Dave vs. Hollywood Heads to Texas After Sold-Out World Premiere

After a sold-out world premiere at the historic TCL Chinese Theatre during Dances With Films Los Angeles, Dave vs. Hollywood is continuing its festival run with its Texas premiere at the San Antonio Film Festival.

The independent mockumentary, directed by Brad Dickson and Daniel Katz, follows aspiring actor Dave (Preston Tyler Ward), who arrives in Los Angeles believing success is only an audition away. Instead, he discovers an industry where rejection is constant, opportunity is unpredictable, and luck can be just as valuable as talent.

That idea became the foundation of the film.

"It got me thinking about how much luck and judgment play into becoming a successful actor," Dickson said, explaining that the screenplay was inspired after reading Matthew Perry's memoir and reflecting on how careers can change because of a single decision or missed opportunity.

Dickson knows Hollywood from the inside. He spent fourteen years writing monologues for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno before moving into feature filmmaking, bringing with him an ear for comedy that balances sharp punchlines with uncomfortable truths.

"A joke is a joke, whether it's a monologue joke or a line of dialogue," he said. "At The Tonight Show I learned the importance of getting the wording exactly right."

Rather than creating another underdog story where perseverance always pays off, Dave vs. Hollywood embraces a more complicated reality. Dave works hard, has talent, and still can't seem to catch a break.

"We never wanted to make fun of struggling actors," Dickson explained. "Dave isn't a loser. He's talented, smart, and capable. He just can't catch a break."

Much of the film draws directly from real life.

"At least fifty percent," Dickson said when asked how much of Dave's story was inspired by real experiences. One of those moments, involving an actor attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings simply to network, came from someone he actually knew.

Choosing the mockumentary format allowed the filmmakers to lean into those awkward moments while keeping audiences connected to Dave's inner thoughts.

"I've always loved mockumentaries going back to This Is Spinal Tap," Dickson said. "It works especially well here because the testimonials let us get directly inside Dave's head and understand his frustrations."

The filmmakers were also determined not to soften the film's more uncomfortable moments.

"As far as possible," Dickson said when asked how far he was willing to push the character. "There were actually storylines we toned down."

For Dickson, that discomfort is exactly what makes the comedy work.

"Life is a cringe comedy."

Director Daniel Katz approached the project from a different angle, grounding the humor in realism rather than exaggeration. Having worked internationally across narrative films and documentaries, he wanted the audience to feel like they were watching events unfold naturally.

"The humor was grounded in authentic human desperation," Katz said. "That's what made it funny."

His visual approach reflected that philosophy.

"I wanted the camera to feel alive—almost like another character."

Drawing heavily from documentary filmmaking, Katz kept the camera on his shoulder throughout much of production to create an immediacy rarely found in scripted comedy.

"I wanted audiences to briefly wonder whether they were watching fiction at all."

That naturalistic style also shaped the performances.

"I treated actors more like documentary subjects than performers. That approach helps capture authentic, unpolished human behavior."

Despite its modest independent budget, Katz says the production managed to capture the scale of Los Angeles itself.

"We managed to capture so many iconic locations. We got million-dollar Hollywood backdrops through pure indie grit."

Premiering at the TCL Chinese Theatre carried particular significance for the filmmakers.

"We made a film with very limited resources and it's premiering at one of the most iconic venues in cinema history. That's incredibly rewarding."

Early reviews suggest audiences are responding to the film's blend of satire and sincerity. Hollywood Times praised Dave vs. Hollywood for "capturing the humor of Los Angeles transplants perfectly" while skewering agents, casting directors and publicists. Film Threat called it "insane comedy," and The Movie Revue described it as "a witty and very funny character piece" that cleverly dissects Hollywood's obsession with success.

Following its sold-out world premiere, the film now heads to Texas as part of the San Antonio Film Festival, continuing its journey through the independent festival circuit with a story that asks one uncomfortable question many artists eventually face: what if talent simply isn't enough?