Known for Directing
Award winning filmmaker Mark Atkins began his career working on blue chip natural history films for the BBC and National Geographic as an assistant cameraman for his aunt and uncle, acclaimed natural history filmmakers Paul Atkins and Grace Niska Atkins of Moana Productions. Working with Paul and Gracie, Mark was part of the camera team on Moana Productions’ National Geographic specials SECRET KILLERS OF MONTEREY BAY which won a CINE Masters Series Award. Mark received additional photography credit on Moana Productions GREAT WHITE SHARK which won an Emmy Award and Cine Golden Eagle for cinematography. Atkins was accepted into the University of Central Florida’s Motion Picture Program from which he graduated in 1995 with a B.A. in Motion Picture Production. While still an undergraduate, Atkins wrote, directed and produced his first feature film, the 35mm Southern Gothic mystery, NIGHT ORCHID — Winner of Best First Feature Film at the New Orleans Film Festival and Golden Medallion for Best Feature and Golden Lion for Best of Show at the George Lindsey UNA Film Festival. NIGHT ORCHID was picked up for distribution as part of then fledgling distributor, the Asylum’s First Rites Program. Subsequent to NIGHT ORCHID, Atkins became one of The Asylum’s most in-demand writer-directors and cinematographers, directing fourteen features and serving as cinematographer on over thirty since. To date, Atkins has written thirteen screenplays which have been successfully produced. Atkins has directed eighteen features with subjects ranging from fantasy (MERLIN and the WAR OF THE DRAGONS) to horror (HAUNTING OF WINCHESTER HOUSE), comedy (SAND SHARKS), science fiction (ANDROID COP), action adventure (ALLAN QUATERMAIN) and thrillers (EVIL EYES). His work has taken him across the globe from Rapa Nui, Egypt, Figi, South Africa, Belize, Iceland, Burma and Tierra del Fuego. He shot his first 3D feature film in 2009. Atkins served as underwater cinematographer for 30K LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA, the documentary feature INTO THE AIR, and AWAKEN. Atkins also served as cinematographer on DISNEY’s animation live-action hybrid, TAKE 2 with PHINEUS and FERB. Atkins’ films have been successful in television and film markets worldwide. His Syfy Original Movie, BATTLE OF LOS ANGELES was the third movie of 2011 with over 2 million viewers and the most popular with the 25 to 54 demographic. Many of his films have been the top renters including MERLIN AND THE WAR OF THE DRAGONS ( #41 video rentals in Germany for 2009). In 2010, FIRE DRAGON CHRONICLES: Dragon Quest (#3 in Blu-ray Rental ranking for its German distributor). SAND SHARKS, the #1 title for its German distributor in 2012. Atkins films are consistently top market performers.
Filmography
124 films, 2 shows


Road Wars: Max Fury
2024 · 1h 23m · US
In a post-apocalyptic wasteland, two sisters leave their stronghold to save their wounded mother. Armed only with a muscle car and limited ammo, they race against time and ruthless raiders to secure life-saving supplies from a distant outpost.


Monster Island
2019 · 1h 39m · US
Gigantic monsters threaten to destroy everything in their path as mankind remains defenseless


Empire of the Sharks
2018 · 1h 30m · US
On a future earth where 98% of the surface is underwater, a Warlord who controls an army of sharks meets his match when he captures the daughter of a mysterious shark caller who must learn to marshal a supernatural ability if she is to free her people from the Warlord's dominion.


6-Headed Shark Attack
2018 · 1h 29m · US
What is supposed to be a marriage boot camp on a remote island turns into the ultimate test for survival when a 6-headed shark starts attacking the beach. Trapped with minimal weapons they try to fight off the shark, but quickly discover that no one is safe in the water or on land.


Jurassic School
2017 · 1h 25m · US
Nerdy middle schooler Tommy is forced take care of a baby dinosaur after his cloned science fair project hatches early. He quickly begins to think of the creature not only as a pet, but also as a friend. But when the dino escapes on the day of the fair, Tommy must figure out a way to get the creature back before greedy grown-ups get to the dinosaur first.


In the Name of Ben-Hur
2016 · 1h 30m · US
A young gladiator enslaved in the Roman arena in 171 A.D. escapes by chariot towards the freedom of Hadrian's Wall. Fighting centurions and mercenaries along the way, he becomes a folk hero for all those struggling to fight Roman oppression.


