Where are They Now?

Where are they now? Mark Morgan ‘82

BY IVO NUTI ‘22

You would probably expect a movie producer to have a busy schedule. Mark Morgan is no exception. We met over the phone around 7:30 p.m. on a Wednesday night after he checked into a hotel in LA. He was able to squeeze our interview in between movie pitches and travel. We talked about his fascinating journey to success and his advice for following one’s passion.

Mark Morgan grew up as an only child on Monti Circle in Pleasant Hill, with a Columbian mother and an Irish father from Kentucky. He went to Christ the King School from Kindergarten through eighth grade, and graduated in 1982. Mr. Morgan remembers his fondest memories of CTK being the community, camaraderie, friendships, and safety he felt at school.

“It was a family; one family and it felt very safe,” Morgan said.

He went on to De La Salle High School and later earned an engineering degree from Santa Clara University. After graduating from Santa Clara and getting his first professional job at NASA, he and some friends went to a game at UCLA. That’s where his career took an interesting turn.

While visiting UCLA he met an intern who worked for Meredith Baxter, the actress who played the mom in the TV show “Family Ties.” He learned: “The whole world can see something that you put together, that you thought of, in a year!” This one conversation altered the trajectory of his life and sparked a passion in Mr. Morgan. Shortly after, he quit his job and enrolled in film school at UCLA. His first movie-related job was working in the marketing department for Paramount Pictures. His next goal was to work in production for Ridley Scott’s company. In order to get that job, he waited outside the studio cafeteria for nearly six weeks, until he got an interview with the woman who ran the company. By the end of their lunch meeting he was hired as her assistant. He later worked as a writer, a director, and doing anything that was Hollywood-driven.

After various positions within the industry, he achieved his dream job of being a movie producer. He produced popular films and film series such as, “The Twilight Saga” and The Percy Jackson movies “Lightning Thief” and “Sea of Monsters.” Mr. Morgan has won multiple awards including the Producer of Vision award and multiple Best Picture awards for “The Twilight Saga.” Currently he is pitching ideas to Netflix and Peacock Television Network. Mr. Morgan’s advice to me and to young people who want to achieve their goals is to work hard and follow their passion. He took a risk and quit his job at NASA in order to pursue his dream. No job or small paycheck was beneath him as he became immersed in the industry.

Buying coffee, taking other people’s clothes to the dry cleaner and driving a golf cart around Paramount studios was once part of his job. He tried to do every job in order to find his place in the industry, until he realized that he wanted to be in charge of all aspects of movie production in development and, ultimately, as a producer. “Immerse yourself,” he advises. “Pursue your passion no matter what. If you really want it, go for it.”

He tried to do every job in order to find his place in the industry,... “Immerse yourself,” he advises. “Pursue your passion no matter what. If you really want it, go for it.”

Mark Morgan inspired me to work hard and have big dreams. I value my years at CTK and am excited for my future. His experiences teach us that flexibility is key, goals can change, and everyone has to start somewhere. Anyone can find and achieve their passion if they are willing to put in the effort. n

Calling all CTK

Alumni Nearly 2,000

students have graduated from Christ the King Catholic School since it

opened in 1961. We are

working to reconnect with these wonderful CTK graduates and build a strong, connected network of alumni. Get in touch with us! Visit ctkschool.org/alumni