Marc Schölermann is an acclaimed German director who made his feature debut with Pathology, a psychological thriller produced by MGM/Lakeshore and starring Alyssa Milano. His latest film, Bark, is a horror thriller about a man who wakes up tied to a tree with no memory of how he got there. Remarkably, the entire story unfolds within a single 10-by-10-foot space—making Bark not just a gripping watch, but a masterclass in single-location filmmaking.

Marc shot the film in just nine days. In this episode, he shares how he crafted a highly effective, technically simple film on a tight budget and schedule without compromising quality. He also offers insights on where to invest your resources when working within budget constraints.

I’ll say there are some SLIGHT spoilers in this interview - I recommend watching Bark first but if you haven’t it won’t necessarily ruin the experience for you, but you should still try to see it anyway.

Show Notes

Movies Discussed

• Bark
• Pathology
• Buried
• Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
• Raiders of the Lost Ark
• Crank
• The Blair Witch Project
• Tremors

Directors & Filmmakers Referenced

• Robert Rodriguez
• Lex Fridman
• Tim Ferriss
• Mark Neveldine & Brian Taylor
• Marc’s DP: Peter (longtime collaborator)

Topics Covered

• How Marc discovered Bark via an online script forum
• The story’s emotional and visual roots in a real-life animal abuse incident
• The creative constraints and opportunities of a one-location movie
• Using long lenses and color desaturation to reflect the main character’s mental state
• Filming in the Black Forest with a micro-crew of 12 people
• Shooting 25 pages of dialogue in a single day
• Crafting immersive sound design and environmental texture in post
• Writing a behind-the-scenes book: Making Bark: A Filmmaker’s Journey
• Working with SAG actors, sound teams, and editors who elevate low-budget filmmaking
• Building your career through commercials and staying agile

Books & Projects

• Making Bark: A Filmmaker’s Journey by Marc Schölermann (available on Amazon)

Where to Watch

• Bark is now streaming on Amazon, Apple TV, Google Play, and other major VOD platforms

Follow Marc Schölermann at:

• IMBd: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0774340/?ref_=nmbio_ov_bk
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marcschoelermann/?hl=en
• X (Twitter): https://x.com/therealschoeli?lang=en
• Website: https://www.marcschoelermann.com/