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Photos: Hollywood hopefuls chase tantalizing moments of artistry

Up-and-coming screenwriter Marc Iannarino, 28, left, and actor Robert McHalffey, 29, are former roommates who met through an acting boot camp class.

Up-and-coming screenwriter Marc Iannarino, 28, left, and actor Robert McHalffey, 29, are former roommates who met through an acting boot camp class.  (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

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An actor and screenwriter who met in an acting boot camp class are trying to make it in Hollywood. The former just began his first Shakespeare production onstage, the latter is shopping around his “psychological thriller with horror elements.”

Robert McHalffey

Robert McHalffey, second from left, rehearses “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” with the cast of Shakespeare By the Sea including Bridget Garwood, left, Garret Replogle and Olivia Schlueter-Corey at Little Fish Theatre in San Pedro.   (Christina House / For The Times)

Robert McHalffey

Robert McHalffey rehearses his role of Lysander in Shakespeare By the Sea’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream, his first Bard production.  (Christina House / For The Times)

Robert McHalffey

Robert McHalffey rehearses “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” The actor says “the key to Shakespeare is doing the detective work beforehand.”  (Christina House / For The Times)

Robert McHalffey

Robert McHalffey rehearses “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” with the cast of Shakespeare By the Sea.   (Christina House / For The Times)

Robert McHalffey

Robert McHalffey and Olivia Schlueter-Corey practice a scene from “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”  (Christina House / For The Times)

Robert McHalffey

Robert McHalffey, second from right, rehearses “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” with Olivia Schlueter-Corey, from left, director Patrick Vest and Bridget Garwood.  (Christina House / For The Times)

Robert McHalffey

Robert McHalffey lifts Olivia Schlueter-Corey during a scene in a rehearsal of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”  (Christina House / For The Times)

Robert McHalffey

Director Patrick Vest, left, looks on as Robert McHalffey rehearses “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” with the cast of Shakespeare By the Sea including Olivia Schlueter-Corey and Garret Replogle.  (Christina House / For The Times)

Robert McHalffey

Robert McHalffey rehearses “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” with Garret Replogle, left, and Olivia Schlueter-Corey.  (Christina House / For The Times)

Robert McHalffey

Robert McHalffey, right, practices a scene with Garret Replogle.   (Christina House / For The Times)

Robert McHalffey

Robert McHalffey takes on his first Shakespeare production with Shakespeare By the Sea’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”  (Christina House / For The Times)

Robert McHalffey and Marc Iannarino

The “little victories” lift budding actor Robert McHalffey, left. Aspiring screenwriter Marc Iannarino says part of his inspiration comes from his years in the military.   (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

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