Marina Martins

Marina Martins, a Portuguese citizen, was born in Tanzania, East Africa where her father was stationed with Barclays Bank. Her exposure to emerging economies and cultures was a formative part of her growth and set a firm base for humanitarian interest. During her college years in London, England, Marina studied Philosophy and Physics at Bedford College. At that time, and for the next ten years she was privileged to have the opportunity for frequent and immersive travel and exposure to Europe, the Near and Middle East, Asia, the Far East, Australia and Europe. In 1981, she took her talents to the United Arab Emirates. Here, her very lucrative business included an advertising agency, a graphic arts studio and a retail enterprise. Marina wrote for various magazines and had articles written about her business experiences as a unique women, at a very young age, succeeding in an Arab entrepreneurial environment. Guided by a passion inflamed by the theatrical stage in London, Marina wrote, directed and produced for stage in the local area. In addition, her company Gemini Productions produced live concerts in the local vicinity. Desiring a more permanent format for her art, Marina closed shop in the Middle East and began her film career in Los Angeles in 1987. She studied film at UCLA and other established schools, taking extension and various other courses to round out her theoretical film education. Her "on the set" practical experience covers fifteen years of almost continuous set work covering each film production department, strategically designed to enhance her knowledge and experience of filmmaking. Among her many positions on films, Marina was 1st Assistant Camera for 'Going Home', a festival opening short and Special EFX supervisor on 'Lightspeed'. Marina line produced Mnemosyne, a critically acclaimed short. She edited several films including Out of the Rain (2003) and Terror at Tate Manor (2002) both of which respectively closed and opened festivals. She was post-production supervisor on several projects where she honed her skills at understanding the intricacies of delivering films to the domestic and international marketplace. Marina has worked as a consultant with writers and producers on development of story, financing, distribution and packaging. She worked as a VP with Entertainment Business Group, representing the company at many entertainment industry seminars and events. Her special skills emerge in the market analysis and risk mitigation aspects of feature film financing. Marina wrote, produced and directed her first feature, MALAIKA (aka Tons of Trouble - DVD Title). This family film has successfully sold worldwide and to both HBO and Showtime in the USA. She just produced SPIN - a Latin music based drama with director Dan Neira, a prominent Latin commercials director, which is in post production, due for release in the fall of 2006. She is producing the psychological thriller, EVERY MOVE YOU MAKE, in Oct 2006 and YING & YANG, a comedy in Nov 2006 She is currently President of Lexicon Entertainment. Lexicon Entertainment has optioned, developed and is currently in the financing stages on several pictures for theatrical release. These include Mutts * a family feature film, Loophole - a Romantic comedy with director Eugene Brady (The Nephew) and We are the Champions - with Producers Jonathan Sanger (Vanilla Sky, Mission Impossible), Sarah Black (Restoration) and Ed Elbert (Anna and the King). Ms. Martins financed the start up costs of the International Humanitarian Artists Foundation. She is the Founder/Chairman of this group, which has honored International Filmmakers and Documentary Filmmakers, including Robert Wise, Martin Scorsese and Jim Sheridan. Her responsibilities at Astro include all aspects of the company's finance and financial arrangements with Lexicon Filmed Entertainment, in addition to producing feature films for the Company.