MARKUS ESSIEN

FILMMAKER | MUSICIAN | EDUCATOR

I continue to work as a freelance filmmaker but have recently become a Member-Owner Candidate at Truce Media.  I have worked on both feature and short films and most recently wrote, directed, and edited the comedy web series “Dope Cycles” and served as 1st AD on the forthcoming short film "Non Emergency Medical Transport." Up next, I will be 1st AD on the feature film Chalupa (MCM Films, Spring 2023) and creating an incubator program with FWD-Doc and Docs in Progress for filmmakers with disabilities.

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In other creative pursuits, I directed the U.S. premiere of The Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge and the New York premiere of Philomel for Opera Works (NYC). Additionally, I wrote and directed two short-form plays that were subsequently published for Theater Source’s (NYC) Spontaneous Combustion play series. Early writing work included copywriting for clients including The World Bank and US Postal Service.

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As an educator, I have spent 10 years in the classroom as a Latin teacher and 15 years in school leadership as a middle school dean (7 yrs) and head of school (8yrs). Additionally, I have consulted for organizations including Chan Zuckerberg, Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted, Gifted Institute (Denmark), Kind en Beeld (Netherlands), and African Leadership Group.