MUBI Podcast Mark Frost founds TWIN PEAKS
Sep 18, 2025
Mark Frost, co-creator of Twin Peaks and collaborator with David Lynch, delves into the show's iconic female characters. He connects Laura Palmer's emotional depth to personal loss and discusses the design of complex women like Audrey and the Log Lady. Frost defends the portrayal of female sexual agency against noir influences while addressing dark themes. He also reflects on the disruption of nostalgia in Season Three and Lynch's enduring legacy, revealing how contemporary issues shape the show's resonance with today's audiences.
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Childhood Trauma That Shaped Laura Palmer
- Mark Frost recounts a childhood trauma: his friend's sister Susan was abducted and murdered while at boarding school.
- That real-life loss directly inspired the image and emotional heart of Laura Palmer in Twin Peaks.
Breaking Network Expectations Was Intentional
- Frost says Twin Peaks deliberately defied 1980s nighttime soap conventions despite network requests.
- The show's mismatch with ABC's parameters became a creative advantage, signalling they were doing something new.
Meeting Lynch Through A Failed Marilyn Project
- Frost tells how he and David Lynch first met working on an aborted Marilyn Monroe project after being paired by CAA.
- The failed film brought them together creatively and led to further collaborations like Twin Peaks.
