SYNOPSIS

Encouraged by his parents to do what he loves, Charlie moves to LA to pursue his dream of becoming an actor. Ten unsuccessful years later, now a veteran waiter with an acting manager who lives in a tent, the dream is rapidly slipping away. His girlfriend Kate is ready to get married, start a family, and possibly surrender to the inevitability of not making it, and Charlie is living in a van with a guy whose claim to fame is an eight-episode arc on MacGuyver. From true love to family secrets in a cold and rainy city of angels, Under the Hollywood Sign is painful, inspiring, and often hilarious. Charlie's struggles and triumphs remind us all that sometimes we're holding on to our dream so tightly, we're in danger of suffocating them.

PANELIST BIOS

Ryan Anglin, actor, writer, producer
Ryan minored in theatre at Indiana University before moving to Chicago, where he studied at The Second City and did theatre and comedic solo shows. In Los Angeles, he studied acting with John Kirby and continued doing stage work. Recently his feature screenplay, Butterfly Summer, was a semi-finalists in the Bluecat Screenplay competition. He’s waiting for multiple script offers to arrive any time now. In addition to ‘Under the Hollywood Sign’, Ryan and his fellow collaborators have produced, written and acted in several Indie film/TV projects over the years and are currently in pre-production for a comedy project.

Merry Grissom, actor, producer
After majoring in theater at Bard College in New York, Merry moved to LA to become a big star. She has performed on stages from London to Massachusetts to Hollywood, and continues to act wherever she can. She has written several screenplays which have made the finals or semi-finals in various competitions, and she recently produced and directed her award-winning short “Rawhead and Bloodybones”. She has been lucky enough to collaborate with this group for several years as an actor, producer and director, and is looking forward to the completion of their new comedy pilot.

Owen Williams, actor, director, writer, producer
Graduating from Saint Mary's College of California, Owen majored in Visual Communication and minored in Theater. He has spent several years working as an actor in Los Angeles, doing numerous commercials, independent films, theater, and network TV shows. He recently started a production company with his wife, Spirit Hound Productions, writing, producing and directing their own projects. Under the Hollywood Sign is his feature directorial debut. They are currently in pre-production for a TV pilot.

Sherry Williams, actor, producer
Always performing at a young age, Sherry translated her Olympic level gymnastic skills into a theater degree from the University of South Florida. She has studied with The Groundlings, Upright Citizens Brigade, Warner Loftlon, and John Kirby and has been a voice on the hit animated TV show Family Guy. She has also worked on several independent films and TV projects, and has enjoyed recent success in the commercial world booking several national commercials. Under the Hollywood Sign is her first time wearing the producer hat on a feature, and she looks forward to many more with this group.