Over the course of one Hollywood summer, I’ve tried a little bit of everything this town has to offer. I’ve assisted a pair of independent producers, aided a director on the set of his short film, tried my hand at background extra work, helped out in a special-effects workshop and even got paid to sit in studio audiences.

When I finally got a chance to catch my breath and reflect on the summer, I was impressed with all that I had accomplished.

Of course, then I remembered that everyone in this city is in some way involved in the film industry.

Take, for example, my weekly poker game …

One of the first nights I was in Los Angeles, I spent some time relaxing by my apartment building’s jacuzzi.

Before long, a pair of tenants showed up to share the hot tub and we struck up a conversation.

Within days, we were hanging out, and I was meeting some of their other friends. Not long after that, we played the first of what would become a weekly poker game.

Now bear in mind, as I describe my Hollywood contacts, that this is just a group of normal guys that happen to live in Southern California.

Of course, normal is a relative term.

If anyone could be considered the game’s host, it’s a scruffy-looking Greek with a Jersey accent named Greg.

In fact, all hailing from New Jersey, the Goodfella accents abound. We play in an apartment Greg shares with two other guys. We play on the $300 poker table he bought exclusively for our weekly game.

A veteran of the special-effects business, it’s a good thing Greg has a day job. When he isn’t confusing straights and flushes or forgetting to ante, Greg excels at animatronics in his effects workshop.

He’s been adding motion to movie creatures for years, dating back to such classics as “Frankenhooker” and the “Basket Case” series.

Taking a time out from the horror/sci-fi genre (in much the same way that he constantly takes flatulence time-outs from the poker game), Greg’s currently building cuddly kangaroos and talking clocks for Captain Kangaroo.

Another film vet that plays with us each week is Greg’s roommate, Bob. A part-time actor and accomplished stuntman, Bob is also lucky poker isn’t his career. Legend has it that he used to win pretty big, but luck has been cruel to Bob this summer, giving the poor guy a pair of kings every time someone else has aces.

Of course, when the cards are against him, Bob always has the Toxic Avenger to fall back on.

In addition to a recurring role on daytime TV’s “Guiding Light” and coordinating stunts on a variety of shows, Bob was Toxie’s stunt double for Troma’s immortal trilogy.

Bob’s putting away the mop, however, for the latest installment, coordinating stunts for the entire film. Just when his poker luck was almost certain to change, it’s back to New Jersey.

The final roommate and one of the youngest members of the game is a long-haired Jersey kid named Mark.

Another effects worker, Mark focuses on the artistic side of things, which he says can be as up-and-down as his luck at the table.

A pushover in the early weeks of the summer, Mark has taken to stealing my money and everyone else’s as of late.

In the workshop, Mark crafts sculptures, masks and cosmetic enhancements for a variety of films and other media. In addition to work on movies such as “From Dusk ‘Til Dawn” and “Dogma” (Kevin Smith’s as-yet-unreleased latest feature), Mark worked with Marilyn Manson on a recent album cover. Remember his breasts on “Mechanical Animals?” That’s all Mark.

Currently, when he’s not taking my money on a straight to the queen, Mark spends his time sculpting Mr. Clock’s face and mass producing his original 30-inch model figure, Laguna, a sultry and (dare I say) very attractive mate for the Creature from the Black Lagoon.

Our final consistent player is an Armenian director/actor/editor named Glenn, who usually walks off with twice as much money as he brings. He’s done some acting, some stunts and quite a bit of film editing, but Glenn’s true passion is in directing.

One of the lucky few in Hollywood who has already directed his first feature, Glenn is the man who brought you the sci-fi thriller “Metamorphosis: The Alien Factor,” a film he also wrote and produced.

If he’s not cursing at the cards or charging Greg double-ante fines for everything from passing the deal to greasy fingers, he’s probably trying to raise money for his second feature, which he is set to work on next month.

This time also playing the role of principle actor, Glenn is heading back to Jersey to try his hand at a mob movie.

Of course, there is some background talent involved in our games. Guys like Jerry (actor), Kyle (actor) and Neil (storyboard artist) drop in from time to time, but it’s usually just the five of us — me and four typical guys from Hollywood.

Of course, not everyone in Los Angeles is rich and famous. At our table, the top bet is two bucks and the ante is ten cents.

Nevertheless, I’m sure some day I’ll meet these guys at the top.

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Ron DeMarse is a senior in liberal studies from Muscatine.