*Spoiler/plot- The Hollywood Complex, 2011. A yearly ritual of child actors and their parents converging on a large condo complex to work together to land a Hollywood gig.*Special Stars- NOne. Some casting directors and acting coaches of some note.*Theme- Persistance is the way to stardom.*Trivia/location/goofs- Documentary. Shot in the large Oakwood condo complex on Barham Blvd across from the back lot hill area of Universal Studios and up the road from Warner Brothers Studios.*Emotion- Probably too boring for anyone not connected or interested in The BiZ. I found it worth my time in viewing. Although very little new clues or insights in making it big was NOT contained in this film's story. Seeing the work involved is enlightening to the average film audience viewer.*Based On- Yearly Hollywood pilot season casting matters.

I've caught bits and pieces of this movie over the last few months, and finally watched it in it's entirety. I'm not sure if it was the filmmakers goal to show how screwed up Hollywood is or not, I got the sense they felt the people they were filming should be taken seriously, but the egocentric, scam laced, delusional lifestyles of these people made me glad I've never had any interest to pursue any sort of dreams of fame. I felt sympathy for the kids, as they were being pushed into something most obviously didn't want to do, manipulated by nightmare mothers, exploited by scam artist agents, and insincere casting directors. I could feel the awkwardness as the kids simply repeated what their mothers told them to say about things like why they wanted to be actors & actresses.Every scene alternated as an example of how everyone in the Hollywood machine was trying scam someone else out of their piece of the pie, and these parents willingness to throw all their money away on these scams in their displaced desires. Watching these parents make their children jump through hoops like trained seals was surreal. The entire movie was an example of poor parenting and the train wrecks that people can be. The scenes that stood out for me was the BS new- agey exercises for the kids to "feel great" about themselves, the fat tacky mother talking about getting out of their one stop light Missouri town and talking about how she use to drink all the time, the agent that repeated the same spiel with different girls, the self proclaimed "movie star" Tami Erin's name dropping (even though she's only had 4 credits to her name), and the one mother that joined Scientology to network with the stars.There was value to watching this movie, but based on the "success stories" at the end of the movie, I'm not sure the filmmakers realized what message non-Hollywood types would take from it.

I've stumbled onto this documentary a couple of times now, and I really enjoyed it. I like shows like this that introduce you to people with weird or unusual hobbies (in this case, the parents' hobby, not the kids'). These people are so into what they're doing that they're oblivious how out of touch they've become with reality. Do they really believe their children are going to become big stars? Although I don't understand their thinking, and I'd never want to put my kids through this, I appreciate that these people have a dream and are trying to make it happen. In reality, 99% of these kids will return home with zero TV/movie credits. They'll return to their "regular" lives and, in 20 years, will probably tell they're friends about how they once "spent 3 seasons living in Hollywood, trying to become a big star, haha". It'll make for great after-dinner conversation. The kids I would worry about are the ones who actually succeed in LaLa Land. You know, the future "Corey Feldman Lifetime Achievement Award" winners.I liked the dark-haired young lady who was there with her Mom and got no auditions and no call-backs. One year later, she was back home, riding horses, and infinitely happier. I also liked the black woman who was determined to keep her kid out of jail. I wasn't sure if she REALLY wanted him to be a star, or just wanted him out of the neighborhood they used to live in.The only "sad" story was the heavy-set woman with the blond, irritating daughter. They lived in what had to have been the tackiest apartment I've ever seen. They live there full time, yet her daughter had less talent than just about anyone else in the movie. I doubt she could get cast in a school production, much less a Hollywood show. I wish someone would have stepped in and told them to just Go Home! Anyway, a very interesting and informative movie. Definitely not my lifestyle preference, but a valid one just the same.

this documentary is very nice, especially if like me, you have chance to stay here at Oakwood Apts. I'm here for businesses, is very common for people traveling in different city to use these apartments, way cheaper than hotels. I've been noticing all these kids and I never understood why so many kids... well here we go...Sad story is that i personally overheard a conversation between some kids in the swimming pool and they were talking about agents, managements and money: i was disgusted. F king idiot parents. they all be drug-addict trust me.BTWTami Erin, the self-called movie star, not only has just 4 credits on IMDb but also has been nominated for the Razzie Award as Worst New Star!!!! AHAHHAHA. Loser.