Visiting Los Angeles for fun and film

R

realogist

Member
This is a long shot, but thought I throw it out there. I'm taking a trip to Los Angeles this week Aug 29-Sept 3. It's for a long over due vacation that my friend and I decided to do last minute.

Since I am a indie filmmaker in the DC area, and I don't get to go to LA often, I'd like to make some film connections/contacts while I'm there. Does anyone have an suggestions of where I can start?

I had 2 other friends that went there recently with no plan and just bumped into people in the business randomly and jumped from contact to contact. Maybe there were just lucky or is LA really easy to make film contacts?

Or even if I don't make any contacts, it'd still be cool to do some film related things. Do the major studios give out regular tours, if so which one is good? I can get on a game show, or maybe go behind the scenes, etc... Or maybe some of you LA filmmakers need an extra hand for a day or two that week for one of your shoots.

I have 3 years experience here in DC making my own shorts, as well as working on other local short and feature films.

Looking for any film related ideas?
Thanks
 
You must do the Universal Tour. It's fun and cool to see where films were shot. Yeah, it sounds amateurish, but they really do it right. By the way, dont compare it to the tour in Florida. One is an amusement park (with a little production), the other is an actual working backlot. You won't learn anything, but it sure is fun.
 
I believe when Steven Spielburg was just starting he used to go on the tours and sneak off to chat it up with people on the lot.

I am not saying you should break any 'laws', but sometimes you gotta jump a fence or two to get where you are going or meet those who can help you.

The 'fence' was an analogy for obstacles, please don't climb into the universal back lot.
 
Well since nobody has chimed in to help you, perhaps I can help a little further...

What do you want to do? Who do you want to meet and what do you want from them? Be an editor? Director?

Also how old are you, this will certainly change the way you approach.

I'll try and help but I'm young and naive :)
 
The Paramount back lot tour is a much better experience than Universal's (Paramount is entirely a working lot, no touristy-stuff, plus the groups are very small...drawback is you must reserve ahead and it's pricier than the Universal tram).

Before I moved to Los Angeles I visited for a week, having set up as many interviews as possible to take during the stay; a couple of the people I met recommended others to talk to, in turn, and a couple of those led to job offers. Since I don't know what department(s) you're interested in, I don't know who you ought to be contacting...

As for game shows, hit the sites for the networks that run them; most shows that invite studio audiences will have a visiting LA/want to be in the audience? button for you to get tickets. Ditto any live 3-camera shows you might dig; a lot of shows will give you seats at a taping, just for the asking.

I don't know about getting on as a contestant; most shows have some kind of screening process and the time between acceptance and competition is usually months. But you might always get lucky.
 
Thanks for the replies..

I am 29/male. Indie filmmaker from DC for 3 years making my own shorts and working for other local shorts and features in the area. My focus is on writing, directing, and editing. Though I am willing to do pretty much anything grip, gaff, PA on a professional production to get my foot in the door..
 
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