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Each spring, during TV pilot season, thousands of kids (and their often all-too-eager parents) pack their bags and head to Hollywood, hoping to be discovered as the next big child star. Many of them find themselves moving into Oakwood Apartments, a temporary housing complex that’s targeted toward child star hopefuls. And that’s where the documentary The Hollywood Complex finds its willing subjects.
The Hollywood Complex follows a number of young actors and their parents throughout the three months of pilot season. The kids live together, hang out at the pool together, and go to the complex’s free seminars together, but, in reality, they’re competing against one another for just a handful of parts. Throughout the grueling season, they hunt for representation, go on auditions, and (mostly) sit by the phone, waiting for someone to call with just a little bit of good news.
The film doesn’t strive to put a positive spin on the situation—and it doesn’t make the experience seem exciting or glamorous. Instead, the directors simply show it as they see it. The film shows the families’ makeshift living arrangements—some kids sleeping on floors, others on mattresses under tables. It shows families collecting recyclables in an attempt to make ends meet. It shows them preparing for auditions, getting conned by various agencies, and dealing with a whole lot of disappointment.
Meanwhile, though you’d probably expect the film to be filled with pushy stage moms, you might be surprised by the wide variety of people who populate these apartments each spring. While some of the parents are the kind that you’d expect to find on shows like Toddlers & Tiaras, others are surprisingly down-to-earth. And while some of the kids are the attention-seeking kind (who are obviously trying way too hard), others are surprisingly sweet and grounded. Some will win your heart. Some will get on your nerves. And some just shouldn’t even be there (like poor Julia, who speaks with an accent and struggles to pronounce “Kellogg’s”). Sadly, though, all of these kids—no matter how driven or talented—end up falling into the same traps.
The Hollywood Complex is definitely an eye-opening—and sometimes even entertaining—film. After all, these kids sometimes say the darndest things. But, for the most part, it’s just plain depressing. You’ll fall in love with some of these cute and charismatic kids—and you’ll feel for them as they go on audition after audition, getting their hopes dashed time and time again by that silent telephone. You’ll also feel a strong urge to grab their parents by the shoulders and shake some sense into them.
While it may not be an uplifting film, though, it’s definitely an honest one, showing what’s required if you want to try to get your kid on TV. So if your kid is dying to head to Hollywood, watch this movie before you call in your reservation for a spot in the Oakwood Apartments. It’s sure to save you thousands of dollars—and three months of wasted time.
Ed. Note: The Hollywood Complex is currently playing at film festivals (like the Cleveland International Film Festival) and on Showtime. It’s also available on DVD. For more information, visit TheHollywoodComplex.com.
