Moving: but where?

J

jwolford76

Member
I realize you can make a film anywhere, but would it be beneficial to live in L.A. or at least close to it? I live in Ohio right now, but want to get out of here as soon as possible. I work as a network engineer and always have that to fall back on. I want to make films for the fun of it and if I ever happen to make money doing it, so much the better. If not, then I will be happy knowing that I tried my best. I guess I am left wondering if living in L.A. would be more beneficial then if I lived somewhere else.
 
stay in ohio, learn as much as you can about the industry. get familiar w/ all the equipment and etc.. shoot stuff on your own, practice, practice, practice! build a reel. shoot shorts, muisc videos, etc.. for example, find anyone who wants to be in the music industry, shoot a video for them, and add it to your reel. (if its good of course) then you will attract more clients, and taaaa daaa you can charge for videos! then if you still feel the same way, move to la. atleast you can go with a reel, and experience. but, that doesnt mean your 1st job wont be going to get coffee, or picking up gaffer tape off the floor. :) remember this is my opinion! everyone is different.
 
I agree with aaron_wade. Go ahead and move to LA if your intention is to burn through all your money in about 6 months and move back to Ohio. Stay where you are and make movies. That's the beauty of the internet. You can be anywhere and still have your stuff seen by people.
 
Thanks for replies

Thanks for replies

I appreciate the comments. I understand what you mean by staying put. I only have intensions to move out the California if I'm able to get a good job in my current field. This is more of a lifestyle choice than anything. I have a family and living in Ohio make us miserable. The winter here is 6 months long. It is even snowing today with 30 degree weather. After getting the proper equipment, I will just be using my nights and weekends to piece things together. I have to imagine a benefit to living around L.A. would at least help with networking and getting to know people in the business. I could easily stay in Ohio and hate it or I could live there and at least enjoy the weather.
 
Start looking into housing costs (and schools if with children). I'm in San Diego and the Median is $550,000 for a home. L.A. is no exception. The weather is SoCal is wonderful and we pay dearly for it; we call it the Sun Tax.
 
hey john, this is a correction. listen to jay-z "what more can i say". that is where you will find the quote. :)

"Maximus Are you not entertained? Are you not entertained? Is this not why you are here?"
 
I have looked into it and you're right, it is quite expensive to live there. I do have reservations about this, but am more willing to give up certain things in life to live in such a beautiful place. I figure why live in a place that I don't really like just because it's more affordable when I would always be thinking about living in California. I know too many people around here that are just content with their surroundings but think they have to live here because it's too hard to move.
 
I'm digging it. SoCal is great. Me? I'm a native San Diegan and am relocating in 14 months to Wilmington, NC. It's coastal, has seasons, has about 3.3 Million less people in the county and I can actually spend a half million and get something for it.

And? There is a major film studio there; not that I'll ever work there, but nice to know there is somewhat of an indutry for film in the same town.

SoCal real estae is a shock to the system indeed. Take it from a native, completely overrated. It's not all hollywood and surfing; it's a huge misconception.
 
Don't even get me started about how people overstate how cool and glamorous it is to live in Minnesota.:laugh:
 
LOL

To be fair, I'd probally have to gank my self if I didn't live on the ocean. Okay, well at least within 15 minutes.
 
HorseFilms said:
Don't even get me started about how people overstate how cool and glamorous it is to live in Minnesota.:laugh:
Click to expand...
You've obviously never been to St. Louis Park.
 
Reply to John

Reply to John

North Carolina was the one other state I thought about moving. What made you decide to want to move there? Also, what studio is down there?
 
TC, no no, he's right. There's not much to do in Minnesota.
I'm curious though, what's in St. Louis Park that's so great? Really, it's just like Uptown and the Mall of America, neither of which are in SLP.

Just curious...
 
That's where I was born. But I actually lived in Eden Prarie, I can see that's where you live. My aunt and uncle own an Sir Speedy there.
 
I think the whole LA move depends on who you are and what you want to be.

If you want the opportunity to work FULL-TIME in production you really need to be in LA (or possibly Chicago or Toronto or NY...but really LA, just think of all the sunny shooting days a year!). I knew plenty of union production people when I was in St. Louis and hardly any of them supported themselves full-time off film production. And these are very skilled people!

Yes LA is expensive but there are many union people out there making a good living and working many many days out of the year, FAR more than they could in any other city in the world.
 
I moved to Los Angeles from a small town in Texas in the late 80's. I work full time in the film industry as a 24 frame video playback operator. First of all it is very hard to get into the business at first, unless you have connections already. Second, although the weather is good out here, the traffic and the shear amount of people makes me want to scream sometimes. Plan on spending many, many hours stuck in traffic.

Like others have mentioned, the price of real estate is freaking ridiculous. We just paid $440,000 last summer for a starter home in Simi Valley.

Quite frankly, I have had some pretty cool experiences, but as soon as I can learn to make a living away from the film business, I'm outa here! Los Angeles is just one big rat race and it's getting worse every year. I would say for a young single person, go for it. But if you have a wife and kids, I would say stay away from Los Angeles. Enjoy your kids while you can.

Good Luck!
 
This one is easy. WIth the amount of computers used in the movie industry, just start looking for a job as a network engineer for one of those companies. Every film these days has network engineer as a credited position. Be patient, be aggressive, be willing to take a pay cut or go to school on your own dime to get certified in SGI or whatever is needed. Your current career is not a fallback, it is a stepping stone. Use it.
 
Oh yeah, and you may have to postpone the warm weather. Seek out opportunity wherever it shows up. Get into your new specialized field first, then relocate again if you have to. And even that may take a couple of steps. If you cant get a movie company job, get a job that makes you a terabit networking expert or whatever Moviewood will need next year. Then try again.
 
jwolford76 said:
North Carolina was the one other state I thought about moving. What made you decide to want to move there? Also, what studio is down there?
Click to expand...

1. 13 hours from my wifes parents (I dont fly)
2. Coastal (Need water)
3. Cost of Living (Not San Diego)
4. Cost of doing business (Not California)
5. Less crowded (NOt 3.5 Million in the county)
6. Seasons (My wife wants seasons :lipsrseal )

And a new chapter of sorts on the EAST COAST; I've done the west coast my whole life and now its time to see the other side; never been to DC, never been to NY, never been to MAINE....

The studio is SCREENGEMS (Dawsons Creek, ONE TREE HILL). I highly doubt Ill ever be able to 'Get in'. Generally speaking "It's not what, but whom..."
 
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