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.

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 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.

The Highland Gardens Hotel (Formerly the Landmark Hotel) is a quiet 2 star hotel where artists and D-list celebrities reside as they work on their craft. Famous for Canadians migrants to Hollywood.

A Canadian stand up comedian Steve Markle) resided there in 2004 for half a year and documented the residents of the hotel whom have formed a Bohemian ecosystem community of support. Most of the actors eventually become successful years later. Author Gary Indiana resided there and his work "Do Everything in the Dark" debuted on the documentary.

Dave Stiltanen (Dave the bank robber), became a addictions cousellor life coach.

Mark Magolis (the bomber on Scarface, becomes Hector Salamanca of Breaking Bad-Better Call Saul). Brooke stars on many shows, Call Me Fitz, etc, British dude stars on Game of Thrones his last role, among other....

Janis Joplin infamously had her fatal overdose and her room is a pilgrimage site for thaostourist fans of the Folk hippy musician.

This movie provides great insight to the lives of actors and other hopefuls in Hollywood.

It is all shot on the premises of a Hollywood hotel filled with people chasing fame, pursuing a dream, or escaping their past.

At times funny and at times touching, Camp Hollywood was engaging the whole way through. Many diverse stories were cut together with snappy editing and great music.

We meet the talented, the hopeless, and a few nut jobs. (Plus there's some really hot struggling actresses!)

This film gives viewers an idea how difficult show business is. Watch the movie before you buy a ticket to LA !