AS STRIKES LOOM PLAYERS SUFFER ANGST HOLLYWOOD INDUSTRY EVENT DRAWS GLUM CROWD HOPING TO GET A BREAK.

Byline: Jesse Hiestand Staff Writer

UNIVERSAL CITY - Even with a possible Hollywood strike looming, more than 1,000 hopefuls and bit players angled for a break at the annual Actorfest on Saturday.

In seminars with casting directors or on the convention floor at the Universal City Hilton, people fretted more about getting the best audition, head shot or demo reel.

But under the surface lurked fear that a writers' walkout on May 2, and a separate strike by the Screen Actors Guild on June 30, could dash their dreams.

``It's going to cost the industry a fortune and a lot of young people like me their careers because you only get like five minutes in show business,'' said Philip McQuillam, who played the lead in the TV movie ``In His Life: The John Lennon Story'' that aired on NBC in December.

Like many at Actorfest, the Irish actor does not belong to SAG but believes his future in Hollywood may rest on the outcome of the union's negotiations with the studios.

``Everyone's just trying to focus on being an actor and avoid thinking about the strike because it is a horrible prospect,'' McQuillam said.

The Writers Guild of America and producers alliance have until May 1 to agree on a new contract. Negotiations are well under way.

SAG leaders planned to meet this weekend to draft their formal demands, leaving few at Actorfest with more than rumor and speculation to go on.

Tina Illman, 24, said she believes a strike is likely.

``But I've also heard that it won't because people will make excuses about the economy and back down,'' said the South Africa native now pursuing an acting career in Los Angeles.

As a nonunion actor, Robert DeLillo does not see an opportunity for extra work if SAG strikes, a lesson he learned in last year's six-month commercial actors strike.

``Even if you were nonunion, if you worked you were considered a scab and the union has a very vindictive attitude to scabs,'' said DeLillo, of San Marcos.

The commercial actors strike cost David Yarbrough three months of work.

``I'll always look to have something else to do - wait tables if I have to,'' Yarbrough said. ``I've been through this before and I'll get by.''

As he plans to join SAG next month, 44-year-old Rob Regan of Palmdale said his first union role may be on the picket line.

``It's extremely important for everyone - it's all of our incomes, it's our livelihoods and our art, too,'' Regan said.

Regan said he had little to lose in making a go of acting after losing his career as a union set-lighting technician to ``runaway'' production, a setback he said also cost him his house.

``ER'' and ``The West Wing'' casting director John Levey said he was surprised that few people asked about the strike in seminars he held for aspiring actors.

``People are very scared - if it happens it's going to be devastating,'' said Levey, who said his work will not be affected until the shows go back into production in July.

As supervisor of new membership for SAG, Steve Dryden said about 20 people asked him how a strike would affect their careers.

``That (is) the main question, 'Is it going to happen?' and really nobody knows on either side,'' Dryden said.

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1) Prospective actress Tina Illman, 24, had heard conflicting rumors about a strike.

(2) Hopeful actors show up at the Universal Hilton for the annual Actorfest 2001 event Saturday despite the threat of a walkout by Hollywood screenwriters plus a Screen Actors Guild strike.

Andy Holzman/Staff Photographer