Planet of the Sharks
2016 · 1h 25m · US
In the near future, glacial melting has covered 98% of earth's landmass. Sharks have flourished and now dominate the planet, operating as one massive school led by a mutated alpha shark.


Awaken
2015 · 1h 29m · US
A random group of people wake up on an Island where they are being hunted down in a sinister plot to harvest their organs.


Road Wars
2015 · 1h 30m · US
After the earth’s water supply is depleted, the survivors form roving road gangs, armed to the teeth and desperate to find and protect water supplies. But when a new breed of blood-drinking humans emerges, the survivors must contend with a whole new threat to their existence.


P-51 Dragon Fighter
2014 · 1h 24m · US
As World War Two rages on, the allies are about to push the Nazis out of North Africa. That's when the Nazis turn up the heat, unleashing their secret Weapon: DRAGONS!!! The allies quickly lose ground to the ancient monster, and are close to complete annihilation when the Allies put together a group of special fighter-pilots, specially trained to fight a beast everyone thought was a myth.


Android Cop
2014 · 1h 28m · US
In the year 2045, a Los Angeles Police Department detective and his new android partner enter the Zone, a forbidden section of the city plagued with an unknown disease. There, they discover the source of the illness and attempt to stop it using the android's advanced technology and weaponry.


Knight of the Dead
2013 · 1h 18m · UK
Hunted by raiders, a band of crusading knights escort the holy grail through a valley of black death where they must hack and slash their way to freedom.


Jack the Giant Killer
2013 · 1h 27m · US
A giant beanstalk brings Jack to a land in the clouds filled with snarling, evil beasts. When the creatures make their way to the ground, Jack must figure out how to get back down before they destroy earth and everyone in it.


Alien Origin
2012 · 1h 30m · US
A movie created from "found footage" of a lost military expedition that exposes the origins of life on earth.


Sand Sharks
2011 · 1h 27m · US
Just when you thought it was safe to go back to the beach, it appears that our large fishy friends have found a way to chomp on you when you're chilling out on the sand too!


Dragon Crusaders
2011 · 1h 30m · US
In this sword-and-sorcery extravaganza, a group of marauding Knights Templar suffers a curse that transforms them into monsters, driving them to square off against an evil dragon obsessed with annihilating the entire world.


Battle of Los Angeles
2011 · 1h 30m · US
In February 1942 US forces engaged an unidentified flying object above Los Angeles. Now almost 70 years later, the alien invaders have returned.


Princess of Mars
2009 · 1h 33m · US
Based on the novel by Edgar Rice Burroughs, a US soldier finds himself inexplicably transported to Mars in the midst of a war between two alien races.


Haunting of Winchester House
2009 · 1h 26m · US
A family moves in to look after the Winchester mansion for a few months, and soon find themselves terrorized by vengeful spirits. With the help of a paranormal investigator they'll unravel the mystery of the house.


Dragonquest
2009 · 1h 28m · US
When an ancient warlord summons a mythological beast, a young hero must complete a series of quests to awaken the dragon that will defeat the monster.


Merlin and the War of the Dragons
2008 · 1h 30m · US
In 5th Century Britian, a young Merlin struggles for his place in his known land under the tutelage of The Mage, a local wizard whom sees the young man's potential for magic, as well as face off against his evil former friend, Vendiger, whom plots with a feudal warlord king to conquer all of Britian using an army of flying dragons, and only Merlin with the alliance of the local Prince Uther and Ingraine and a pair of mystical goddesses, can have the power to stop the evil from taking over the land.


Allan Quatermain and the Temple of Skulls
2008 · 1h 38m · US
Filmed on location in South Africa, a retelling of H. Rider Haggard's classic novel "King Solomon's Mines," featuring the adventurer who was the inspiration for Indiana Jones.


Halloween Night
2006 · 1h 25m · US
A horribly burned man escapes from a mental institution and terrorizes teenagers at a party.


Evil Eyes
2004 · 1h 20m · US
A screenwriter is plagued by nightmares as he writes a script about a family that was slaughtered years before. Soon, the grisly murders he's writing about start to actually happen.


Night Orchid
1997 · 1h 46m · US
Clay Doyle, a drifter haunted by the ability to see violent events from the past, wanders into a small Florida town and falls in love with the ethereal Sarah Miller, despite increasingly disturbing visions of murder and decay.