David Markey

In October 2012, he became a published author as Bazillion Points released the critically acclaimed hard bound book We Got Power: Hardcore Punk Scenes From 1980's Southern California consisting primarily of the photographic work of Markey and his longtime collaborator Jordan Schwartz. The book's release was timed with a gallery retrospective of the duo's photos from the early 1980s to the early 1990s entitled "We Survived The Pit" at Track 16 Gallery in Santa Monica, just mere blocks away from where Markey and Schwartz grew up.

His most recent DVD "Cut Shorts" (2006) is a collection of short films and music videos he has directed, spanning 30 years from 1974 to 2004. Markey made his first film at the tender age of 11.

David 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. As a self-taught filmmaker and musician, Markey brings together underground music, experimental cinema and contemporary culture in a direct and insightful way. 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 Sonic Youth, Nirvana, Mudhoney, Redd Kross, The Ramones, Black Flag, Meat Puppets and artist Raymond Pettibon to name a few. His films include the acclaimed documentary "1991: The Year Punk Broke" (1992) and the Los Angeles Punk Super-8 cult classics "The Slog Movie" (1982), "Desperate Teenage Lovedolls" (1984), and the sequel "Lovedolls Superstar" (1986) were made before he was practically of legal age.

Markey's work has been exhibited widely, 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, Sweden, Switzerland, Denmark, Australia, and most recently China. Markey's indefatigable DIY aesthetic continues to drive him, as well as inspire a whole new generation of filmmakers, musicians and artists.

As a self-taught filmmaker and musician, David Markey directed, produced, edited, and photographed most of his films, the majority of which have been self-funded. His work is also noted as documenting the punk scene in Southern California throughout the 1980s, growing to find a larger audience in the 1990s while continuing to produce work throughout the 2000s and 2010s. Markey has worked with Sonic Youth, Nirvana, Dinosaur Jr, Mudhoney, Redd Kross, Bob Mould, Circle Jerks, The Ramones, Black Flag and the Meat Puppets.

Markey made his first film in 1974 at the age of 11 with his father's hand-wound 8mm Brownie camera, cast from the children of his Santa Monica, California neighborhood. He soon discovered the burgeoning LA punk scene a few years hence through bands like X, Black Flag, and Redd Kross in 1980. Markey was driven to form his own band, SIN 34, in 1981 as well as Painted Willie in 1984. He also started We Got Power fanzine in 1981 along with Jordan Schwartz, spawning Markey's cinematic Super-8 cult punk scene document The Slog Movie in 1982. Following closely behind was Desperate Teenage Lovedolls (1984) and its 1986 sequel Lovedolls Superstar. 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, followed by a VHS release by the David Geffen Company. In 2011 Universal Music Group re-released the film in the DVD format with an hour plus of bonus material produced by Markey. Theatrical screenings of his work have taken place in Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Seattle, Toronto and elsewhere. His 2008 documentary The Reinactors was included in international film festivals in Argentina, England, Scotland, Sweden, Switzerland, Denmark, Portugal, Angola, China, Korea, Italy and The Netherlands.

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