{{Short description|Canadian filmmaker}} {{Infobox person | name = Steve Markle | image = Steve Markle.jpg }} '''Steve Markle''' is a Canadian filmmaker, actor, writer, editor and producer best known for ''Shoot To Marry'' (2020), ''Testees'' (2008), and ''Camp Hollywood'' (2004).
Markle won a Gemini Award for his documentary ''Camp Hollywood'' in 2005, and won the Slamdance Film Festival Audience Award for Breakout Features for his documentary ''Shoot To Marry'' in 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Hipes|first=Patrick|date=2020-01-31|title=Slamdance Film Festival Winners Led By 'Murmur' And 'Residue'|url=https://deadline.com/2020/01/slamdance-film-festival-2020-winners-list-1202847575/|access-date=2021-03-08|website=Deadline|language=en-US}}</ref>
== Early life and education == Markle was born and raised in Toronto, Ontario.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Hughes|first=Kim|title=Shoot to Marry: Toronto Filmmaker's Madcap Search for Love Yields Laughs… and Gravity|url=https://www.original-cin.ca/posts/2020/6/5/shoot-to-marry-toronto-filmmakers-madcap-search-for-love-yields-laughs-and-gravity|access-date=2021-03-08|website=Original Cin|date=5 June 2020 |language=en-US}}</ref> His father, Jack Markle, and uncle, Sam Markle, are pioneers of neon art. They created the iconic three-story neon record for Sam The Record Man<ref>{{Cite web|date=2013-09-08|title=Sam the Record Man sign maker hopes his neon records spin again|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2013/09/08/sam_the_record_man_sign_maker_hopes_his_neon_records_spin_again.html|access-date=2021-03-08|website=thestar.com|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Mertens|first=Max|date=2017-12-13|title=A brief history of the Sam the Record Man sign|url=https://nowtoronto.com/music/features/a-brief-history-of-the-sam-the-record-man-sign|access-date=2021-03-08|website=NOW Magazine}}</ref> and ran The Electric Gallery in Yorkville from 1970 to 1979.<ref>{{Cite web|title=How to get LESS out of Art: The Brothers Markle|url=http://ccca.concordia.ca/c/writing/h/holubizky/hol008t.html|access-date=2021-03-23|website=ccca.concordia.ca}}</ref>
In 1993, Markle graduated from Ryerson University as recipient of the Norman Jewison Filmmaking Award.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Steve Markle {{!}} TVSA|url=https://www.tvsa.co.za/actors/viewactor.aspx?actorid=11410|access-date=2021-03-24|website=www.tvsa.co.za}}</ref>
== Career == Markle directed TV commercials and music videos before taking a creative director position at Showcase, a Canadian TV network, in 1997.<ref>{{Cite web|title=They're not crackers|url=https://playbackonline.ca/1995/07/03/4443-19950703/|access-date=2021-03-08}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=|title=Canadian spot production houses|url=https://playbackonline.ca/2001/10/29/spotshops-20011029/|access-date=2021-03-08}}</ref> That same year, Markle ran for Mayor of Toronto in the 1997 Toronto municipal election promising origami parking tickets, and magical elves to handle road construction. Markle received 1,244 votes.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Election Results|url=https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/elections/election-results-reports/election-results/|website=Toronto.ca|date=22 August 2017 }}</ref>
In 2003, Markle moved to Los Angeles.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Scott|first=Waldo|date=2017-07-22|title=Cinema Smear: Camp Hollywood (2004)|url=https://cinemasmear.blogspot.com/2017/07/camp-hollywood-2004.html|access-date=2021-03-08|website=Cinema Smear}}</ref> He performed at The Hollywood Improv and filmed comedy videos at the Playboy Mansion and the MTV Video Music Awards before taking the starring role in ''You’ve Got A Friend'', a hidden camera show produced by Ashton Kutcher for MTV in 2004.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Steve Markle {{!}} TVSA|url=https://www.tvsa.co.za/actors/viewactor.aspx?actorid=11410|access-date=2021-03-08|website=www.tvsa.co.za}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Breaking News - FX Picks-Up New Comedy Series "Testees" (Working Titlee) {{!}} TheFutonCritic.com|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=20080715fx02|access-date=2021-04-19|website=www.thefutoncritic.com}}</ref>
