Moving to LA

Donald Harvey

Donald Harvey

Active member
So I am deciding to make a move to LA to start a career in Film. Now I know I am 1 of the millions making the move, but I don't care because this is what I want to do. So someday, I want to be a DoP, and maybe even a director, but I know that it will be sometime before that occurs. I know that LA is an expensive, very expensive place to live, and I know it is a very fast city. Some people have told me that you have to certain personality to live there, or something like that. But, I don't care I am going to make it there one way or another. But I am asking you guys if you could give me some advice about LA, such as, where not live, because you will get shot if you live there, or what's the best way to get into film, or to get onto a paying crew, basically anything that would help out.

Thanks for the help, much appreciated.
Cheers
DH
 
Donald Harvey said:
So I am deciding to make a move to LA to start a career in Film. Now I know I am 1 of the millions making the move, but I don't care because this is what I want to do. So someday, I want to be a DoP, and maybe even a director, but I know that it will be sometime before that occurs. I know that LA is an expensive, very expensive place to live, and I know it is a very fast city. Some people have told me that you have to certain personality to live there, or something like that. But, I don't care I am going to make it there one way or another. But I am asking you guys if you could give me some advice about LA, such as, where not live, because you will get shot if you live there, or what's the best way to get into film, or to get onto a paying crew, basically anything that would help out.

Thanks for the help, much appreciated.
Cheers
DH
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Don't live south of the 10 freeway or east of downtown and you should be okay. You absolutely need a car.
 
Hmmmm, I would avoid Compton, for one.

You got a good car? Gonna need it here.

You could live on the outskirts of LA and not pay as much as in LA. The Inland Empire is nice, and still only about 45 min away from downtown LA if you time the drive right. Oh, and avoid Montrose, Batutta lives there.:)
 
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i wouldn't live very far outside of LA unless you're older and have a family. you can live in the valley if you want, but it's not exactly "hip and happening." i'd recommend universal city, studio city, north hollywood if that's where you want to live. north hollywood should be cheap.

you can also probably find a decent spot to live in silverlake, los feliz, echo park area and be centrally located. parts of echo park aren't safe.

as far as "breaking in," you'll have to know someone most likely. try to get a job as a stage PA if you work in TV. you'll spend a lot of time with the director/DP.
 
Batutta said:
Don't live south of the 10 freeway or east of downtown and you should be okay. You absolutely need a car.
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Hey I live east of downtown for a long time. It's fine there. Some parts. North EAST LA is great, Eagle Rock, Highland Park, El Sereno even has some good areas.
 
Yeah, I can't wait to move there, but for lack of better words I am a newbie. However I am determined to make it work. Most of my buddies have made the venture out there and came back, said the lifestyle didn't work for them, or it just wasn't working. My mindset is, I am going to go out there and fail a few times, but those few times i do fail, are going to make me smart for the next time I try. Not going to give up.

Maybe this is too much to ask, or just stupid to ask, but I figured I would anyway, why not? If anyone there has any hook-ups, connections, etc, it would be great to get as many of those as I can before I make the trip out there. If not thanks for helping me find a place to live. I'll submit some of my work here as soon!

DH
 
I would say wait on the move until the economy picks back up a bit.

And as for where to live, I live in the valley, North Hollywood. It's cheap rent and pretty safe. I don't care about "hip and happening". I just want to save money on rent. :)
 
Not to be the downer,but unless you know some one which is the most absolute way of getting work,you will be pulling cables for the next few years and if your lucky you will move on from there.Jim Brennan gave good advice about getting caught up in the daily aspects of living. just stay focused.Either way your gonna have to pay your dues unless like i say you know someone.Good luck and make the most of it.its a life experience and should none the less be cheerished.
 
LA is the S#!T! I love it out there. I have been trying to convince my wife for years to move but she won't do it. The weather alone motivation to me.
 
Not to be the downer,but unless you know some one which is the most absolute way of getting work,you will be pulling cables for the next few years and if your lucky you will move on from there.Jim Brennan gave good advice about getting caught up in the daily aspects of living. just stay focused.Either way your gonna have to pay your dues unless like i say you know someone.Good luck and make the most of it.its a life experience and should none the less be cheerished.
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I do have some connections/contacts, but I want to get as many as possible. But I do understand that I gotta start from the bottom and work my way up, which is ok with me, becasue then I will learn from the bottom up, and learn all the aspects of everything that has to be done for a film to be completed. I like that kind of stuff. Hard work is my thing.

Yeah I defintely need a ice rink, I was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, hockey is in my blood, I can't go a week without playing, whether it be a drop-in or a stick-n-puck, I gotta be playing, one of my favorite things to do is bring my camera out on the ice. Get some great smooth low-angle shots, as well as some great following shots, I wrote this short film about two rival Men's Hockey Teams, that comes down to a shoot-out, built some great camera angles to it, and planned the whole thing out, but lack of a crew and skaters makes it a bit hard to shoot.

DH
 
I can recommend the valley as well. I lived in Studio City and it was a great place and pretty safe. Depends on where you get a job though! You probably don't want to live in the valley if you're working at Sony, for example, unless you don't mind a 3 hour round-trip commute.

But there's also lots of studios in the valley, like CBS Radford, NBC, Universal, WB, etc.
 
Well are you sure you want to work for one of the big studios? Being directly employed by a studio will generally mean you won't be working on any film/tv sets or crews. You'll be on the business side of the industry. Which is not everyone's cup of tea, but it's still good industry experience.

Easiest way is to just search all their job/career listings and submit your resume. Every studio's web site has 'em.
 
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