Mark Amin

Mohammed Mark Amin is an Iranian American motion picture producer, writer, director, and distributor who has been working in independent and mainstream cinema for more than three decades. Some of Amin's film credits include The Prince and Me, starring Julia Stiles, 1997's Eve's Bayou, starring Samuel L. Jackson, and 2002's Frida, a biopic which Amin executive produced.

Amin served as producer for the Lionsgate/Roadside Attractions film Girl Most Likely (2012), starring Annette Bening and Matt Dillon, as well as producer for Eliza Graves (2014), starring Kate Beckinsale, Jim Sturgess, Ben Kingsley and Michael Caine. Amin is the founder and CEO of the production company Sobini Films.

Besides his career as a film producer, Amin has also been active in other business and investment interests. Amin is an investor and member of the advisory board of EdgeCast, a content delivery firm which sold in 2013 to Verizon for $400 million. He is also chairman and major shareholder of gymra.com, the fitness website. Additionally, Amin is active in the development of almond and pistachio orchards in central California.

Early life and education Amin is originally from Rafsanjan, a small town in Iran. Raised in a family that was in the pistachio trading business, Amin immigrated to the United States in 1967, finishing out his last year of high school in Colorado.

In 1972, Amin graduated from the University of Kansas with a degree in economics. After earning his bachelor's degree, Amin attended New York University's business school for one semester. However, New York City proved too overwhelming and Amin transferred to the Graduate School of Management at the University of California, Los Angeles. Amin graduated from the management school with a Masters of Business Administration in Marketing in 1975.

Career

Early career After graduating from management school, Amin worked for Western Gear, a construction machinery firm, and returned to Iran as the company's representative. of video releases operating in the early era of home video entertainment. Among their niches was obtaining the videocassette rights to television films often made as TV movies of the week. It was with the financial success of Vidmark's early video releases that inspired Amin to further expand his efforts as a producer.

Trimark Pictures With an initial investment of $270,000, Trimark Pictures went on to release such titles as Warlock (1989), The Dentist (1996) and the Leprechaun franchise (the first of which starred a young Jennifer Aniston).

In 2000, Trimark merged with Lions Gate Entertainment in a move that made Amin Lionsgate's single largest shareholder, as well as its vice chairman.

Sobini Films In 2001, Amin founded Sobini Films, a production company focused on producing specialized and mainstream commercial films. Since its founding, Sobini Films has produced a number of films, including Streets of Legend (2003), a Sundance award winner, An American Girl: Chrissa Stands Strong (2009) and "Sexy Evil Genius" (2013). Sobini assisted in the production of Miles Ahead, starring Don Cheadle and Ewan McGregor, and also served as a producer for Good Kill (2015) with Ethan Hawke.

His feature-length debut as a writer and director was 2020's Emperor, which was released by Briarcliff Entertainment and Universal Pictures. Amin also served as a producer.

Amin also oversees Sobini's slate of pictures in development.

Controversy over DuPont Fabros Technology Inc. Stock In 2012, the SEC alleged that Mark Amin learned confidential information about expanding business opportunities for DuPont Fabros Technology Inc., which develops and manages facilities that maintain large computer servers for technology companies. It was alleged that Amin tipped his brother and cousin with this confidential information. The three allegedly illegally traded on the basis of that inside information and allegedly gained profits from this insider trading. Mark Amin and five others agreed to settle the SEC's charges by collectively paying nearly $2 million.

Personal life

Philanthropic efforts and contributions In 1997, Amin donated $25,000 to the University of Kansas to start a scholarship for those students studying film at the school.

In 2000, Amin and his brother, Reza Amin, formed the Bijan and Soraya Amin Foundation, which has helped support organizations that include the National Ability Center, the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence, the University Muslim Medical Association.

In 2011, Amin produced a documentary entitled "Jujitsu-ing Reality" on Scott Lew, a screenwriter with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS. On May 29, 2014, Amin was recognized for increasing support and awareness of ALS at the ALS Association Golden West Chapter A Night at the Esseys Awards.

Amin is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Farhang Foundation, an organization that promotes the study and research of Iranian art and culture.

Recognition In 2010, Amin earned an Alumni Distinguished Achievement Award from his alma mater, the University of Kansas.

Filmography

Theatrical releases Year Film Producer Writer Other Notes 1988 Demonwarp executive producer 1990 The Sleeping Car executive producer Farendj executive producer Mob Boss executive producer 1991 Black Magic Woman executive producer Servants of Twilight executive producer Whore executive producer 1992 Into the Sun executive producer 1993 Leprechaun executive producer Interceptor executive producer Extreme Justice executive producer Deadfall executive producer Philadelphia Experiment II executive producer 1994 Dangerous Touch executive producer Final Mission executive producer Leprechaun 2 executive producer A Million to Juan executive producer Love and a .45 executive producer Curse of the Starving Class executive producer The Stöned Age executive producer Frank and Jesse executive producer 1995 Night of the Running Man executive producer Evolver executive producer Aurora: Operation Intercept executive producer Leprechaun 3 executive producer Separate Lives True Crime executive producer A Kid in King Arthur's Court executive producer Kicking and Screaming executive producer Iron Eagle IV executive producer 1996 Leprechaun 4: In Space executive producer Crossworlds executive producer Underworld executive producer The Dentist executive producer Two Guys Talkin' About Girls executive producer The Maddening executive producer Sometimes They Come Back... Again executive producer Never Ever executive producer Pinocchio's Revenge executive producer 1997 Sprung executive producer Eve's Bayou executive producer Trucks executive producer, TV movie A Kid in Aladdin's Palace executive producer Star Kid executive producer 1998 Standoff executive producer Bay Watch: White Thunder at Glacier Bay co-producer Chairman of the Board executive producer The Dentist 2 executive producer Carnival of Souls executive producer Ground Control executive producer Trance Ava's Magical Adventure executive producer 1999 Let the Devil Wear Black executive producer King Cobra executive producer Diplomatic Siege executive producer, screenplay and story writer The Simple Life of Noah Dearborn executive producer, TV movie Warlock III: The End of Innocence executive producer Turbulence 2: Fear of Flying executive producer Held Up executive producer 2000 Cord executive producer Skipped Parts executive producer The Bogus Witch Project executive producer, TV movie Attraction executive producer Blood Surf executive producer Xchange executive producer 2001 After the Storm executive producer, TV movie 2002 Framed executive producer, TV movie Frida executive producer 2003 Quattro Noza executive producer 2004 The Prince & Me story writer 2006 The Prince & Me 2: The Royal Wedding characters Peaceful Warrior 2008 Gardens of the Night executive producer The Prince & Me: A Royal Honeymoon executive producer 2009 An American Girl: Chrissa Stands Strong executive producer 2010 Burning Bright 2011 Jujitsuing RealityDocumentary short 2012 Girl Most Likely 2013 Sexy Evil Genius Filth 2014 Stonehearst Asylum I Live for You Good Kill