HOW DO YOU MAKE A CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER IN THE FORESTS OF NORTHERN GERMANY—WITH NO STUDIO, NO FINANCIAL BACKING, AND A SHOESTRING BUDGET?
YOU MAKE BARK.
AND THEN YOU WRITE THE BOOK ABOUT HOW YOU PULLED IT OFF.
In this candid, sharp, and unexpectedly funny behind-the-scenes account, director Marc Schölermann shares how a small, passionate team brought a tense, character-driven thriller to life—set in California, starring Michael Weston (Six Feet Under, House, Garden State) and AJ Buckley (SEAL Team, CSI: NY)—but filmed entirely in the remote forests of northern Germany.
From crafting a convincing American setting deep in Europe to navigating unpredictable weather, erased hard drives, tight schedules, near-injuries, and all the chaos of indie filmmaking, MAKING BARK: A Filmmaker’s Journey dives into the real nuts and bolts of directing, producing, casting, location-scouting, and squeezing every ounce of value from every dollar.
Premiering at Fantastic Fest in Austin and screening at major festivals like Shanghai and Hof, BARK was hailed as a tense, atmospheric gem. This book reveals how it all came together—through vision, hustle, and relentless creative problem-solving.
Whether you’re a filmmaker, film student, or just a curious movie fan wondering how it actually gets done—this is your backstage pass.
Available on Kindle and Paperback at:
And what about the film…
Charismatic Nolan Bentley wakes up in the middle of a remote forest, tied to a tree with no recollection of how he got there. With his time relentlessly running out, a mysterious stranger appears and he must finally reckon with the demons of his past and fight to survive to find a way out of his nightmare.
Starring:
Michael Weston, A.J. Buckley
Directed by:
Marc Schölermann
Written by:
Steve Fauquier
Watch BARK today at:
About Author Marc Schölermann
Marc Schölermann is a German director with credits ranging from the cult medical thriller Pathology (MGM) to acclaimed international major commercial campaigns. He has directed actors like Milo Ventimiglia, Pierce Brosnan, Alyssa Milano, and Chuck Norris, and worked for clients including Audi, Mercedes and BMW.
With BARK, his first independently produced feature, Marc returns to his creative roots—telling bold, high-concept stories with limited resources but unlimited determination. He lives near Hamburg with his family and way too many hard drives.
