Mark Ordesky

Mark Ordesky
Ordesky in 2009
Born
Mark Lowell Ordesky

(1963-04-22) April 22, 1963 (age 61)
Occupations
  • Film producer
  • television producer
  • studio executive

Mark Lowell Ordesky (born April 22, 1963) is an American film producer, television producer and studio executive. He is best known for executive producing the Oscar winning The Lord of the Rings film trilogy.[1]

Career

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New Line Cinema

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During 20 years at New Line Cinema (and prior to that Republic Pictures), Ordesky acquired or executive produced over 60 films, including New Line's first Best Picture Oscar nominee (Shine),[2] its first major category Oscar winner (Geoffrey Rush, Academy Award for Best Actor, Shine), and its first Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival (Lars von Trier's Dancer In The Dark).

The Lord of the Rings trilogy

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While at New Line, Ordesky executive produced the entire The Lord of the Rings film trilogy. The final film of the trilogy, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, made history by winning every Oscar for which it was nominated, including the Academy Award for Best Picture and Academy Award for Best Director.[3] Collectively, the trilogy earned 17 Oscars from a total of 30 nominations, including three Best Picture nominations.[4]

Fine Line Features

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For Fine Line Features (a specialty films division of New Line), Ordesky acquired acclaimed films such as Once Were Warriors, Saving Grace, Trick, State and Main, and Ripley's Game, as well as award contenders Shine, Dancer In The Dark, Before Night Falls, Tumbleweeds, The Sweet Hereafter and American Splendor. Eight Oscar nominations and two Golden Globe nominations in total. Ordesky was Fine Line's president from 1998 to 2005.[5]

Jackie Chan

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In 1996, Ordesky helped introduce U.S. audiences to Jackie Chan with the break-out hit Rumble in the Bronx.[6][7]

Court Five

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Ordesky is a founding partner with former New Line Cinema executive Jane Fleming of Court Five,[8] a media company focused on developing and converting intellectual property and brands into filmed entertainment for distribution worldwide.

Personal life

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Ordesky was born in Sacramento County, California. In 1985, he graduated from the USC Annenberg School for Communication with a degree in print journalism. He was editor of the university newspaper, the Daily Trojan,[9] and joined the Chi Phi Fraternity. In 2008, he was honored with Chi Phi's Walter Cronkite Congressional Award.

Ordesky supports the American Cinematheque as a board member and is also a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Producers Guild of America, and Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.

In 2004, he married Rachel O'Connell of Wellington, New Zealand.

Filmography

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FILM

PRODUCER

TELEVISION

MISCELLANEOUS CREW

SECOND UNIT DIRECTING

References

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