moving to LA!

my overhead is very well set for oppurtunities thank you for stating that. as for SF it does have a film community. ever heard of kink.com haha but seriously when it comes to SF it seems like either your already in the industry or your grduating from the SF school of arts to even get a word in. i havent heard of any sports production companies in the area either
 
steev'sHVX said:
my overhead is very well set for oppurtunities thank you for stating that. as for SF it does have a film community. ever heard of kink.com haha but seriously when it comes to SF it seems like either your already in the industry or your grduating from the SF school of arts to even get a word in. i havent heard of any sports production companies in the area either
Click to expand...

Well, now... I think we found a Niche!! Now that is a start. I don't know if there are any sports production houses either, but I sure as sh*t bet that there are sports retailers, sports clubs and a ton of sport fans. There may not be be a wakeboard/snowboard film production companies in SF now, but there could be one tomorrow... how long would it take you to print a business card? Viola.... there is wakeboard/snowboard films production company in SF now!
 
i have a business card. and a production company. (sorta) upearlyproductions.com i do some music videos even tho i dont like too but they pay(a little) and theres my wakeboard videos that dont pay. i have some ties to some amature/pros and this is why i want to start on dvd to distribute. but theres so much more than just creating a piece of art. music licensing, advertising, distribution, copyright etc.
 
Having been an impulsive and impatient 21 yo at one time before the dawn of recorded history, I am thinking back to how many times I jumped without a plan or a net. Decades later I often jump without a net, but never without a plan.

Grant
 
I have not read the other posts. But I love LA. coming from Maryland it is just the best. especially in the winter. Just move where you want to.
 
steev'sHVX said:
i have a business card. and a production company. (sorta) upearlyproductions.com i do some music videos even tho i dont like too but they pay(a little) and theres my wakeboard videos that dont pay. i have some ties to some amature/pros and this is why i want to start on dvd to distribute. but theres so much more than just creating a piece of art. music licensing, advertising, distribution, copyright etc.
Click to expand...

Oh yeah, there is a whole lot more to it. None of which you probably can't learn and apply.
 
grant thanks your deffintly right about something to fall back on.
i like to visit LA. wouldnt prefer to move there unless it sparked my career. but with filming wakeboarding the industry is huge in FL. wouldnt prefer to live there either cause this northern california weather is unbeatable :)
 
the question about all those things to learn is. am i going to have payy X amount of dollars on another tuition? or will these interships fill a lot gaps
 
hehe

hehe

I know I sound like a broken record for saying this, but it's true, listen to Barry!! He gave you great advice and he's exactly right.

Los Angeles is still the center of the film industry, obviously, but there are now a LOT of other places where actual productions occur, whether those are high tax incentive states like Michigan or New Mexico or close states like Oregon and Nevada, whatever. There are film productions in other areas and often it is easier to rack up some experience in those less competitive markets.

I would highly recommend to most people avoiding moving to Los Angeles until you're already competitive. There was some book I read, I'm trying to remember what it was, but it was about making it in Hollywood basically. The author gave some fantastic advice centering around doing as much learning as you possibly can in a cheaper, more friendly area, like studying film history and watching as many movies as you can, for instance. Then doing some of your own productions and learning the basics, read as many books as you can get your hands on, and only move to Los Angeles when you're actually ready to compete.

Not to make this place sound awful, but it's like a warzone here and only the best soldiers will survive to fight on. The others will go home, often broken and dejected. I've seen it happen too many times. So few people have what it takes, emotionally, physically, financially, etc.

I also will give people advice that makes me sound elitist, but I live in the real world and this is a capitalist nation so I think it's fair to say -- your odds of making it without having some money behind you are exponentially worse than someone who does have money. I came down here at least with some support net and I knew I didn't have to make a living for years, I could focus on my craft and I could spend money doing my own projects and experimenting, so I had that luxury. But I'm not uncommon, in fact I'm at the lower end of that, there are USC students who spend $50,000 to $100,000 on student films, it's not hear-say, it's not a myth, I've known several people directly involved in those productions, one as DP, one as 2nd AD, etc. There are RICH kids here, kids who drive a Porsche or a Mercedes or whatever and their parents are willing to throw money at their personal projects. Even for me, I drive an old Celica, I had to shoot my short in two locations (one free) to save money, and I've done a lot of corporate work to pay bills as well. It's hard enough for me, even not having to worry immediately about paying for my basic expenses, that has always been hanging over my head knowing I have a finite time period and amount of money with which to work.

So don't come down here and compete against people who know way more, have more connections, and a lot more money unless you really have the skills and talent to pull it off. And a large part of that is being ready, knowing you have something to offer, like Barry said you've done short films and they've won awards or whatever else, you've gotten your work out there. If I had it to do over again, I would have been even more active in the Portland film scene (where I was from) before coming here, and maybe even delayed my move so I could learn more. But at least when I did come here, I had spent years and years studying film history and theory and had a firm background in quality storytelling and writing. I just didn't know anything at all about production, basically, and that's what you should see about learning at least the basics before you come here.

