Hollywood North (2004)

In the heart of the late 70s, Bobby Myers, an ex-lawyer, plunges headfirst into the tumultuous waves of the Canadian film industry, which is itself grappling with its own rapid growth and identity crises. Eager to tell a story that resonates with Canadians, he secures the rights to "Lantern Moon," an iconic Canadian novel penned by Lindsay May Marshall, intending for it to be his debut production. However, Myers soon discovers that navigating the Canadian movie-making terrain is a labyrinth of compromises. The most formidable of them all is the necessity to cast a renowned Hollywood actor, Michael Baytes, in the lead role to secure funding. Baytes, a bundle of complexities, brings along a baggage of issues that threaten to turn Myers' Canadian dream into an Americanized nightmare, as the ultra-patriotic and paranoid star starts pulling the strings. In the midst of this cinematic chaos, filmmaker Sandy Ryan is there to capture every backstage drama, the triumphs and the pitfalls, for a "making of" documentary. Yet she's not just a passive observer. Sandy is also surreptitiously directing her own indie film, "Human Voices," beneath the tumult of the Lantern Moon production. "Hollywood North" is a film within a film within a film, chronicling the struggles, compromises, and delicate politics of the movie industry, all the while highlighting the clash between Canadian authenticity and the unavoidable influence of Hollywood.

Hollywood North is a comedy movie featuring Joe Cobden and directed by Peter O'Brian.

Hollywood North is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on Plex, Plex Player, Shout! Factory TV and Tubi TV.