William McNamara is one of those guys that you think you know.
Blessed with a high cheekbone structure and great hair, he walks into a room, and your mind immediately goes to the ‘where have I seen him before?’ notion. The filmmaker, who has carved out an acting career that spans an impressive IMDb page with nearly 200 credits, may seem, at first glance, to have been one of the chosen, thanks to Hollywood good looks. But behind those sparkling eyes is a dash of mystery mixed with hardships overcome that starts to unravel when you get a chance to speak to him.
McNamara steps into the director, producer, and writer lane with his new streaming series, The Trouble with Billy. The series is rooted in relatable human experiences, from making sacrifices to doing anything it takes to save your beloved pet to learning how to recover from addiction. This is a life of anything-but-normal moments, from the highs of being a respected movie star to the lows of living in a car; there are sparks of humanity here that are simply irresistible.
“I was doing these little vignettes in my car with my dog while actually living in the vehicle because that was my reality for a while,” he says about what inspired the project after taking a personal spill in life and the work it took to get back on top. “I would then post them on Facebook. Somebody remarked that this is really interesting stuff. I thought maybe I should write something based on what I was going through. And here we are.
You cannot turn away from watching a story of a man who would do anything to save a dog, mixed in with a showcase of the insane shenanigans of surviving the ups, and especially the downs, of the movie business. Throw in a spiced-up combo of performances by a cast of notable industry names like Marilu Henner, Robert Wagner, Randall Batinkoff, Jake Busey, Angus Macfadyen, Billy Baldwin, Tom Sizemore, Costas Mandylor, and Alison Eastwood, to name a few, a bit of alien abduction, and social media stars jumping on trampolines in scenes, you get a vision of storytelling that only a man like McNamara can cook together for a very tasty feast for the eyes.
“The whole thing is an important message about life,” he reflects. “Not only did I get out of the car with my dog. I worked to produce my own ten-episode, half-hour shows with virtually nothing but a few close friends who believed in me. How hard is it? It’s very hard. But it was so cathartic to dramatize many of my weaknesses and failures. And, it’s pretty damn good. I’m very proud of it. All of these people showed up. That’s the best part.”
The heart beats strong with page after page of the script of The Trouble with Billy, being in essence a love story of a man and his dog surviving in the cutthroat world of Hollywood, as a former star desperately tries to stage a comeback, not for himself, but for his dog.
McNamara stars in the streaming series while simultaneously stepping behind the camera. His continued dedication to animal activism and his openness to finding love wherever it presents itself is what make this alluring project one that deserves recognition. It’s been a long time coming for the artist who put a lot of himself physically, emotionally, and financially into work he hopes pays off more than just a residual paycheck ever could in life.
He also recognizes all the sacrifices others have made for the project. From crew members donating working hours to friends allowing for shooting at no cost in their backyards, it is a testament to a person who is loveable and likeable by all sorts of in-real-life Hollywood characters he’s met along the way. The rewarding experience for all involved on the call sheet will help benefit several charities, including the Eastwood Ranch Foundation and organizations supporting the LGBTQ community.
“I want people to be entertained, and I want them to be touched. It is heartfelt, you know, it really is,” the creator sums up.
The Trouble with Billy is a dramedy on a mission. Satirizing the entertainment industry and his personal struggles, it takes an approach that makes you appreciate the perseverance of a man who is so much more than that guy with a face you think you know.
For more information about ‘The Trouble with Billy’ and fundraising efforts, visit the streaming platform Red Coral Universe.
Episode one of The Trouble With Billy is available to stream here: https://bit.ly/rcu-the-trouble-with-billy-ep1
Photo Credit: Eden Dozier
