Photo courtesy of David Fein

With the economy in such a dismal place and Los Angeles sitting high on the list of most expensive American cities, what continues to attract so many college graduates to the Hollywood sign?

David Fein, 22, an up-and-coming entertainer, says it is the "opportunity to play for a living," that brings him to the star-studded streets of Los Angeles. With a background in stand-up comedy, Fein hopes to make it in the city's movie industry, no matter the cost.

Already playing the part of a true Angeleno, Fein who grew up in Monroe, Connecticut, wears a backwards baseball cap and designer jeans as he steps out of his silver Audi A4 sipping coffee from Coffee Bean. He clearly has the look perfected, so what else is he doing to get started in Los Angeles and how is the economy influencing his plans?

With a childhood dictated by an anxious Jewish mother, who insisted on lots of schoolwork and not so much playtime, Fein says he found comfort in creating scenes with help from his toys. From the beginning, this creative form of release shaped his passions, but only in the last few years has it moved to the forefront of his mind as a career goal. Now using stand-up, which he began as an 8-year-old repeating his grandfather's Yom Kippur comedy shtick in front of family, Fein is determined to break into the movie industry.

Sitting outside Westside Comedy Theater, where he's perfromed twice, Fein explains that comedy is not the only tool he is using to break into Hollywood. He plans to pursue acting, screenwriting, directing and producing, giving himself as many options as possible.

One may wonder if this broad spectrum of interests has been born out of necessity to combat the current economy, in which so many college graduates have found themselves jobless and back at home. Seeing that the number of college graduates who have found jobs has decreased from 51 percent in 2007 to 19.7 percent in 2009, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, most recent graduates have become pessimistic about their job prospects. This often causes the graduates, being desperate for a source of income, to accept positions they would not normally consider.

"I'll take anything that will have me right now," Andy Leer, a recent graduate of Gustavus Adolphus College, told the Star Tribune. Fein, however, does not seem to be phased by the economic climate. He explains that he has no great worries about the influence of the economy on his success, saying, "the entertainment business is a pretty consistently running enterprise that is usually not affected critically from the state of the economy."

This optimism about the economy's minimal effects on his career goals has translated into Fein's allotment of 10 years to stick it out in L.A. before moving on to plan B. Unlike many other newcomers to the city, Fein says he tries not to think about the "what ifs" and plans to "deal with that bridge when I come to cross it."

Fein seems to be in it for the long haul and when asked about backup plans, he answers with a chuckle and joke from one of his first gigs, "I could always open up a cemetery, 'cause hey, I would never go out of business, people are always dying."

Slightly embarrassed about cracking what he deems a bad joke, Fein offers a shy smile and explains that he is doing what he loves and will find a way to make it work. His determination seems to have been fueled by the state of the economy, which has made him want to succeed even more.

Fein's family supports his resolve to make it in the industry. Though a recent poll on collegegrad.com has shown that some 80% of recent graduates have found themselves worthy of the title boomerang kids, meaning students who have moved back in with their parents after graduation, Fein finds himself far from home.

In fact, he is directly on the other side of the country and his concerned, slightly overbearing Jewish mother decided she should come out and move in with him. Despite this, Fein is adamant about his good fortune in having a family who can help support his dreams, both emotionally and financially.

Although some entertainment hopefuls are lucky enough to receive a bit of financial support from their families, most still seek part-time jobs as short-term sources of income. While many of these newcomers turn to waiting tables or becoming assistants to fund their pursuits, Fein has decided on personal training as a source of part-time income.

His fit arms that peak out from beneath his short sleeve shirt prove that he's been working out. He hopes that this will help further his Hollywood image. While this venture does not promise to return a great profit, when asked if he has felt any negative effects of the economy, Fein replies, "eh, not really I'm Jewish. Seriously, though, I haven't yet."

His trusting and down-to-earth attitude is what truly makes Fein stand out among the crowd in L.A. This trust in other people is most likely what makes him willing to share "basically everything," within minutes of meeting someone and probably what led him to admit his love of piano and singing.

He also shared his hidden talent of photography, his belief that he suffers from OCD, and that deep down he is scared by the economy. Among a sea of cutthroat competitors, Fein's gentle face and demeanor give him a unique quality that makes him approachable and very likeable.

For now, Fein will allow his need to constantly be doing something creative to pave his way in the city. He plans to stay busy promoting himself and his work, on his way to succeeding in the movie industry. He says that right now he is just trying to get out there, like so many others, and do as much as he can in all of his interests in hopes of finding an agent.

For the more remote future, Fein, clearly a family-oriented guy, says his ultimate goal is, "to win an Academy Award for Best Actor and to bring my grandfather to that award show as my date."

Always optimistic, Fein says, "in this economy, in this Hollywood crazy town, you can easily find yourself down in a valley. But wherever there is a valley, there is the exciting start to a peak."

It is obvious that David Fein, who is currently working on a website and for now can be found on Facebook and Myspace, has more than just laughs to offer to the City of Angels.