Family makes its mark with corporate comedy
IT’S a family affair for the Marks comedy trio – dad Rodney and sons Benjamin and Joshua – as they unite their creative forces in what they see as a “very Jewish business”.
Combining their individual creative talents to write, perform and produce acts for the corporate world, the father and sons team is hired by companies to produce original pieces of entertainment.
Their work often takes them to conferences where, over hours or days, they collaboratively interview participants, write a script, film, edit and present a hilarious summary of the event.
Rodney, a well-known corporate comedian who specialises in hoaxes and satirical comedy, attests to carrying out the teachings of Judaism.
“We’re taught from the Torah and Talmud to question authority, so we turn that into a satire on the authoritative nature of the workforce,” explains the 54-year-old who adopts one of more than 300 personas to delight and surprise corporate attendees at an event or weekend away.
“If I were the guest speaker at a Jewish News conference,” Rodney jokes, “I’d probably call myself Eddie Torial”.
Speaking from their Fox Studios office, Rodney confirms that he likes to keep his identity under wraps so he can continue taking on personas.
But his seemingly double life doesn’t stop him from enjoying every performance.
“I get the same kick out of it as a chicken would from laying an egg or flying across the road,” he laughs.
Benjamin, 24, is a comedy writer who specialises in creating jokes, puns, riddles and stories, while Joshua, 21, concentrates on the visual side of comedy as a filmmaker and editor. He creates funny movies that showcase people, products, services and events, starring his dad and incorporating Benjamin’s scripts.
After studying drama, Rodney branched into comedy so that he could direct and perform his own work. And having been born into the comedy business, Benjamin and Joshua grew up as co-stars of their dad’s acts.
“The boys were part of my performances from a young age and they’d attend comedy events and hide in the lighting box,” Rodney told the AJN.
“They were like bootleggers thriving during prohibition.”
Although the brothers have their own careers, meaning that the threesome sometimes works apart, it’s when they work together that they’re at their happiest .
“We often work independently, but always support each other and our highlight is the next gig,” says Benjamin.
Speaking about their passion for the business, the head of the gang, Rodney, reveals that they’re motivated by their love of being around people, and that’s when they shine.
“Like the Olympics, every performance is our best because we don’t try to reuse material,” Rodney adds. “And at the end of the day we actually provide entertainment for ourselves – we barely need the audience.”
Last year, the Marks family was booked by a logistics conference to talk about supply chain management and they did a triple act, with Rodney as an Israeli general and the two boys as Mossad agents.
“After we revealed who dad really was and showed the video of him in character interviewing people previous to the session, the shock on people’s faces was priceless,” Joshua recalls.
Rodney and his sons say they enjoy every moment of their time together.
“Our purpose is fun and it’s important not to moralise,” Benjamin says with a grin.
“It’s always entertaining working together. We bounce ideas off each other, and when that doesn’t work, we bounce each other off the walls,” Joshua adds.
Joshua Marks: www.funnyfilms.com.au
Benjamin Marks: www.comedywriter.com.au
Rodney Marks: www.comedian.com.au
REPORT: CASSILEE KAHN
Photo: Comedy trio (from left) Benjamin, Rodney and Joshua Marks.
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