From the Marines to the movies

By Kyle Hobstetter on November 10, 2019

Growing up in Kingston, Jamaica, Marc Anton-McFarlane thought he had his future figured out. He wanted to join the Marine Corps, spend 20 years in the military and then retire. 

The 28-year-old veteran is now getting ready to graduate from Towson University next spring with a degree Electronic Media and Film, with a focus on video production. 

When asked if he ever envisioned this type of career 180, all he could do was laugh at the question. 

“I had no idea that I’d be here,” McFarlane says. “And it’s funny because I went from the military, where I had someone yelling at me all the time, to the film industry where I’ll have someone yelling at me all the time.”   

McFarlane grew up Jamaica, but was a United States citizen since birth because of his father. And while he admits he enjoyed creative writing — maybe a sign of things to come — he initially thought his purpose was to join the military.

He left Jamaica in 2010 and went to southern Florida where he met a recruiter, and signed up for the Marine Corps infantry. Since coming to the U.S. he has lived at Parris Island, South Carolina for boot camp, Camp LeJeune in Jacksonville, North Carolina and Quantico, Virginia. 

He was also deployed to both Afghanistan and Romania, spending seven months at each location. When he completed his five years of service, he had reached the rank of E4 Corporal. 

And while he was proud to serve his country, he admits that it was hard. Now with his service a few years behind him, it’s a bit easier to look back on his experiences and laugh.

He immediately remembers an exercise in which he and his team were out in the field while it rained. He was crossing a wet log over what appeared to be a small stream.

“I slipped and fell into the stream and got covered with water up to (my chest), and then I had to do the rest of the patrol soaking wet and then go back to where we were sleeping wet,” McFarlane laughs. “At the time, it was a miserable experience, but it’s hard to not look back on that and laugh.” 

After five years, McFarlane left the Marine Corps, but didn’t know what his next steps would be. Since he was in the infantry, most of the positions he was qualified for — police officer, sheriff, park ranger — didn’t really interest McFarlane. 

He always had an interest in fitness, so he started being a personal trainer around Gaithersburg. He also started taking online classes at UMBC.

After a semester, he decided he wanted to have the traditional college experience, even if he was unsure of his academic path. He remembered his childhood passion for creative writing. He also enjoyed editing music videos featuring some of his favorite anime and uploading them on YouTube. So naturally, he found himself gravitating to telling stories behind the camera.

“That’s kind of what brought me to film,” McFarlane says. “I’m a visual person, so I was naturally drawn to the camera. I'm interested in being behind the camera and just capturing beautiful moments.” 

He found Towson University and thought it would be a good fit for him despite not really knowing anyone. He also had the disadvantage of being older than most of the other students in his classes. 

But like most Towson University veteran students, he started to find his place with TU’s Military and Veteran’s Center (MVC). It was there he was able to meet fellow students and staff members who felt familiar.   

He even admits that most of his time on campus, outside of class, is spent in the MVC.

“There are resources there to help me to ensure that I get registered for my classes on time, ensure that I get my benefits, and it's also a nice space to go and get homework done,” McFarlane says. “I can be around people who've been in similar situations that I have or have shared similar experiences as me. And that's always nice.” 

Along with finding his place in the MVC, McFarlane has found a place to practice his new-found passion in the Electronic Media and Film Department. And thanks to his classes and professors, he’s more confident in his abilities.

In fact, McFarlane worked as a production assistant on the Emmy nominated public service film “Just Another Day: How to Survive an Active Shooter Event on Campus,” which was directed by TU assistant professor Joseph Kraemer. 

“(TU Professors) have worked in the film industry, so they know the hours of work that go into producing a film and making it come to life,” he says. “The EMF department is brimming with a lot of creative minds and it's been good working with them and seeing the different styles that people have when it comes to filmmaking.”

With graduation right around the corner, McFarlane is ready to take on the “reel world.” While he’s hoping that he can get into film/video production, he’s also interested with working in a news studio.

In fact, he says one of his dream jobs is to work for a news organization as a camera operator, and accompany reporters to military zones. And thanks to that military background, and his education at Towson University, he feels more than ready what's ahead.

“Through my classes and my experiences, I feel I have the necessary skills and knowledge that I need in order to succeed,” he says.

This story is one of several related to President Kim Schatzel’s priorities for Towson University: TU Matters to Maryland.