Any advice for moving to LA?

Ben Sliker

Ben Sliker

Pain In The Ass 2.0
I'm graduating college in may with a film studies degree and probably moving in august. Any suggestions/knowledge on:

A. where to live to not get shot (with a gun, not a camera.) I know the commute is horrible, I've learned the "live where you work" slogan.
B. price of living difference from the midwest.
C. cool stuff to do that's not crazy expensive.
D. anyone who has a similar tale and what they did to get into the film industry.
E. who wants to team up once i get there to win dvx-fests?

Thanks for anything people!:dankk2:
 
Hey man... first off it's a heck of a lot more expensive here. Everything. Food, gas, clothes, housing. It's insane. But now for the good stuff. You're within distance of mountains, beaches, and desert within an hour (sometimes more depending on the traffic). So, cool stuff to do that's not expensive... first you can come hang with me... lol. Going places is cool... the beach is fun. And, I'd really enjoy teaming up with you on a dvx-fest. Hope that helps.

Oh and as far as where to live. I live in Santa Clarita, which is really nice, as far as community and stuff goes. It's about 30 min. to an hour from Burbank/Hollywood/Glendale. Anywhere where you'd have a production gig. It is a really safe, family area. Real clean too.
 
I moved from NYC to LA in 2002 and lived in Silverlake (E. Hollywood) when I first got there...driving to and from freelance jobs really sucked (the ones way out in the valley were brutal), but at least I was pretty central to everything...don't live too far out in the sticks or else you'll be on the freeways most of the time...do yourself a favor, never get on the 405 during daylight hours.

I finally got a job at Technicolor and moved to Burbank to be close...that was nice. A 5 minute commute to work really made my days brighter even though I was living in Burbank which is filled with elderly people who cannot drive over 15 MPH.

I finally got wise and moved back to NYC last year, just couldn't fit in with the slackers on the West Coast, too much pot smoking and not enough ambition. It seemed to me that people in LA are good at talking about filmmaking while people in NYC get it done...this is just my opinion based on 4 years in LA trying to get various people who talked a good game to actually shut up and make a film, a short, anything...I'm sure there are a lot of people in LA who are making their own projects happen, I just wish I had met some of them...

To end this mostly negative post on an up note, the stuff about good weather, the beach, skiing, etc. totally true. And there is a lot to do that is cheap and fun...I just think you need to be a good fit with the place because it asks more of you.
 
I've lived here since I was a kid (7). So, I know no different. I am not really "in" the hollywood industry part of LA. I do have a few friends who are, and it is a lot of talk sometimes, but there are hard working people out here.
 
briceman said:
I do have a few friends who are, and it is a lot of talk sometimes, but there are hard working people out here.
Click to expand...

I don't doubt it...there is good stuff that comes out of LA. It's just that I never met any of those people...

Still, it's a great place, lifestyle-wise...everyone wears shorts, it's laid back...but the place lacks a pulse...I walk outside in NYC and immediately feel energized because of all the hustle and bustle...I never got that in LA...

Oh Well.
 
If you're broke, there are year-round, outdoor accommodations above the Santa Monica beach. BYO sleeping bag. It looks pretty safe.
 
I've been here since I was a kid too, but I live in the valley, so its about an hour of drive to LA, and about 15-20 minutes of a drive to hollywood.

Do you have aim? I can tell you more about it.
 
i've been looking at apartments in hollywood, studio city and such. Hypothetically, If I had a job in the burbank/hollywood/glendale area, what's the adv./disadv. on living right there and paying more for rent vs. living 30min-hr away and paying less? (except for the obvious one i just mentioned.)
 
Last edited:
rightfrog said:
I finally got wise and moved back to NYC last year, just couldn't fit in with the slackers on the West Coast, too much pot smoking and not enough ambition.
Click to expand...

well, I don't smoke pot and I have a lot of ambition ... hope I'm not moving to the wrong place, eh rightfrog?
 
hybridtheory said:
well, I don't smoke pot and I have a lot of ambition ... hope I'm not moving to the wrong place, eh rightfrog?
Click to expand...

I'm sure you'll do great out there man...I was just talking about my experience there...it just seemed to me that it took more to get people motivated...

I think all that great weather makes people want to be at the beach and not on a set...who can blame them?
 
rightfrog said:
I'm sure you'll do great out there man...I was just talking about my experience there...it just seemed to me that it took more to get people motivated...

I think all that great weather makes people want to be at the beach and not on a set...who can blame them?
Click to expand...

well ... -10 degrees and snow doesn't motivate me to work in Wisconsin. We had a warm day yesterday, got up to around 40 degrees.
 
That's funny...in New York, when it's cold and snowing, I get a ton of writing done...the visual of the snow falling against the buildings is really beautiful...

But then, this city inspires me every day...soooo amazing...

I think that's what I missed most while living in LA...never really got inspired out there...
 
that's true ... I get ALOT of editing done when it's too cold to go outside. These 60w lightbulbs aren't doing much for my complexion.
 
John_Hudson said:
You could'nt pay me too live in L.A.

(Raaaallpphhhh !)

-

It's like one giant slum.
Click to expand...

have you visited milwaukee John? ... it's the dirtiest city ever, i think it "won" the most polluted air trophy for the nation.

In the meantime, I'll just sit here and daydream about sun, and be depressed about how I stayed in WI for spring break. (I think i'll pull a briceman and jack up my post count.)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top