Camp Hollywood

Steve Markle from Toronto tries his hand at stand up in Hollywood. He joins other Canadians to stay at the dated Highland Gardens Hotel at the bottom of the Hollywood Hills opposite a park full of homeless drug addicts. Steve has saved up enough money for a 60 day stay. The place has a storied legendary history and a wondrous mix of performers hoping for their big break. It's pilot season. Steve's two months would turn into a year and a half.

There is hot model Laura Jordan trying to break in as an actress. Brian Irwin is an alcoholic struggling musician. There is veteran British actor Roy Dotrice with his wife. David Julian Hirsh had a TV show two years ago. Limo driver Clim is still trying after 30 years. Maury Chaykin and Mark Margolis are experienced working actors who serve as mentors. Brooke Nevin had success in Toronto and is looking for bigger things in America. Harrold Themmen is a clarinetist with a storied career. Marilyn impersonator Dena on Hollywood Blvd gets pregnant. One could catch Malin Akerman before her fame or recognize Ryan Belleville from a random TV show. Polly Shannon talks about the casting couch. There are girls doing a porno. Dave is sure of his acting skills, and talks about his history of robberies and prisons. Leo is the graveyard shift manager. There is the Japanese Spice Girls. Gary Indiana is a socially-awkward gay and celebrated writer. Monty is making a no budget indie with a volunteer crew. Saul Rubinek comes over to make his own movie.

This indie delivers a compelling slice of the world. These are dreamers and portray the Hollywood dream better than anything on TV. It might actually be better now than when it was first released. Some of these people have gained real fame. In fact, Malin Akerman is seen hanging around in several scenes and she is central in one of the expositions. Yet we're never told her name. Her exposition of the odds facing these young people are even more compelling because she ended up as the one who actually made it the furthest. There are sections where Steve is concentrating on less compelling people. There are a lot of characters. Each one does have a tale to tell and I would love a section stating where these people are ten years later.

I just saw this documentary on Sundance channel. I worked on movies and TV for five years while living in LA in the 80's -- in production, grip, electric, effects, and even video assist (where I got to read the paper on set and not get in trouble.) I remember one grip's shirt that sums up the drive that I've felt in many of my co-workers, it read, "What I really want to do is direct." Natch… And then, there are the actors. Who doesn't know someone who has a dream of acting? Anyone who has spent more than a day in LA has met these dreamers in person. (Often they're the ones reading off the daily specials at tony and not-so-tony restaurants.) I have always loved the earthy soulful qualities of Canadians and Canada. I appreciate the balance they give to their crazy cowboy neighbor to the South. Compared to the posing and fronting that we hold forth as 'mericans, Canadians are so refreshingly upfront and human – generally speaking, of course.

With the insight from my unexpected yet unsurprisingly surreal production experience in LA, I laughed at a lot of the interviews, because I have met characters like this and love their authenticity and struggling bravado. Some of the fusion of subject and the movie making reminded me of another favorite documentary, Sherman's March. Especially the parts when the director is unapologetically and hopefully attracted to the super cute actresses in the Highland Gardens hotel where it was shot.

I felt like bringing the folks in the hotel a big basket of food and gift certificates to clothing stores because of their hopeful optimism amidst the constant ego crushing that is the business of trying to get gigs. I jumped online right after seeing this doc and even opened Word to get a word count and spell check to satisfy IMDb guidelines so I could give this winning work some love.

I heard about this film a few months ago when it first aired - and regretted missing it. However, today I clicked on the television and there it was again! This time I watched it - unbelievably riveting. What made it so good was the fact that all of these people were REAL. All of them were very different, but were all searching for something more...regardless of the struggle that they endured on a daily basis, they were there to follow a dream. More people should go for what they really want. I want to purchase a copy of this doc. and show it to my students...We can all use some inspiration. I wish Steve and David the best of luck with their careers and hope to see more of their projects...Naked Josh is also a great show - congrats - and finally, this documentary should definitely win an award!

Camp Hollywood (2004)

*** 1/2 (out of 4)

The Highland Gardens hotel in Los Angeles is a place that many actors, musicians, magicians and other types stay when they're trying to make it in Hollywood. This documentary from director Steve Markle has him traveling to the hotel to stay for sixty days. Throughout that time we meet several of the people staying there who are waiting for their big break.

If you watch junk shows like Entertainment Tonight then you'll see the various luxury that comes with Hollywood. You see the stars, their large homes, their fancy cars and you'll see everything that has lead people to head out there in order to get a piece of the pie. If you watch exploitation movies then you'll see the seedy side of Hollywood that deals with all sorts of dark subjects. CAMP Hollywood is an extremely entertaining documentary that talks with the people who have waited years or even decades for their big break to come.

I found this to be a highly entertaining documentary because it asks a couple logical questions and we get some interesting answers. A lot of people dream of making it big but what does it take for someone to spend years or decades living with nothing yet still trying to reach their dreams? We meet a wide range of people here from young people trying to get into the business to older people looking for one last role. We hear from some character actors who some will recognize from films like SCARFACE and DANCES WITH WOLVES.

The whole time you also get some history about this hotel including some of the people who lived there that finally found fame. It's repeated that Janis Joplin overdosed in one of the rooms. If you're even remotely interested in the "other" side of Hollywood then this is a very entertaining documentary to watch.

I recently had the opportunity to see Stephen Markle's documentary Camp Hollywood. The film chronicles life at Hollywood's infamous Highland Gardens motel and the (mostly) Canadian actors who flock there every year for pilot season. The film was fantastic! For aspiring actors, the film is a great tool; an opportunity to learn more about the Hollywood casting process while avoiding the inevitable pilot season debt hangover. On another level, the film deals with the difficult question that all aspiring artists must ask themselves; when does the pursuit of "the dream" become a destructive exercise? This theme is explored through a series of touching and candid interviews with long time residents of The Highlands who lay bare some of their deepest regrets and fears. All in all a solid film; well laid out, nicely shot, and the music is great too.