As an unrelated aside, I never understand people who complain about the smog. I'm from Oregon, clear skies, not congested, and I don't notice any difference in Los Angeles frankly. I never see smog, there are only 3-4 smog warning days per year here now, there were 270 in the 1970s, so it's like this 40-year-old myth that keeps following the city around. There is no visible smog 99% of the time, and furthermore, unless you have major allergies and I'm talking major, you won't ever notice it in the air either. I think it's gorgeous and have no problems with it, it's one of the best climates in the entire world. Almost every other place is hotter and uncomfortable, humid, has hurricanes, too cold of winters, etc. This is as good as it gets. That's why the traffic is so bad ;) I hear a lot of people in Northern California who think their weather is great, but it's barely better than Oregon -- cold, windy, and wet a lot of the time. Especially the Bay Area, it's cold even on an August night, the wind comes in off the Bay and it's ridiculous. Not desirable weather. I think San Diego has great weather, maybe better than L.A., but Northern California is barely a step up from Oregon.
 
steev'sHVX said:
the question about all those things to learn is. am i going to have payy X amount of dollars on another tuition? or will these interships fill a lot gaps
Click to expand...

Well, the right internships will teach you a lot. If you can get into a working production house, there will be a lot you can learn. Don't forget continuing self study. Books, journals, web forums like this one (especially this one), and other web resources.

However, the biggest way to learn is to continue to make films, learn from your mistakes, and make better films.
 
Take your time, take heed to the prior posts. LA is in bad shape:

I just sold my company and I am moving to LA as well. I have guaranteed job with a six figure salary+ all expenses paid to move there. But the market looks horrible for many reasons.

-I found it very hard to find a rental place as nobody can buy and everybody is renting. I had to put down close to 10K to secure a place I liked.

-Most of my good friends who veterans in the business are going through very though times. Not enough productions, too many talented people.

-Everybody is undercutting everybody, this becomes worse is you are non-union or work for low end market.

If you have a good job, this might not be time to move out.

Good Luck,
 
Well

Well

If you want to make a feature, definitely make sure you bring aboard people who really know what they're doing and have experience already making and marketing and selling feature films to distribution. You don't want to embark on that path all alone.

This industry is always loaded with too much talent, though, that's how it goes. I think a lot of people who are smart should see what I saw quite easily when they move here, but for whatever reasons they don't "get it." When I came here, and people talked about learning how to be a grip or a script supervisor or whatever else they talked about, I looked at these positions and the HUGE oversupply of talent and thought, "Why would I want to learn any of these skills? Clearly these skills are not worth much money." I mean, no offense to the top level of people who are amazing at what they do, OF COURSE, but I just mean if you sit there thinking, great if I spend 5 years learning how to do this, there's a chance I still may have to take work for $100/day because that's how slow this industry can be. That's not a career path you choose. It seemed clear to me that most of the people with "skills" you can just hire for not that much money, so the real money is at the top, producing high quality content, since it's a lot better to be an employer than an employee in this business.

But, to each their own, not everyone wants to do that. I just think it's a tough way to make a living competing in a field where there are so many talented individuals and where very impressive skill sometimes only land you $100-200/day.
 
JonathanLB said:
If you want to make a feature, definitely make sure you bring aboard people who really know what they're doing and have experience already making and marketing and selling feature films to distribution. You don't want to embark on that path all alone.

This industry is always loaded with too much talent, though, that's how it goes. I think a lot of people who are smart should see what I saw quite easily when they move here, but for whatever reasons they don't "get it." When I came here, and people talked about learning how to be a grip or a script supervisor or whatever else they talked about, I looked at these positions and the HUGE oversupply of talent and thought, "Why would I want to learn any of these skills? Clearly these skills are not worth much money." I mean, no offense to the top level of people who are amazing at what they do, OF COURSE, but I just mean if you sit there thinking, great if I spend 5 years learning how to do this, there's a chance I still may have to take work for $100/day because that's how slow this industry can be. That's not a career path you choose. It seemed clear to me that most of the people with "skills" you can just hire for not that much money, so the real money is at the top, producing high quality content, since it's a lot better to be an employer than an employee in this business.

But, to each their own, not everyone wants to do that. I just think it's a tough way to make a living competing in a field where there are so many talented individuals and where very impressive skill sometimes only land you $100-200/day.
Click to expand...


Some people ONLY want to Grip, and some of those GRIPS get hired by the same guys who will eventually find a steady supply of work from a producer that's found a director who's budgets are getting larger and larger.

Guess you just have to make sure you pick your team captains well. Surely, as you've stated, there are a lot of talented people wading in these overcrowded waters and that goes for Directors as well.