=== ''Camp Hollywood'' === In 2004, Markle wrote, directed, edited and produced the documentary ''Camp Hollywood'' which had its American broadcast premiere on Sundance TV.<ref>{{Cite web|title=CAMP HOLLYWOOD – Dennis Schwartz Reviews|date=5 August 2019 |url=https://dennisschwartzreviews.com/camphollywood/|access-date=2021-03-08|language=en-US}}</ref> ''Camp Hollywood'' won a Gemini Award in Canada where it aired on IFC and CBC Television.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Camp Hollywood|url=https://www.cbc.ca/programguide/program/camp_hollywood|website=CBC}}</ref> ''Camp Hollywood'' follows aspiring actors, comedians and musicians residing at the Highland Gardens hotel,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.highlandgardenshotel.com/about-us/our-history.html | title=The Highland Gardens History - Highland Gardens Hotel }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.highlandgardenshotel.com/ |title=Home |website=highlandgardenshotel.com}}</ref> in Los Angeles, then a seedy hotel living on past associations with The Rat Pack, Janis Joplin and other rock stars. The documentary, which sees Markle trying to live at the hotel for 60 days in order to become a stand-up star, is considered a cult classic<ref>{{Citation|title=Camp Hollywood (2004)|url=https://trakt.tv/movies/camp-hollywood-2004|access-date=2021-04-18}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=The Independent Critic - "Shoot to Marry" Set for Slamdance World Premiere|url=https://theindependentcritic.com/shoot_to_marry|access-date=2021-03-08|website=theindependentcritic.com}}</ref> and features cameos by Mark Margolis and Malin Åkerman.
=== ''Testees'' === In 2008, Markle starred in the FX comedy series ''Testees''. Markle plays a slacker who works as a human guinea pig.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Bellafante|first=Ginia|date=2008-10-08|title=Two Slackers on Drugs, Reluctantly (Published 2008)|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/09/arts/television/09test.html|access-date=2021-03-08|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Shales|first=Tom|date=2008-10-09|title=Tom Shales - 'Kath & Kim' Is a House Of Mirth|newspaper=The Washington Post |language=en-US|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/08/AR2008100803657.html|access-date=2021-03-08|issn=0190-8286}}</ref> ''Testees'' aired on FX in the U.S.,<ref>{{Cite web|title='Testees': The worst show on TV?|url=https://ew.com/article/2008/10/10/testees-the-wor/|access-date=2021-03-08|website=EW.com|language=en}}</ref> the TV network Showcase in Canada,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Djukic|first=Marija|title=Testees set for Showcase|url=https://playbackonline.ca/2008/10/03/testees-20081003/|access-date=2021-03-08}}</ref> and on Comedy Central in Germany, Austria and the Netherlands.''<ref>{{Citation|title=Find where to watch Testees in Canada|url=https://watchincanada.ca/tv/testees/|language=en|access-date=2021-04-18}}</ref>''
=== ''Shoot To Marry'' === In 2020, Markle’s documentary ''Shoot To Marry'' had its world premiere at the Slamdance Film Festival winning the Audience Award for Breakout Features.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kay|first=Jeremy|title=Slamdance selection 'Shoot To Marry' finds Canadian distribution (exclusive)|url=https://www.screendaily.com/news/slamdance-selection-shoot-to-marry-finds-canadian-distribution-exclusive/5146186.article|access-date=2021-03-08|website=Screen|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=McNary|first=Dave|date=2020-01-31|title=Heather Young's Drama 'Murmur' Wins Top Award at Slamdance Festival|url=https://variety.com/2020/film/news/heather-young-murmur-wins-top-award-slamdance-festival-1203487935/|access-date=2021-03-08|website=Variety|language=en-US}}</ref> Shoot To Marry had its European premiere at the Raindance Film Festival<ref>{{Citation|title=Raindance Film Festival 2020 {{!