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.
