Writing • Development • Directing 

Mark Bratten-Zappala is a TV writer and filmmaker focused on character-driven comedies with satirical bite and emotional resonance. A graduate of USC’s School of Cinematic Arts, he began his creative journey in theater — training at Interlochen Arts Academy and Rutgers University before stepping behind the camera to tell stories of his own. His writing champions underdogs navigating broken systems, blending absurdity with authenticity to create stories that are as emotionally grounded as they are unpredictable.

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As a Hard of Hearing creator with a background in performance, Mark brings a distinct lens to storytelling that centers access, identity, and deeply human messiness. He currently lives in Los Angeles with his husband, where he writes about weirdos, washouts, and people who fiercely believe in something.

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Legal Representation: David C. Manella | Loeb & Loeb

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Mark's favorite charity: Mossy Earth

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Fun fact: Mark coined the term “gorror” right before Halloween 2023. But then he found out some lady named Beita7on Urban Dictionary beat him to it back in 2007. So he’s still looking for something to coin.