Does Eugene have sufficient media jobs (TV, Film, Publishing, Print, ect) for a newbie? (rent)

[scottyb]

Hi,

I am thinking of moving out of my state to a place where I have a better chance to make it in my field. I have experience with television/film production and writing/literature study from my time at college. I have a B.A. in English and a B.A. in Telecommunications.

I may get an M.A. in English with a Creative Writing concentration before I move, but I have to see how things go this Fall. I was going to move to D.C. this year to do an MFA in Film and Media, but I had to defer for a year for personal reason.

I would like to work in media of some kind. I don't have any real world experience, besides what I did in school. I do have one short-story published, but that isn't much.

For the last two years, I have been substitute teaching and staying with my parents. I can't do that anymore. I would like to work in anything media related, and would work for a sort of low wage. But I would prefer to do something with creative writing or working in television. I am willing to do unpaid internships at maybe 10 - 15 hours per week with a full-time job on the side, or a full-time internship that is paid. I can probably live off $12 - $15 an hour depending on the rent costs. But if I could get some work in a related field full-time, that would be great.

I need to know if the Eugene area is a good place to move for someone in my situation to get started in media production, and if I could find work with my background if things weren't working out in media production. I don't want to serve food or substitute teach again.

I also would like suggestions on where I should look to live. I would prefer to get to work in under 45 minutes. Although, I would like to be in an area that has a small city or a non-congested feeling.

I have lived in rural Michigan for most of my life, but spent four years in our capital city for college. I enjoyed city life a lot more. We have a few more people (454,044) in the metro area than Eugene. However, I was outside of the city in a smaller suburb town of the metro (approx. 46,525 people). For reference, the town I am currently living near has a population of 721 people. It is killing me inside. I actually have to drive 75 miles to watch an 'R' rated movie and do shopping in real department stores. Though, I do like to get out into nature every once in a while and would continue to do so once in Oregon. I would want to do some bicycling while living in Eugene as well.

Thanks.

[sutton86]

Eugene has a daily and weekly newspaper, several tv and radio stations, plus some large printing and video companies but you'll be fighting for jobs with all the new graduates from the University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication. The Register Guard is the newspaper and has job listings on line. Also check Craigslist. It's a fun, creative town. Good luck.

[haggardhouseelf]

I have heard that Eugene has a small but thriving and growing independent film industry. We ran into Penny Marshall at the park over the Summer, someone told us she was scouting locations. Google "Oregon film industry" and see what you find...