Dave Markey

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Dave Markey (born December 3, 1963 in Burbank, California) is an American film director.

David Joseph Markey is a resilient and resourceful filmmaker who has sustained a truly independent career in the shadow of Hollywood and against the backdrop of corporate America for over two and a half decades. His films include the acclaimed documentary "1991: The Year Punk Broke" (1992), "The Slog Movie" (1982), "Desperate Teenage Lovedolls" (1984), and the sequel "Lovedolls Superstar" (1986). As a self-taught filmmaker and musician, Markey directed, as well as produced, edited and photographed most all of his films. His unique take on pop culture and dark wit are also present throughout his work, the majority of which has been self-funded and distributed. His body of work is also historically significant, representing a unique record of the punk scene in Southern California throughout the 80s and 90s. Markey has worked with the likes of Sonic Youth, Nirvana, Mudhoney, Redd Kross, The Ramones, Black Flag and the Meat Puppets to name a few.

Markey made his first film in 1974 at the tender age of 11 with his father’s hand-wound 8mm Brownie camera, a horror film titled “The Devil’s Exorcist” cast from the children of his Santa Monica, California neighborhood. His films remained in his neighborhood until Markey discovered the burgeoning LA Punk Scene through bands like X, Black Flag, & Red Cross in 1980. Inspired by the music, Markey was driven to form his own band, Sin 34, in 1981. He also started We Got Power fanzine that year along with Jordan Schwartz. Thus spawning Markey’s cinematic Super-8 cult punk scene documents. These films were distributed underground and critically well received, putting Markey on the Cinematic Punk map before he was of legal age.

Markey's work has since been exhibited internationally, including theatrical release in the US and Canada of "1991: The Year Punk Broke", theatrical screenings in Los Angeles of "Desperate Teenage Lovedolls" and "Lovedolls Superstar" and inclusion of various films in international festivals in Argentina, England, Scotland, Sweden, Switzerland, Denmark, China, Korea, Italy and The Netherlands. His recent DVD "Cut Shorts" is a collection of short films and music videos he has directed, spanning 30 years from 1974 to 2004.

Markey's indefatigable DIY aesthetic continues to drive him, as well as inspire a whole new generation of filmmakers, musicians and artists. His latest work, "The Reinactors" (2008), is a hilarious and oddly moving film about Hollywood Blvd. fly by night street characters and celebrity look-a-likes, and could very well make this longtime underground figure a household word.