Character building on Hollywood Boulevard

Hollywood is full of wannabes. The nearest most of them will get to fame is Hollywood Boulevard's Walk of Fame, dressed as Superman or Wonder Woman. The characters are a big tourist attraction and are now the subject of a documentary. David Willis went to meet some of them.

Superman logo from a toy
Superman is one of about 80 characters who crowd the boulevard

Superman stubbed out a cigarette and started searching for his keys. Adjusting his blood-red cape, he flashed a final glance at a web camera pointed at Hollywood Boulevard.

It was a hot summer's day and tourists were spilling out of gaily painted buses and flooding the strip.

The superhero descended from his one-bedroomed apartment two stairs at a time, stopping briefly to banter with his Mexican neighbours before striding for the boulevard a block away.

Christopher Dennis was once an unemployed actor working at a hamburger joint across the street.

After several diners told him he looked like Christopher Reeve, he made himself a Superman costume and spent a day posing for pictures on the Walk of Fame.

That was 17 years ago. He earned $600 in tips that day alone and has not worked as a waiter since.

It was not long before Superman was joined by Elvis Presley and Charlie Chaplin, and nearly two decades later, the community that Chris founded has mushroomed to more than 80 characters.

BY-BBC NEWS