-31.
  18. ^ "Watch The Bastard (1978) - Project Free Tv". www2.projectfreetv.live. Retrieved 2018-07-30.
  19. ^ "The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries/Death Surf - The TV IV". tviv.org. Retrieved 2018-07-31.
  20. ^ "Eight Is Enough". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2018-07-31.
  21. ^ "The San Pedro Beach Bums". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2018-07-31.
  22. ^ "The San Pedro Beach Bums (1977)". BFI. Archived from the original on July 31, 2018. Retrieved 2018-07-30.
  23. ^ "John Mark Robinson 1970s guest appearances". www.ultimate70s.com. Retrieved 2018-07-30.
  24. ^ "Electra Woman and Dyna Girl" Glitter Rock: Part 1 (TV Episode 1976), retrieved 2018-07-30