A young actor has recently returned to his native Donegal after spending nearly six months in Hollywood where he has landed several roles in upcoming movie productions.

Jason Matthewson from Rathmullan will be well-known to theatre goers having featured in numerous productions in the North West over the past few years.

Having honed his skills as an actor in big Donegal productions such as The O'Neill and A Midsummer Night's Dream, Jason and his good friend, St Johnston native Patrick McBrearty, decided in June to move to Tinseltown and 'give it a shot'.

Jason, the son of Sean and Vera Matthewson from Augavannon, admitted that they weren't sure what to expect or how big 'Hollywood' even was.

"We landed at Burbank Glendale Pasadena Airport on June 8 and made our way to the hotel in North Hollywood and we thought 'right, this is bound to be us', but we were very wrong," he laughed.

"We stayed in North Hollywood for a night and the next day we went to Hollywood Boulevard at the centre of Hollywood, which was 45 minutes away, so we were way off."

"Hollywood Boulevard is home to famous landmarks such as Grauman's Chinese Theatre, the Kodak Theatre and, of course, the Hollywood Walk Of Fame but as well as that its very central to where all the business happens and we were very lucky to find an apartment nearby."

The two Donegal men stayed there until Patrick decided to move back to Ireland and Jason found himself a new apartment, with a very interesting history, right on Hollywood Boulevard.

I moved into a new place two months ago, and one of my neighbours told me that the 90s television show Melrose Place was based on our apartment block.

"She also told me that the guy who wrote the series actually slept on her couch when he first moved to Hollywood as a budding scriptwriter," said Jason.

Moving to Hollywood to seek a career in the acting business is very tough, but thankfully the two young actors knew that another fellow Donegal man was already residing in Tinseltown.

"We got in contact with Gavin Ó Fearraigh from Gaoth Dobhair, who is of course known for starring in Ros na Rún, and is currently working in Hollywood.

"Gavin was such a great help to us and put us in contact with a friend of his, Kyle Fitzharris, a published author who is about to turn two of his books into movies."

Both Jason and Patrick became friends with the LA based author, who counts many well-known Irish and Irish American actors as his closest friends.

"Kyle is currently in the process of turning his first novel, The Eighth Plague, and his upcoming novel The New Americans into movies.

"Pre-production is currently underway and they're just waiting for funding and once everything has been approved, both Patrick and I will get small roles in these."

Having already made a good start, things just kept happening for Jason and through his friendship to Kyle he would next start an internship which would lead him to booking himself further roles in upcoming movie productions.

He said: "Kyle is good friends with Patrick Stack, producer and co-founder of Out Of Pocket Films, based at Sony Pictures Studios, and when Pat was looking for an intern Kyle called me.

"I met up with Pat for an interview and a few days later I started working for him at the Sony lot, only two months after I had first arrived in Hollywood things were really falling into place."

While Jason was working for Pat two days a week, on Thursdays and Fridays, being on staff allowed him to walk around Sony Pictures Studios every day and make connections.

"Being able to walk around the different stages and seeing upcoming movies like Spiderman 4 being made and bumping in Tobey Maguire was fun, but more importantly it was a great way to meet the influential people behind the camera, like producers and directors."

Knowing that his new intern was an aspiring actor, Pat Stack gave Jason a lot of very valuable advice when it came to the art of networking in Hollywood. "Pat said it's all about building up relationships with the people first and not just walking up to them and handing over your resume.

"It's all about the 'How can I help you' factor, making friends with the people first and then when the time is right saying to them that if they have any upcoming projects you'd love to help them out in any way you can."

One of Out Of Pocket Films upcoming productions is Dig It, a romantic comedy, and Jason has landed a role in the movie with filming commencing mid 2010.

"Besides sitting in at board meetings or table readings with the actors, taking phone calls, sending messages or setting up meetings, Pat would also throw me the odd script to see what I thought of them, one of them was Dig It.

"Pat asked me if I would be interested in playing a role in the movie and I jumped at the opportunity and thankfully landed a part and I can't wait for filming next year."

Spending his days off around the Sony lot would also lead Jason to roles in possible upcoming movie productions. "One day two guys overheard my accent and we got talking.They were Nick Papanicholas and James P Kittel, two movie producers and they thought that I would be ideal for some of their upcoming projects."

With funding awaiting to be secured, Jason has been offered roles in The Beautiful Letdown, The Legacy and a third movie written by Papanicholas' wife, Dolce Malus.

"Ben Foster (Alpha Dog, X-Men, Hostage) is tied to The Beautiful Letdown, he is one of my favourite actors so it would be amazing to work with him.

"The guys have offered me the joint lead role in The Legacy alongside Taylor Kitsch who starred as Gambit in the movie Wolverine and possibly the lead villain role in the third movie.

"These movies are all awaiting funding and as soon as that comes through they are hoping to start filming early next year, while the third will hopefully go ahead soon, too."

Just last week Jason received an e-mail confirming that another movie, still untitled, that Jason is to be part of has been confirmed for funding and will commence shooting next summer. "About two weeks ago a a did a short film with Bennett Hardeman which he is taking to next year's Sundance Film Festival.

"One of the extras that I met on the set wrote a movie with his wife and it has been taken on by famous director Spike Lee and is getting funded by the makers of Blair With Project.

"Although I'm only taking on a small role, this is sure to be the biggest movie of the lot with Emile Hirsch (Alpha Dog), Jonathan Lipnicki (Jerry Maguire) and Hayden Panettiere (Heroes) in the lead roles and we'll be going to Alabama in March to shoot."

Jason, who is currently back home in Rathmullan to sort out his actor's visa for the States, said he has been very fortunate to be able to land roles in such a short time and can't wait to head back to Tinseltown early next year and get to work.

"If I hadn't gone over and met people like Gavin, Kyle or Pat none of this would have happened, but I really do believe in the saying 'What's meant to be, won't pass you by'."