FEATURE FILMS AND SHORTS
Backlot Docs released the award-winning, Oscar-qualifying feature documentary DOWNWIND in 2023. The film includes two-time Oscar winner Michael Douglas, Martin Sheen and Lewis Black. It was executive produced by actor Matthew Modine (OPPENHEIMER, STRANGER THINGS, FULL METAL JACKET). The short film THE INVISIBLE ENEMY (2024), also EP'd by Matthew Modine, premiered simultaneously at the Woodstock Film Festival (New York) and at the Cordillera International Film Festival (Nevada).
Mark and Doug began collaborating in 2005 when they created short-form content and mini documentaries for Monster.com's Diversity Leadership Program for marginalized and under-represented college students on university campuses across the United States. They have also produced and directed original and scripted content for global companies including Starbucks, Apple, T-Mobile, The Home Depot, Boeing and the U.S. Department of State.
FILMMAKER BIOS
Mark Shapiro Co-Founder, Director, Producer
Prior to co-directing the feature documentaries A NOBODY FROM SOMEWHERE and DOWNWIND (2023) and the short documentary THE INVISIBLE ENEMY (2024), Mark headed Entertainment Brand Management for the animation studio LAIKA from 2007-2019. In addition to studio identity, he also handled marketing endeavors for five of LAIKA's Oscar-nominated features: CORALINE (2009), PARANORMAN (2012), THE BOXTROLLS (2014), KUBO AND THE TWO STRINGS (2016) and MISSING LINK (2019). Before LAIKA, he managed several categories for Nike USA Communications including Nike Community Affairs, Nike Basketball and Nike Tennis. He also served as a Mentor in Publicity and Marketing for SxSW Film. Mark curates film programming at festivals around the world. A native of Seattle, Mark attended Emerson College in Boston and received his BA (English) from Colorado College. He completed post-graduate education studies at Lewis & Clark College in Portland.
Mark is also Executive Producer of the forthcoming feature documentary WIND-FALL (2026), about the traumatic brain injury suffered by world champion kiteboarder Brandon Scheid.
Douglas Brian Miller Co-Founder, Director, Cinematographer IATSE Local 600
Douglas's Director of Photography credits include: WHY DID YOU KILL ME? (A Netflix True Crime Documentary), THE GREED OF MEN, COMIX, BEYOND THE COMIC BOOK PAGES, DOWNWIND, THE INVISIBLE ENEMY and the forthcoming A NOBODY FROM SOMEWHERE. In the Television market, Miller has served as Camera Operator for BET/Centric's Being, NBC's The Wendy Williams Show and The Montel Williams Show. In the growing world of new media, in partnership with various agencies such as J. Walter Thompson, TMP Worldwide, Group M and BP Studios, Miller has served as Director of Photography and Camera Operator for top brands including Apple, Boeing, Charles Schwab, Experian, E-Z UP Shelters, NXP, Sprint and Starbucks.
Winner of fourteen Telly Awards, he also captured the 2022 Webby Award (People's Voice Winner, Best Series) for Between The Pages with Alane Adams.
