Trivia

Mark's middle name, Aaron, comes from his father's love of Elvis Aaron Presley.

An admittedly huge Tony Scott fan, Cantu first became aware of Tony Scott by name after seeing the video for "Shakedown" from Beverly Hills Cop 2. Prior to that, Cantu had been a lover of his films without knowing who the director was.

A huge fan of 1982's Flash Gordon film, he claims that if he could ever get to make a huge, Hollywood FX film, his number one choice would be Flash Gordon.

His first memory of a film in theatres as a child was Return of the Jedi.

As a child, with his brother Michael, they would ask their parents to leave them at the local cinema to watch films. Immediately after, his brother and he would start to critique the films while waiting for their ride.

Once played Robert "Bobby" DeNiro during a production of Waltzing De Niro.

Once stated that performing as John Williamson in Glengarry Glen Ross, and as Felix Ungar in The Odd Couple, during two student productions were highlights of his acting career on stage.

Made home movies with his brother Michael as director when they were children.

Admits to never watching The Exorcist all the way through until he was 17.

Won his first screenplay award in 2001 for his crime-drama Straw Men.

Also a talented artist, he storyboards almost every project that he has filmed.

Served as storyboard artist and production designer for a short stint on the Austin-filmed independent sci-fi Dioskilos, in late 2001.