Mark Manson is a Connecticut native who served in the United States Coast Guard for 6 years after high school. After the military, Manson served as a Hartford Police Officer for 20 years, retiring in 2018. Manson has always had a strong interest in directing, writing, and movie making. Manson is a horror connoisseur. He wrote and directed his latest short film “Sam & Kiki”, a psychological thriller with a splash of comedy based on true events. His resume includes “The Second District”, a TV pilot he created and co-wrote based on his experiences on the force. The pilot won the New York International Film Festival’s “Best Urban Short” 2010, and was also mentioned in the Wall Street Journal. He also created a short film titled “The Beat” which won “Best of the Fest” for the International Movie Trailer Festival in 2015. As a disabled veteran and retired police officer, Manson who is hard of hearing uses his skills from the force and applies it to the cinema. He explores the various views of humanity and strives to reach new audiences including the deaf community.