Should I move to NYC/LA

i hitchhiked here in 78 i had $62.00 a backpack and guitar dreamed of being a world champ kickboxer then retire and get into acting in films........well...i'm now head waiter at dennys going on 15 years now.... oh man i met a lot of film people who really liked me and said they're going to use me in their next film....i hope they remember...it was early mornings like 3am....and they were a lil drunk...but hey you got to look at the bright side of life right
 
alveraz said:
Ah... well said.

Be sure to drop me a line when you get in town, Jarred, the first beer is on me ;)
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we definatly should all go out one night.. seems like enough of us down there to shut down a few places. We could go eat at Denny's afterwards at 3am and visit kimko.
 
Hey, Kimko. Which Denny's are you at, I'm in Westwood a few block from Santa Monica. I love a solid moons over my hammy...

I tip well.

(i kid, i kid)
 
Hey Guys, Thanks for all the feedback.

"If you don't know anyone and have no experience, moving right to la is the dumbest idea i've ever heard of."

Well I do know a bunch of folks I went to Emerson with who are out there now. That's probably the best thing about going to school... the connections i made and the network of alum i have.

The only reason why I said i want to stay in Boston is becasue of friends and family... that's pretty much it. It's cliche but, I'm at the friggin crossroads!

One thing (among others) I have noticed from my PA work in Boston/NYC... when I make airport runs to pick the crew up.... 9 out of 10 people are from LA.

Eventually I will probably end up there. The question is: is now the time? Like someone else said, do before i have a family of my own.

Thanks again.

~ Jim
 
Unless you know someone in L.A. or have an "in". It will be extremely tough to find work. It probably will be tough nearly anywhere.
 
Jarred Land said:
i think its easiest if you have nothing to loose.. and if you do loose, it builds character.. and you never have that "what if" thing... so you come out ahead eather way.
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I think that's a hugely important point.

Make a big risky dislocating career-and-life-altering move when you are young.

You're more resilient. You can survive more easily on less. Your reserves of optimism and energy and drive are boundless - maybe because you don't yet know any better, and maybe that's to your advantage.

Your ability to pick up new knowledge and skills is probably around its adult peak, too. Sometime after 30 or 40, your brain starts dropping its capacity to absorb new information. You'll always be able to learn, but right now it's a particular asset.

Like a lot of people have noted, your network is vital to your success. And we form the most social interactions, and maintain them most energetically, when we're young, too. Who wants to be closing bars at 4am, cadging for business cards, when they're forty years old? Not me.

I guess someone who wants to could make as long an argument for waiting and planning and patience and deliberation. But if you take too long at it, you will miss more opportunities than you have to.
 
alveraz said:
My wife worked at Dennys to get through college, so no harm intended. Good luck with that. ;)
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so now you don't want to have a beer with me in a kool bar my friend runs because i'm head waiter at dennys!? fine who needs ya anyways!:cry:
 
I was told when I was starting out that there are three things for certain
in the industry... death, taxes and 5 years in LA.

I say go. The industry permiates EVERYTHING. I've networked and
gotten work from talking to people while waiting in line at supermarkets
and for tables are restaurants. Cant swing a cat w/o hitting a grip
truck setting up for a shoot and everyone you talk to wants to move
to the 'next thing'. The DPs wanna direct, the camera ops wanna DP,
the ADs wanna loose the 'A', etc. Many low budget crews and pilots
end up as a college of folks trying out another role.

The unions are both a barrier and a boon, especially in LA. I was
in the camera union and it was pretty mindblowing, having access
to the lighting and camera workshops.

There is a price though.. LA is not guerilla film friendly. Every restaurant
bookstore and coffee shop has a stack of releases behind the register. There
are no 'freebies' and there is no one willing to chip in help because they
'love movies'. Its a town thats up to its neck in the business, so you really
need to be prepared for it. I spent my time and decided to leave so that I
could be a filmmaker, rather than pidgeonholed into that rigid production
hierarchy... but I'd do it over again, w/o question.

Go west :)
 
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