}} Shoot to Marry|url=https://cinema.raindance.org/film/shoot-to-marry/|language=en|access-date=2021-03-08}}</ref> and its Canadian premiere at the Canadian Film Festival where it won the award for Best Feature.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-06-08|title=Documentary 'Shoot to Marry' and feature 'Queen of the Morning Calm' win Canadian Film Fest awards|url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/movies/2020/06/08/documentary-shoot-to-marry-and-feature-queen-of-the-morning-calm-win-canadian-film-fest-awards.html|access-date=2021-03-08|website=thestar.com|language=en}}</ref> Written, directed, edited and produced by Markle, the documentary follows the filmmaker, heartbroken from a failed Christmas proposal, as he films interesting women on a search for enlightenment and love.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Ahmed|first=Musanna|date=2020-02-11|title=SHOOT TO MARRY: A Highly Entertaining Journey Of Modern Romance|url=https://www.filminquiry.com/shoot-to-marry-2020-review/|access-date=2021-03-08|website=Film Inquiry|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Filmmaker seeks mate; not the best listener, but does travel with own sound recordist|url=https://nationalpost.com/entertainment/movies/filmmaker-seeks-mate-not-the-best-listener-but-does-travel-with-own-sound-recordist|access-date=2021-03-08|newspaper=National Post|date=19 June 2020 |language=en-CA|last1=Knight |first1=Chris }}</ref>
''Shoot To Marry'' was released by Gravitas Ventures in the U.S.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Shoot to Marry - Production & Contact Info {{!}} IMDbPro|url=https://pro.imdb.com/title/tt10487428/|access-date=2021-03-08|website=pro.imdb.com}}</ref> and by Northern Banner Releasing in Canada where it premiered on Super Channel.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Townsend|first=Kelly|title=Deals: Northern Banner Releasing, Bell Media, Super Channel|url=https://playbackonline.ca/2020/01/10/deals-northern-banner-releasing-bell-media-super-channel/|access-date=2021-04-19}}</ref>
== Selected awards and nominations ==
* 2005 Gemini Award for Best Performing Arts Program or Series or Arts Documentary Program or Series: ''Camp Hollywood'' (2004) * 2005 nomination, Gemini Award for Best Writing in a Documentary Program or Series: ''Camp Hollywood'' (2004) * 2009 nomination, Canadian Screen Award for Best Comedy Series: ''Testees (2008)''<ref>{{Cite news|title=Gemini snub puzzles Corner Gas creator {{!}} CBC News|language=en-US|work=CBC|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/gemini-snub-puzzles-corner-gas-creator-1.778865|access-date=2021-05-02}}</ref> * 2020 Slamdance Film Festival Audience Award for Breakout Features: ''Shoot To Marry'' * 2020 Canadian Film Festival Award for Best Feature: ''Shoot To Marry''
== Selected filmography ==
* ''Camp Hollywood'' (2004) (Writer/Director/Editor/Producer) * ''Shoot To Marry'' (2020) (Writer/Director/Editor/Producer)
== Television ==
* ''You’ve Got A Friend'' (2004) (Actor) * ''Testees'' (2008) (Actor) * ''Razzberry Jazzberry Jam'' (2008-2011) (Actor) * ''Kenny vs. Spenny Christmas Special'' (2010) (Actor) * ''Breakout Kings'' (2011) (Actor)
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == *{{IMDb name|1828498}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Markle, Steve}} Category:Film directors from Toronto Category:Film producers from Ontario Category:Canadian male screenwriters Category:Canadian male television writers Category:Canadian television writers Category:Screenwriters from Toronto Category:21st-century Canadian screenwriters Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Living people