I first met Marcus Fair on a mountain, to which he always refers to me as ‘nearly killing him’. Over the subsequent decade plus, we have become great friends. It has been a joy to watch and occasionally support, the story that unfolds within Marcus’s emotional interview.
Marcus shares with us his decades of drug use, and a spiral into chaos and mayhem, his survival and eventual successful recovery. We then hear how influential individuals and moments alongside an introduction to broadcasting, and in particular film production, provided Marcus with a fresh sense of purpose. What strikes me throughout is the strong sense of social justice (and injustice) that shapes Marcus’s experience as he explores the translation of his personal film making into establishing one of the most fantastic of community projects. Marcus has become a key leader within and supporter of much of which stands out about the Welsh recovery movement.
In my interview with Marcus in July 2023, he describes his descent into an addiction to heroin and crack cocaine that lasted 25 years. His addiction was accompanied by periods of homelessness and time spent in prison. He describes what happened to him on his last visit to prison saving his life. In addition, he conceived the idea of Eternal Media, a media production social enterprise and charity making high impact documentary films, as well as operating as an inspiring recovery community. [14 films, 81 mins 19 secs]
Biography
Marcus Fair survived a 25-year addiction to heroin and crack cocaine. His first paid gig was as a playwright, before he relapsed and ended up in prison again. There, he realised that his life was being saved by him doing the prison radio and some filming. If this could happen to him, it could do a lot for other people. He planned what he could do to help others. He made a film, Flipped It!, for North Wales Police which was widely acclaimed. He set up Eternal Media, which makes high impact documentary films and empowers and mentors volunteer film crews, which comprise people who are rebuilding their lives whilst recovering from addiction and/or an involvement in crime.