Marshall's Story
I’ve always loved movies and music, but I grew up an obedient, only child — which, meant a straight path to good grades, scratch golf, and a sensible law degree from a top school. Before turning 30, I became general counsel of a global consulting company, got engaged, and bought a house with a Persian cat. Not with the Persian cat, he didn’t co-sign the mortgage. He was just an integral, smooshed-face part of that life. The perfect life. Someone else’s life.
Call it a mid-life third-life crisis if you like, but shortly thereafter I tore everything apart. Broke off the engagement, quit the job, sold the house, and lost the cat. Not lost lost, my ex just got custody. I started a company called Mowgli out of a phantom fit of anger towards Zynga. I thought FarmVille was stupid and people should be making music, not fake farms. So I did what any sensible, obedient child would do — I lived off savings, recruited a team, and raised a few million in capital to bring this idea to life. The next four years changed me forever. Teaching me it’s okay to live life on your own terms. To take risks. To build things. Mowgli built some great games and partnered with every major record label. A dream come true. I was headed toward my McMillions when our biggest investor bailed. Inciting a tailspin that ended in the company, and my hope, dissolving.
Losing another long-term relationship in the process of losing my company (and my identity), I again did what any sensible, obedient child would do — bought a backpack, grabbed my guitar, and flew to Spain to hike the Camino de Santiago. It took 34 years to break me, but only 200 miles to rebuild. I came back with a new perspective on life and without the New Balance sneakers I thought were wise to hike in. Feeling like I was on a quest for a new heart, I took on a new name — The Tin Man — and released a record that landed one track on the Billboard Hot AC chart for 7 weeks. I was ready to be whisked away to rockstardom, but the labels didn’t call. My lenders did. I was broke.
I needed money, so I started teaching a mentor’s sales methodology to attorneys. Then, I started penning my first television series thinking The Monkeys 2.0 would launch my music career. (Because creating a TV show is easier than becoming a rockstar, obviously.) I started shooting short films and taking them to the festival circuit. I started taking comedy classes. I started taking acting classes. I started my first feature script. I started shooting viral videos with a group of influencers. I started a dozen other scripts. I started a blockchain company to monetize famous internet moments. I started a digital agency to help brands go viral. I started. I started. I started.
I’ve lived just about as many lives as that Persian cat. Which, brings us here. To this website. This bio.
I’m here to share stories with you. Stories born out of a rich (metaphorically anyway) and varied life. Stories that entertain just as much as they tickle your soul. Some of the stories here are finished, some are only started. Some are ready for production, some are ready for collaboration. I’ve taken the advice of my sixth-grade algebra teacher, and I’m showing my work. As you explore this site and these stories, you’ll see my entire process. All my work. You might even see me working. If you do, please say hi. I’d love to meet you.
Let's create together.
