Renowned filmmaker Mark Toia dies

Sad to report that Australian filmmaker, and industry legend, Mark Toia has died at an early age.

Mark Toia, Australian filmmaker, director, and photographer, and founder of Zoom Film and Television, has died. Details of his death are slightly confused at the moment — we hear two totally separate things — but suffice to say that the industry has lost a giant of a figure.

Toia worked extensively in commercials - where he made a stellar reputation over several decades working with a host of blue-chip companies, including Jeep, Mercedes Benz, Ford, Adidas, BMG, Sony Music — before shooting the successful 2020 indie sci-fi thriller Monsters of Man with $1.6m AUD of his own money. 

He was a huge fan of RED and Jarred Land was one of the first to pay tribute on Instagram. "❤️🙏❤️ Love you man," he wrote. "I’ve met a lot of people over the years but nobody quite like you. RIP, dude and at least heaven is gonna start having some kickass commercials now that you’re up there."

Mark's funeral will take place on Friday, 3 November. Details here.

Our condolences from everyone at RedShark to his family and extensive friend circle. We've linked to his latest showreel below. Always difficult to know there will be nothing else added, especially when someone leaves us at a young age, but he leaves one hell of a legacy.