"Star Maps" (1997) mirrored Miguel Arteta's own observations about desperation in Hollywood absorbed while a student at the American Film Institute, He spent four years raising money and shooting this film about a young Latino with dreams of becoming a movie star, who is forced into prostitution by his own father. Premiering out of competition at the Sundance Film Festival, "Star Maps" was purchased by Fox Searchlight and opened later in the year amid much publicity, if not gushing critical acclaim. In the long run, though the film proved to be a bit of a financial disappointment for the