MACARTHUR PARK is the powerful directorial debut of actor Billy Wirth (THE LOST BOYS, WAR PARTY). Wirth`s film was initially intended as a documentary on the homeless drug addicts living in Los Angeles` once-elegant, but now crime-infested, MacArthur Park. While interviewing park denizens for the documentary, Wirth learned of a script written by a former playwright-turned-crack-addict, Tyrone Atkins, who lived in the park but was now serving time in prison. Atkins` manuscript was eventually found and filmed by Wirth as a loosely-disguised autobiographical fiction centered around park resident and former trumpet player Cody (the imposing Thomas Jefferson Byrd), who lost both his career and his family to crack cocaine addiction. Byrd leads a large ensemble that cast includes Ellen Cleghorne, Lori Petty, Miguel Nunez, and real-life rappers Bad Azz, B-Real, and Sticky Fingaz as the park`s other drug-addled citizens. The vibrant soundtrack--composed by Jane`s Addiction`s Stephen Perkins and featuring an exclusive cover of MacArthur Park by Macy Gray--adds a gritty, authentic vibe to the film`s portrayal of broken souls.