Moving to LA

Don't go unless you have a reason. I've been planning the move for a while but work keeps popping up for me in NY. I've been making my connections and working on my own projects from home. I'll move when the time is right and the stars align...which hopefully will be soon.
 
I never understood the whole "move to LA" thing....

almost EVERY single one of my friends who have went out there to be a "director" have ended up working lame, cheesy, low level TV jobs that they HATE and now those are even getting harder and harder to get as the economy sinks...

I'm not being a nay sayer but I would want you to really think about why you're goin...

if you want to live the LA lifestyle for awhile and work in low level TV and party and whatnot, then go for it dude!

but if you're goal is to be a writer/director/DP then I would say do not move to LA... make a film... a short, a feature, whatever.... just make films... the equipment is readily available (24p HD, FCP, the internet)

just something to think about man, good luck
 
If you insist on moving to L.A., do yourself a favor and learn to ride a motorcycle. In my 24 years in this town, I've seen traffic go from horrible in the 80's to the absolute nightmare it is now. Lane splitting with a motorcycle is about the only way to get anywhere quickly.

The other thing you should do is make sure you really, really, really, really want to work in film, because you will be competing with the thousands of other industry hopefuls who come here every day.
 
hoofandmouf said:
I never understood the whole "move to LA" thing....


but if you're goal is to be a writer/director/DP then I would say do not move to LA... make a film... a short, a feature, whatever.... just make films... the equipment is readily available (24p HD, FCP, the internet)

just something to think about man, good luck
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You can't do that in LA? It does not matter where you live IMO. You cut your own path. Everyone's experience is just not the same. I say go for it.

and learn to ride a motorcycle for sure. I take my buddy's bike everytime I'm out there and it is the best way to get around.
 
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bring plenty of savings.
start looking on Craigslist.
network like crazy.
get a cheap place first, then move to a better neighborhood once money is flowing.
don't be afraid to do lo-no pay gigs -- i did some which landed me some great contacts. (of course some were crap too!)
just be ballsy and don't give up -- you seem like you'll be alright...it's really not a bad place to live. at all.
 
its actually an awesome place to live. The valley is epic ! I'm a newbie here still, 7 months and counting but have loved every second of living here. Burbank is kinda pricey rent wise, but i came from SF so was totally used to it. NOHO is cool though
 
Maybe LA is not the greatest place to move to, I just know that it is a gigantic place for film. That's what I want to do, I have been wanting to do it since I picked up my first video camera making James Bond Films, when I was a little kid. I know this is a one in a million chance to make it happen, and I know that there are millions of people out there with more experience then I have. If I have to work some jobs that I am not going to like just to make contacts, or work next to nothing paying jobs to get experience and or contacts, well then I am ready to do that. I am ready to do what it takes to become what I want. Well not whatever it takes, you know what I mean.

My dream is to work on films, make films, create films, whatever it may be. Now as times continues, my dream will define itself into one or more areas, like DoP, or Director, or Producer. I just know that that's what I want to do. I can't afford the big films schools, and I am not a shinning star when it comes to school in the first place, much better hands on or on the job learner.

Sorry about the life story, didn't mean for it to be like that. I HAVE A DREAM! lol

DH
 
la!! wow hell-of a town!! buisy all night cars ingesting the air!! add a scooter for transportation!! cars suck the air up a bad public transportaion system has a slow down for getting things doen!!!
but you wont find more shi@ anywhere else but nyc!! for braodcast and film technologie!!
just remember!! when your in the mix with so many social classes ,dont let the upper class snobs bring you down!! theres a large numer of good and not so cool peopel inthe buisness!!
in los angles in general!
visit the grove in beverly hills for an exelent lunch experience!! i love to vist l.a!!
i live in the sf bay area themost expensive place in america even los angles is is a cost less alternative for the northern cal folk!!! even oragne cuonty cost less than a danville home!!
oh yeah!! find those cool drive in movies!!!! yeah and theres alot to be admired of los angles man!!!! i love it there!! motorclcyes and scooters are so much faster than vehicles becouse of the petrol addiction of l.a. but thell evolve soon!!maybe
just fluant your camera skills to score babes!!! what my freinds say when they need a date!!
alot of aspiring actress!!be kind if poss ,there is some fierce-ness with certain groups of over privaliged-they get dissordly-be aware of snooty toots under 30 they suck bad!! the cool old folks do know alot and help alot!!!!!
i say go for it and write about it!!!!!
mike d!!!!!
 
Donald Harvey said:
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
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You didn't tell us where you are moving from or how experienced you are in production. Not that those would factor into where you should live in LA but they could be helpful to know what kinds of moves we could recommend for you to get hooked up with work out here.

Dan
 
I'm new to LA as well and moved here because of my other job in IT with flexible hours.
However I'd love to engage into actual project oriented productions. Nothing of massive scale, rather small yet intense limited resources approaches as I believe these are of more practical benefit to a person trying to learn... Would love to find a small tight crew that does that already and could use help and share practical knowledge. What I’m NOT looking for is a meet-up for everyone to have nice conversations, rather more “filmmaking-activity being 1st”, individual, production-specific approach, be it a music video, short, feature, etc. I’d like to learn and be of help.

My industry training has been by self studying different books, videos, workshops recommended on here (cinematography, lighting, sound, directing, writing). Now looking to connect it with actual tasks. At a stage where I had enough of just theory.

I have a Nikon D90 DSLR rig with Nikon primes, fluid head tripod, small dolly(straight track, capable of curved) and Steadicam.

Any recommendations?
 
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