FEATURE FILMS AND SHORTS
Backlot Docs creates documentary features, shorts and commercial content. With locations in Los Angeles and Portland, the company is owned by co-directors and producers Mark Shapiro (right) and Douglas Brian Miller (left). Backlot Docs released the award-winning, Oscar-eligible documentary DOWNWIND in 2023. The film features two-time Oscar winner Michael Douglas, Martin Sheen, Lewis Black and Matthew Modine.
Currently on the film festival circuit, The Invisible Enemy documentary short premiered at the Woodstock Film Festival in 2024.
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 DOWNWIND and The Invisible Enemy, Mark Shapiro headed Entertainment Brand Management for the animation studio LAIKA from 2007-2019. In addition to studio identity, he also handled marketing endeavors for LAIKA's five Oscar-nominated features: Coraline, ParaNorman, The Boxtrolls, Kubo and the Two Strings and Missing Link. 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 sits on the Klamath Film Board of Directors (Oregon) and 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.
Douglas Brian Miller Co-Founder, Director, Cinematographer IATSE Local 600
Douglas Brian Miller'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 and DOWNWIND. 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. For more on Douglas Brian Miller, click here.
