Markus began playing the violin at age 7. He played in the Chicago Youth Symphony and various other groups until he completed his violin education at Cleveland Institute of Music. After his first year at the conservatory he transferred to Bard College to pursue interests in literature, theater and film. He was an actor in the 2001 Chautauqua Institution Theater Company. Markus also received a grant to conduct primary source research for his thesis on Sylvia Plath. He graduated from Bard College with a B.A. in Literature.

Upon graduation from Bard, Markus moved to New York City. He studied acting with Earle Gister at The Actor's Center and interned at casting agency, Hopkins Smith Barden. He also worked in the art department at high-end design firm, Odegard.

In fall 2004, Markus entered the M.F.A. program in filmmaking at Columbia University. While at Columbia, Markus taught writing to undergraduates in the University Writing program and worked as a floater at Untitled Entertainment NYC.

When not working on his own projects, Markus enjoys work in the art department. He production designed Myna Joseph’s award winning short, MAN and Teressa Tunney’s This is a Story about Ted and Alice; both films played at Cannes 2008. He also production designed Eric Mendelsohn's feature film, 3 Backyards, starring Edie Falco, Embeth Davidtz and Elias Koteas. Mendelsohn recently won the Best Director award for 3 Backyards at Sundance 2010.

Markus' short film, Communion, which he wrote and directed, stars Louisa Krause and Shaun Kevlin. Communion won the Nevada Filmmaking Award at the CineVegas 2009 Film Festival and played at the AFI Dallas, Palm Springs, Rhode Island and Bilbao International Film Festivals.

Markus is currently development on Amber, a feature film about a troubled young swim coach having an affair with her married co-worker.