Re: MOVING TO LA!

One day I told my friends and family I'd be back soon. I sold my Honda Civic for fifteen hundred dollars.

I came with that fifteen-hundred dollars in my pocket, a final check from the Cookie Shop in the Mall, one suitcase with my favorite clothes, my favorite blanket (laugh all you want, it's still with me!) and my pillow.

I've been here for four years... I moved from Georgia, Atlanta with NO production experience what-so-ever, no film study experience, you name it. The only thing I could call knowledge were Syd Field's writing books.

Slept on a friends floor, in his bedroom, for several months and worked a job at a Call Center for around minimum wage.

Stumbled on DVXuser in an attempt to discern what made video look like video and film look like film.

Entire Universe shifted on that same day for me.

Tripped into an Illustration Job in West LA and start snooping around the studio to learn camera, etc. while schooling myself on this very forum.

Landed a deal on an HVX200 on this forum and dropped all of my money on it.

Offered my camera up to DPs so I could sit behind them and learn what they were doing.

Spent another heap of savings on CoolLights and Fluos as a kit, ate beans and weiners for six months straight.

Needless to say... www.rainfallfilms.com

I've seen people come and go, and it's always the same reason: you aren't willing to shed your own blood to get it. LA Lifestyle is addictive. I tried it once and immediately left those people behind. Now they're wondering how the hell I am where I'm at right now.

No matter where you go, no matter what you do... if you want it, give everything else up for it.
 
Kholi said:
Some people ONLY want to Grip, and some of those GRIPS get hired by the same guys who will eventually find a steady supply of work from a producer that's found a director who's budgets are getting larger and larger.

Guess you just have to make sure you pick your team captains well. Surely, as you've stated, there are a lot of talented people wading in these overcrowded waters and that goes for Directors as well.

Re: MOVING TO LA!

One day I told my friends and family I'd be back soon. I sold my Honda Civic for fifteen hundred dollars.

I came with that fifteen-hundred dollars in my pocket, a final check from the Cookie Shop in the Mall, one suitcase with my favorite clothes, my favorite blanket (laugh all you want, it's still with me!) and my pillow.

I've been here for four years... I moved from Georgia, Atlanta with NO production experience what-so-ever, no film study experience, you name it. The only thing I could call knowledge were Syd Field's writing books.

Slept on a friends floor, in his bedroom, for several months and worked a job at a Call Center for around minimum wage.

Stumbled on DVXuser in an attempt to discern what made video look like video and film look like film.

Entire Universe shifted on that same day for me.

Tripped into an Illustration Job in West LA and start snooping around the studio to learn camera, etc. while schooling myself on this very forum.

Landed a deal on an HVX200 on this forum and dropped all of my money on it.

Offered my camera up to DPs so I could sit behind them and learn what they were doing.

Spent another heap of savings on CoolLights and Fluos as a kit, ate beans and weiners for six months straight.

Needless to say... www.rainfallfilms.com

I've seen people come and go, and it's always the same reason: you aren't willing to shed your own blood to get it. LA Lifestyle is addictive. I tried it once and immediately left those people behind. Now they're wondering how the hell I am where I'm at right now.

No matter where you go, no matter what you do... if you want it, give everything else up for it.
Click to expand...

damn Kholi...that post seriously gave me the chills. someday, i'll share my story, but i really liked this one Kholi. Thanks for sharing.
 
Kholi said:
Re: MOVING TO LA!

I've been here for four years... I moved from Georgia, Atlanta with NO production experience what-so-ever, no film study experience, you name it.

.....

Needless to say... www.rainfallfilms.com
Click to expand...

Wow Kholi...never put it together that you were from Atlanta. Nuff respect.

Nice story and definitely shows how it is done. Perserverence and sacrifice. Your company's work is impressive btw (mentioned it in another thread but you may have missed that one).

-Martay

ATL all the way! :thumbsup:
 
yes nice story makes me not worry so much about "making it" but about hiring all this talent to help shoot my video is probably not going to happen. im too broke and theres enough expenses as it is. always open for interships tho lol.

a new wakeskate videp just premiered in orlando and it was created by one of the wakeskaters in the video and will be available in stores around the country (couple of my shots are in the video) but goes to show you that its possible to put out a video.
 
steev'sHVX said:
i am quiting my $20hr job located in the SF bay area to move down south so i can pursue my career in the film industry. u may think i am crazy but this is the only way i can put full initiaitive into my career of choice. so i ask you. what is your opinion? should i dive in or feel the waters first. in my situation i am working a very privilaged job that is very hard to leave so i feel like the only way i am going to pursue my dreams is if i get up and leave.
Click to expand...

There's an active film and media industry in the Bay Area - why not stay in a geogrpahic region you know, where you have a network already in place, and build your new career from there?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top