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L.A. Apartment Complex Caters To Child Actors Chasing Dreams
"Everybody Hates Chris" co-star Vincent Martella, center, and "Heroes" actor Randall Bentley join in a game of volleyball at the Oakwood Toluca Hills apartment complex, which has built a niche as a residence for child actors.
(Photos By Kevork Djansezian -- Associated Press)
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Vincent's father, Michael Martella, isn't sure how many years they would have kept returning if his son hadn't broken through.
"You've got to know when to cut loose, I guess," Martella said with a shrug.
As the pair talked over brunch, they were surrounded by the sounds of clattering trays and the voices of parents and children planning a busy week around rehearsals, acting lessons and auditions.
A table nearby was filled with fliers advertising acting coaches, music teachers, commercial photographers and others.
"Be careful," Vincent's father warned a mother whose son would be busy rehearsing a play at a nearby theater during the coming week.
"They can disappear into that," he said, noting that a long-running play can leave an actor with little time to pursue film or TV work.
And time is of the essence in Hollywood, where pilot season (January-April) passes quickly and the cost of a studio apartment at Oakwood runs a little more than $2,100 a month.
"If you're not financially solid, I don't think you can stay here," said Hope Pease, whose 12-year-old son, Gary, has appeared on "Hannah Montana" and other shows.
Still, they keep coming from all over the country.
Cars parked around the complex display license plates from Utah, Texas, New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, among other places.
"I'm originally from Covington, Indiana, which is a small little town, so it was a big jump, you know, coming out here to L.A., to the big city and everything," said Hayley Holmes, a hazel-eyed, honey-haired teenager who has appeared in music videos, TV shows and commercials and had a recurring role on the series "Trapped in TV Guide" since arriving nearly 18 months ago.
