Mark Melara

Mark Melara is a TV writer inspired by nature, myths, and all things existential, as he is inextricably bound to his work by his life’s purpose. His impressive career includes writing and serving as the executive producer for AMC Networks TV series Snap, writing Superior Donuts for CBS Television Studios, and writing the video game Freedom Finger for Wide Right Games. His love of reading and being partially raised by Nick at Night sowed the seeds for his writing career. His imagination and love of storytelling had him throwing caution to the wind to begin a career in screenwriting. We are delighted to be this dreamer’s financial partner! Meet Mark in our new Member Stories spotlight, who believes optimism is a key component of making it in the entertainment industry!

What is the key to finding success in the entertainment industry?

“Everyone’s definition of success is different. And the same goes for finding that success. I know that my path as a writer is quite different from someone who broke in on the studio or agency side. But the commonality among those who do find some level of success is persistence. You have to be willing to stick around, continue to generate work that you’re proud of, and somehow, and this can be tough, you have to figure out how to cultivate and maintain a degree of optimism. L.A. has always attracted dreamers, and that’s all this is — a compulsion to dream of new worlds, to express ideas, to say something universal about life, and if you’re lucky, to strike at the ineffable.”

What inspired you to want to pursue an entertainment career?

“I’ve always been a bit of an existentialist. With that mode of thinking, I had to be very deliberate in deciding a career path. I knew early on that I was drawn to stories. The Scholastic Book Fair in elementary school was a BIG DEAL. Fast forward to high school, and I’m weighing possible career paths: veterinarian, TV writer, or professional wrestler. One of those I pursued during college, and though it was the summer of a lifetime, I wasn’t sure that getting suplexed on a weekly basis was my purpose in life. Something deep down told me that my imagination and penchant for storytelling were a better use of this one wild and precious life,’ as Mary Oliver put it.”

How does First Entertainment benefit you as a creator of entertainment?

“Convenient locations, mindful of our (creators) limited time.”

What has your experience been like using our digital banking?

“Great experience!”